New Delhi

The new Delhi government is considering a proposal to expand the coverage of health schemes in gated societies and upscale areas by increasing the number of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and enrolling 1 lakh Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries within a month.

In addition to cancelling the leaves of district medical officers for the coming weeks, the Rekha Gupta government has geared up to include families and citizens above 70 years of age among the 1 lakh beneficiaries under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).

A note prepared by the Health Secretary for the Cabinet’s consideration indicates that, alongside increasing the number of ASHA workers capable of delivering first-contact healthcare, the new BJP government is likely to soon decide to almost double the number of urban public health centres or Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (U-AAMs).

An additional 413 urban health centres are to be built to supplement the existing 553 Mohalla Clinics, which will also be upgraded to U-AAMs.

The total target is to activate 1,139 U-AAMs under the Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission Scheme, with Rs 2,406 crore allocated by the Central government.

To showcase the BJP government’s vision and commitment to improving health services, the Health Department has also been tasked with establishing 11 new model U-AAMs within 30 days – one in each district – under the supervision of the District Magistrates.

Other Central Ayushman Bharat Schemes likely to be introduced in Delhi in the coming days include the Health and Wellness Centre (HWC)/Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), the Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission Scheme (PM-BHIM), the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), and the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

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Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s focus on health services in the city appears to be a response from the BJP government to promises made during the run-up to the Assembly elections.

While the previous AAP government claimed to have initiated a revolution in the health sector, particularly with the introduction of Mohalla Clinics, the BJP had accused the AAP of scams involving fake medicines and bogus bills in these clinics.