Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced that her government has set a target of opening around 100 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs every month in different parts of the capital, so that citizens may access proper primary healthcare close to their homes. The government aims to ensure faster treatment for patients and to ease the pressure on government hospitals. The Chief Minister also informed that her government has decided to establish Ayushman Arogya Mandirs on land parcels larger than the prescribed size, so that they may be utilised in times of emergency.
To review the construction and inauguration of the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta today held a high-level meeting at the Delhi Secretariat. Senior officials from the Health Department as well as other concerned departments were present. Following the meeting, the Chief Minister stated that while a plot size of 100 square yards is sufficient for the construction of an Arogya Mandir, she has directed officials to identify larger government-owned plots for this purpose. She emphasised that bigger centres should include large halls, where beds can be arranged during emergencies, and should also provide parking facilities. She further said that while her government is already converting old primary health centres into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, new buildings are also being constructed on a larger scale for these centres.
Rekha Gupta highlighted that, considering the rapid pace of construction, the government has set a target of opening nearly 100 centres every month. Various departments are simultaneously procuring medical and non-medical equipment, along with other essential supplies, to ensure smooth functioning from the day of inauguration. Recruitment of staff is also being prioritised. Expressing her gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for supporting the initiative, the Chief Minister informed that the Delhi Government has already received Rs 2,400 crore from the Central Government, ensuring that there will be no financial obstacles in the construction and operation of these centres. She stated that such modern primary healthcare arrangements are being made at the Arogya Mandirs that citizens will no longer need to visit hospitals for common or seasonal ailments. She reaffirmed her governmentтАЩs commitment to making routine healthcare accessible near peopleтАЩs homes, noting that this will also help reduce the patient load on hospitals.
The Chief Minister further informed that the 67 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs currently operational in Delhi, as well as the upcoming new centres, are offering 12 categories of comprehensive healthcare services, including mental health and palliative care for the elderly. Additionally, in-house laboratory testing will now also be available at these centres. The key services being provided include: maternity and childbirth care, neonatal and child healthcare, adolescent healthcare, family planning, prevention and treatment of common infectious diseases, identification and management of non-communicable diseases, eye and ENT care, oral healthcare, elderly care, end-of-life care, emergency medical services, and screening and primary treatment of mental health issues.
She further added that orders have been issued for the appointment of doctors, nursing staff, pharmacists, auxiliary nurse midwives, laboratory technicians, TB management specialists (DOTS), data operators, and multi-purpose support staff. Each centre will be equipped with adequate furniture, a well-stocked supply of medicines, modern laboratories, and clean toilets.
According to the Chief Minister, the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are fast becoming a new symbol of trust and health for the people. She remarked that every individual visiting these centres should return with the assurance that they will not only receive the right treatment, but also experience care delivered with dignity and sensitivity. Delhi Government is confident that these centres will transform the healthcare landscape of the capital in the coming years.
