Delhi Budget: 100 new women mohalla clinics, more free tests
Delhi finance minister Kailash Gahlot, who presented the budget on Wednesday, said the government has allocated ₹9,742 crore to health, which is lower than the ₹9,769 crore allocated in 2022-23, amounting to a 0.27% decrease.
Budget allocation for the health sector during the Delhi budget session on Wednesday saw a slight decline compared to the last fiscal year. However, health remained among the sectors that received the maximum allocation from the AAP government this year as well.
Delhi finance minister Kailash Gahlot, who presented the budget on Wednesday, said the government has allocated ₹9,742 crore to health, which is lower than the ₹9,769 crore allocated in 2022-23, amounting to a 0.27% decrease. In 2021-22, the allocation for the health sector by the Delhi government was ₹9,934 crore.
Gahlot said most of the work on health infrastructure will focus on expanding services in mohalla clinics, with a special focus on the new mahila mohalla clinics.
Also read: Delhi budget 2023: National Capital to have nine new hospitals, four to get operational this year
The mohalla centres, which provided over 250 diagnostic tests free, will now offer over 450 tests, including HCV genotyping, antibody titre, etc., free of cost, said Gehlot. The government is currently operating four mahila mohalla clinics across the city on pilot, which will be increased in the coming months, he added.
This apart, the AAP government in Delhi will also work on developing nine new government hospitals in Jwalapuri, Madipur, Shalimar Bagh, Hastsal, Siraspur, Sarita Vihar, Raghubir Nagar, Sultanpuri, and Kirari. Gehlot said the work at these nine sites is happening in “fast track mode”. He said they are also working on remodeling and extending 15 hospitals, including Chacha Nehru Bal Vidyalaya, and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital (GTB). This project was mentioned in the last budget as well. Gahlot said that four of these under-construction hospitals are expected to be inaugurated this year.
{{/usCountry}}This apart, the AAP government in Delhi will also work on developing nine new government hospitals in Jwalapuri, Madipur, Shalimar Bagh, Hastsal, Siraspur, Sarita Vihar, Raghubir Nagar, Sultanpuri, and Kirari. Gehlot said the work at these nine sites is happening in “fast track mode”. He said they are also working on remodeling and extending 15 hospitals, including Chacha Nehru Bal Vidyalaya, and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital (GTB). This project was mentioned in the last budget as well. Gahlot said that four of these under-construction hospitals are expected to be inaugurated this year.
{{/usCountry}}Gehlot also said the number of beds available for patients in Delhi government hospitals will be increased from 14,000 to approximately 30,000.
{{/usCountry}}Gehlot also said the number of beds available for patients in Delhi government hospitals will be increased from 14,000 to approximately 30,000.
{{/usCountry}}Dr Aashish Chaudhry, managing director, Aakash Healthcare, said that while work around the expansion of mohalla clinics and hospitals across the city was welcome, the budgetary announcement has its list of misses regarding the expectations of creating skill-based training facilities.
{{/usCountry}}Dr Aashish Chaudhry, managing director, Aakash Healthcare, said that while work around the expansion of mohalla clinics and hospitals across the city was welcome, the budgetary announcement has its list of misses regarding the expectations of creating skill-based training facilities.
{{/usCountry}}Also read: Delhi Budget: MCD allocation up, bucks 3-year trend
“Though the industry expected a higher allocation, the health sector saw the largest budget allocation this time too. Mohalla clinics are the backbone of Delhi and the announcement to expand free test facilities at these clinics is a step in the right direction as diagnostics is often costly,” said Dr Chaudhry.
He added, “The construction of seven hospitals, which can be used for both ICU and non-ICU facilities, has been delayed. We are hopeful that it will be completed at the earliest.”
