Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday told doctors and staffers of mohalla clinics that they would all be absorbed in the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs coming up across the Capital.
On May 15, The Indian Express had reported that doctors and staffers attached to mohalla clinics may retain their jobs only for one year or until the Delhi government recruits manpower to operate Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in the city, whichever is earlier. This was recorded in the minutes of a meeting that was attended by Health Minister Dr Pankaj Singh last week.
Addressing around 500 doctors and staffers of mohalla clinics at a Janta Darbar orgainsed at her residence in Shalimar Bagh, Gupta said, “Wherever arogya mandirs will be built… existing mohalla clinic staffers will be the first to be given jobs… Don’t worry… We will occupy you first… we will first give you preference.”
However, the doctors and staffers sought a written assurance from her. “Whatever documents we have been getting say that the contract will be for one year or till the Ayushman Arogya Mandir staff is recruited. So, what will happen to us?” asked Jitendra Kumar, a pharmacist working at a mohalla clinic, who attended the Janta Darbar.
He added that a meeting should be arranged with senior health officials at the Delhi Secretariat to assure them that all mohalla clinic staffers would be absorbed.
On March 31, the contract of doctors and staffers at mohalla clinics, set up by the previous AAP regime, had expired. This was a month after the new BJP government decided to convert mohalla clinics into Urban Ayushman arogya mandirs under PM-ABHIM.
On Friday, mohalla clinics remained shut across Delhi. A doctor working at a clinic said they need to submit their work contracts, after signing them, to the state programme officer by May 19. “It mentions the clause that the empanelment of doctors will be valid till March 31 next year or until the new manpower for Ayushman Arogya Mandir is appointed to serve areas currently covered by mohalla clinics, whichever is earlier,” the doctor said.
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The contract letter shared with doctors by Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinic Cell read, “The continuation of empanelment of doctors shall be subject to review of performance against parameters approved by the competent authority.”
The AAP on Friday attacked the Delhi BJP government, alleging the dismissal of thousands of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and multi-tasking workers from the mohalla clinics.
Speaking to mediapersons, Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the minutes of a meeting issued on May 7 indicated plans to shut down most mohalla clinics in Delhi. According to him, the clinics would remain operational only until the aarogya mandirs are constructed, after which both the clinics and their personnel would be removed.
“They’ve been trying to get a meeting with the CM since then. But when they got no response, they were left with no choice but to come in thousands to the CM’s Janta Darbar,” he said.
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Bharadwaj said many people have been working at mohalla clinics since 2017. “For eight years, this is how they have earned their livelihood. Their families depend on these jobs. It’s not like they were earning in lakhs. Some earn Rs 8,000, some Rs 10,000… they get paid based on the number of patients they attend to. Their earnings haven’t even increased since 2017,” he added.
Responding to the allegations, Minister Pankaj Singh said the government will not do injustice to anyone, and everyone eligible will be included.
“There will be a proper process to hire doctors, and all eligible candidates can apply. There will be transparency in the selection as we aim to provide the best healthcare to our people… All good doctors and healthcare workers will be with us. Everything will be done systematically,” the minister told PTI.
