Closure of mohalla clinics sparks fear and anger in Delhi

Days after Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh announced the closure of 250 Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics operating from rented premises across the city, residents have expressed deep anxiety over the potential loss of accessible, free healthcare in their neighbourhoods.

In an effort to gauge public sentiment and verify conditions on the ground, Patriot visited several parts of the capital, including Jasola, Sangam Vihar, Rohini, Haji Colony, Jamia Nagar, Zakir Nagar and others.

Contrary to the narrative of inefficiency, these clinics were found to be functioning without disruption. Staff members reported that they had not received any official communication about impending closures. Salaries, they said, were being disbursed on time, and medical supplies and equipment were adequately stocked.

On average, each clinic was reportedly treating between 100 and 150 patients per day, with free consultations and medicines.

A senior official at a mohalla clinic in Jasola, within the Okhla Assembly constituency, confirmed receipt of the March salary and stated unequivocally that no order had been issued to close the facility.

Of the 11 mohalla clinics in Okhla, six currently operate from rented spaces.

Fear spreads among patients who rely on local clinics

Despite assurances from staff, patients expressed mounting anxiety, describing the clinics as critical to their health and wellbeing.

The area is largely home to lower- and middle-income households, for whom private healthcare is unaffordable.

Rashid, 45, a labourer who had brought his 10-year-old daughter for medical attention, said, “Opening these clinics across the national capital was the best initiative run by any government as this helps us get the best consultation from the highly trained doctors free of cost.”

He added, “If these facilities are shut down, we will be left with no option but to stand in long queues of the government-run hospitals. We have to leave our work for the whole day despite being in a hand-to-mouth situation just to consult the doctors. Even the thought of it makes me worried.”

Shehzad Saifi, who had brought his 60-year-old mother Ruksana Baig to the Haji Colony clinic, described the clinics as indispensable. “I don’t know what we’ll do if these clinics close. They provide everything we need—medicine, check-ups, even the most basic health services that we can’t afford anywhere else… These clinics are not just a service, they’re a lifeline for people like me,” he said.

Widespread reliance, uncertain future

Similar concerns were echoed across multiple localities.

According to data from the Directorate General of Health Services, last updated in March 2022, Delhi has 546 mohalla clinics, of which 175 operate from rented premises.

The initiative was launched in 2015 with the first clinic inaugurated at Peeragarhi by then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Health Minister Satyendra Jain.

In 2018, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the Delhi Development Authority (DDA)—a Union government agency and the city’s principal land-owning body—of obstructing the allocation of land for clinic construction. In 2019, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi halted the construction of a clinic in Karol Bagh, citing missing approvals.

Confronted with these impediments, the AAP government decided to lease ground-floor spaces to meet its target of establishing 1,000 mohalla clinics by the end of 2019. The Delhi State Health Mission subsequently invited expressions of interest from property owners, offering a rental cap of Rs 30,000 per month.

Anger and anxiety in Sangam Vihar

In Sangam Vihar, residents voiced outrage at the BJP-led Delhi government’s decision, saying the move would disproportionately affect working-class families.

Gita, 44, a homemaker and single mother of two, said she was “terrified” by the prospect of the local clinic shutting down. She has been depended on the mohalla clinic for her children’s vaccinations and basic medical needs. The idea of losing the facility, she said, is unimaginable.

“I’ve seen so many others here in our neighbourhood—Hindus, Muslims, everyone—come for treatment,” she added, emphasising that the clinics have always been inclusive. If they shut down, she warned, it would be devastating for countless families who cannot afford private healthcare.

In Sangam Vihar, which falls within the Deoli Assembly constituency, eight of the eleven mohalla clinics function out of rented spaces. The area is characterised by unauthorised colonies and predominantly lower- and middle-income residents.

Ayesha, 52, who has diabetes, said the clinics had been vital for her condition. “I have diabetes, and the free medicine here has kept me alive. Without it, I fear I’ll fall into serious health problems that I won’t be able to manage… If they close, we will be left helpless,” she said.

A local doctor from another clinic in Sangam Vihar remarked that the initiative had been transformative. “These clinics are easily accessible in every neighbourhood, and unlike government hospitals, they don’t have long queues. Patients come here for treatment of all kinds of ailments.”

He added, “Even those who cannot read or write are aware that the initiative was launched by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal. If these clinics were to shut down, people would say, ‘Kejriwal started this service, but the BJP ended it.’”

While he said he could explore opening a private clinic, he expressed concern for his support staff, many of whom may be left unemployed.

Official justification and proposed reforms

Speaking to the media, Health Minister Singh alleged that mohalla clinics had become hubs of inefficiency and corruption, and announced that over 250 of them would be shut down.

“We will operate on government-owned land instead. An order has been issued to close these clinics to curb corruption,” he stated.

He added that one clinic in each district would be converted into a Jan Arogya Mandir within 30 days.

“Clinics operating from rented spaces will be shut down, and the performance of doctors and staff working in these facilities will be assessed before making a decision about their future,” he explained.

Doubling down on his stance, Singh declared, “Mohalla clinics are a fraud… Our goal is to provide quality healthcare services to the people of Delhi, something that has been lacking.”

Rohini residents brace for closure

In Rohini, too, concern runs deep. The area is currently served by three mohalla clinics, which cater to a large section of the local population.

Suman, 38, who frequently visits the clinic for post-operative care, said, “I’ve always relied on the clinic for basic check-ups, especially after my surgery. Free healthcare has been a blessing, and I can’t imagine what will happen if it shuts down.”

Prakash, a 60-year-old retired engineer, voiced similar fears. “I’ve been coming here for years for my heart condition. Private hospitals are too expensive, and government hospitals are overcrowded. These clinics have been my safety net. If they close, I don’t know what I’ll do,” he said.

For daily wage earners, the closures could be catastrophic.

Sandeep, 32, a construction worker, said, “I can’t afford treatment anywhere else. If this clinic shuts down, I have no idea where I’ll go. My family depends on me, and if I fall sick, we’ll be left helpless.”

Meera, a 28-year-old shopkeeper undergoing treatment for asthma, shared similar concerns. “Getting my medicines here for free has been a relief. If the clinic shuts, I don’t know where I’ll go. The nearest government hospital is too far, and private care is unaffordable.”

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Vijay, 55, an auto-rickshaw driver, said the clinics were his only viable option. “I work long hours and don’t have the time or money to visit big hospitals. These clinics are my only option for medical care. If they close, I don’t know what I’ll do in an emergency.”

A doctor from one of the Rohini clinics remarked, “We treat nearly 100 patients in a day. Where will they go if the newly elected government shuts down these clinics in the city? The patient load for the government hospitals will become unbearable.”