New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Friday announced that her govt will open nearly 100 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs every month across the city to provide primary healthcare close to people’s homes and ease the pressure on govt hospitals.Chairing a review meeting at the Delhi secretariat, Gupta directed health and other department officials to speed up construction and inaugurations. “While a 100-square-yard plot is sufficient for an Arogya Mandir, I have asked officials to identify larger govt-owned plots so that the centres can also serve as emergency facilities when required,” she said. Bigger centres, she added, will include multipurpose halls for emergency beds and parking facilities.The chief minister said her govt is converting old primary health centres as well as building new ones at larger sites. Equipment procurement and staff recruitment are being done simultaneously to ensure centres function fully from the day of opening. Gupta said that with modern healthcare facilities at these clinics, people will no longer need to visit hospitals for seasonal or common illnesses.Currently, the city has 67 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Each centre provides 12 categories of services, including maternity and child care, adolescent healthcare, family planning, infectious disease management, non-communicable disease screening, mental health support, eye, ENT and dental care, elderly and palliative care, and emergency services. In-house laboratory testing is also being added.Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians, TB specialists and support staff are being recruited. Each facility will be equipped with adequate furniture, modern laboratories, pharmacies and clean toilets. “With Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Delhi is moving towards a system where citizens can access quality healthcare in their neighbourhood,” she said.
