Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 14: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her Cabinet are set to inaugurate 33 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs on Saturday, marking a major milestone in enhancing the capital’s primary healthcare network.
Of the 33 centres, Gupta will inaugurate one in person and launch six more virtually. The remaining will be opened by six Cabinet ministers in their respective constituencies. On the same day, Gupta will also inaugurate 15 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras in state-run hospitals to boost access to affordable generic medicines.
According to the health department, all 33 centres — comprising 29 primary health centres and four sub-centres — are already operational. They are managed by various agencies including the MCD, NDMC, DDA, and the Delhi Health Department.
Health minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, PWD minister Parvesh Verma, Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Home and Education minister Ashish Sood, Social Welfare minister Ravinder Indraj Singh, and Culture and Arts minister Kapil Mishra will lead the physical inaugurations.
The Ayushman Arogya Mandirs will offer a wide range of services including preventive, curative, and palliative care, with added focus on cancer screening, immunisation, and family planning. NAAT machines for TB testing are yet to be installed, but alternative screening methods will be used in the interim.
Unlike other states using community health officers, Delhi has opted to post MBBS doctors at these centres for better medical supervision. All centres conform to the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) 2022 tailored for urban settings.
The government has identified 964 sites citywide to set up new sub-centres under the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. Of these, 255 permanent centres will replace temporary Mohalla Clinics. Equipment and medicines from the old clinics will be shifted to the new facilities.
The rollout will also include upgrading 47 sub-centres managed by municipal bodies and seven already functioning units. Additionally, 655 sites owned by government departments and PSUs are earmarked for future expansion.
Officials highlighted that the Jan Aushadhi Kendras will play a key role in reducing patients’ out-of-pocket medical expenses by offering generic medicines at lower costs compared to branded ones.