What AAP leader Satyendar Jain said in response to BJP's announcement to close 250 Mohalla clinics in Delhi?

New Delhi: Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain on Friday strongly criticized the alleged plan of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to close 250 Mohalla clinics in Delhi. He said the move would cripple the healthcare infrastructure of the national capital.

At the press conference, Satyendar Jain requested the government to increase the number of Mohalla clinics instead of reducing them. The previous AAP government in Delhi had launched Mohalla clinics in October 2015 to provide affordable primary healthcare to the residents of the national capital.

The AAP leader stressed that basic medical facilities are available in Mohalla clinics, including consultation with a doctor and 365 types of free diagnostic tests. He said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that people do not have to travel long distances to hospitals and can get medical facilities near their homes. 

Govt should expand Mohalla clinics

Jain said the total number of Mohalla clinics in Delhi at present is 550 and closing them would be a big mistake. He said the government should expand the Mohalla clinics, not close them. This is a big setback for the people of Delhi. We are requesting them not to close even a single clinic.

Satyendar Jain warned that the decision would harm the city's most vulnerable population. He said that on an average 7,500 patients visit Mohalla clinics daily for treatment and their closure would have a serious impact on the city's healthcare system. On a reporter's question that many Mohalla clinics are operating in rented premises, Jain said that this is just an excuse to end this initiative and many government offices are also run in rented buildings.

He accused the government of deliberately weakening Delhi's healthcare system. Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh held a press conference on Thursday and announced the immediate closure of 250 Mohalla clinics. He alleged that these clinics are operating only on paper and are being used for fraudulent activities. 

Prakash Kumar Pandey