Delhi government will open its first neighbourhood clinic in Peeragarhi area by next week and will set up five mother labs to conduct major medical tests in Delhi by the end of this year.
Health Minister Satyendra Jain along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today visited first neighbourhood clinic made at Peeragarhi area. Trial run is being done in the clinic and will be made functional by next week.
AAP government in the budget for financial year 2015-16 announced to open around 1,000 neighbourhood clinics in Delhi and allotted Rs 125 crore.
"We have made first clinic at Peeragarhi and doing a trial run. All the shortcoming will be observed and rectified and such clinics will be implemented in large scale," Jain said.
Delhi Government is trying to set up neighbourhood clinics at low income group area like slum areas, JJ colonies, unauthorised colonies and villages.
Health department is trying to improve the health services and reduce pressure from OPD of existing hospitals and dispensaries.
"There are three crore OPD patients in Delhi out of which two crore alone are attended in hospitals. By opening neighbourhood clinics we are targeting to half the rush going to the hospitals. These 1,000 neighbourhood clinics will manage two crore OPD patients.
"This will not only decrease the volume of patients visiting the hospital but will also help senior doctors to concentrate on hospital work and other medical treatment," Jain said.
These clinics will be made at walking distance from home.
"Usually hospitals are located at far off places but these clinics will be located in populated area so that patients don't have to commute more. In these clinics we have made a room for a doctor, while another room is for pharmacy. Sitting facility for patients will be arranged in verandah of the clinic," he said.
Jain further said that government will also make five mother clinics in Delhi to carry out specialised tests. No government mother lab is functional in city at present.
"Around 50 basic tests can be done neighbourhood clinic. Samples will be taken for those tests which cannot be done here and will be sent to mother labs. These mother labs will conduct specialised tests and will be located in north, south, east, west and central districts of Delhi," Jain said.
He said that mother labs will be functional in a year.
