8 lakh treated in 5 months at government’s mohalla clinics

NEW DELHI: Almost eight lakh patients were treated in five months at the 105 mohalla clinics opened by the AAP government, says out-patient data (OPD) data released

NEW DELHI: Almost eight lakh patients were treated in five months at the 105 mohalla clinics opened by the AAP government, says out-patient data (OPD) data released on Wednesday.

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These neighbourhood clinics were setup as a pilot project for the 1,000 clinics that the government had promised to open by the end of the year to improve primary health-care and reduce the burden on the tertiary care centres.

“When we had conceived the project, we thought almost 80% of the patients can be treated at these centres, however, since the project took off we realised almost 95% cases can be handled at the mohalla clinics itself,” said Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain.

The data shows nearly 43,000 people got various tests done at the clinics. The clinics will provide consultation ,110 free essential drugs, immunisation for children, 212 basic tests and counselling. Once the project is completed, even specialist doctors would visit the facilities on a rotational basis, Jain said.

Keeping the dengue crisis in mind, the minister assured that tests like complete blood count and serology test for dengue will be available free of cost at these centres from September 1.

Recently, the government decided to open 110 such facilities in Delhi government schools. This move was opposed by parents citing security concerns.

“There will be two entrances to these mohalla clinics — one door for the students and the other for the general public. No one will be able to enter the school premises from within the clinic,” he said.

Another concern that parents had was that the patients could make the children sick. “This fear is completely base less as the people visiting the clinics are from within the community, which means that the children are already exposed to the bacteria or viruses in their own neighbourhoods,” said Dr Tarun Seem, Delhi health secretary.