Delhi Mohalla Clinics Earn Praise From Kofi Annan

Former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, has ‘commended’ the efforts of the AAP government in opening Mohalla clinics in Delhi. These clinics are providing free healthcare facilities to people in various areas of the city.

Annan wrote to CM Arvind Kejriwal, appreciating his efforts in opening up the 108 clinics in the city and mentioned that the move was “consistent with the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goal” of the World Health Organisation.

He deemed the scheme ‘successful’ and ‘impressive’ and said, “You have scaled up the provision of universal free health services, most notably in providing free primary healthcare services through your mohalla clinics. We understand that this initiative is proving very successful and we commend you on this impressive achievement,” reported The Hindu.

He added, “We are aware that your administration has implemented a series of health reforms consistent with the UHC goal.”

He was talking about the WHO initiative which facilitates people to get healthcare services without making a dent in their pockets.

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‘We commend you,’ he wrote in his letter.

Till now, 108 clinics have opened in the city which have helped close to 8 lakh people in the past five months, according to a government report issued in August last year. The aim of the AAP government is to open 1,000 mohalla clinics in total by March this year. These clinics are semi-permanent and have a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, and laboratory technician each. The clinics provide absolutely free services like consultation, treatment, medicine etc.

Annan is hopeful that when all the thousand mohalla clinics are built in the city, it will become a ‘saturated model state for healthcare’.

“We believe you could further extend health coverage in Delhi and provide further important lessons for other Indian states embarking on their Universal Health Coverage journeys.”

Picture credit- The Daily Chronic