Mohalla Clinic Doctors Protest Outside Delhi Secretariat

New Delhi: The doctors and staff from the Mohalla Clinics staged a silent protest outside the Delhi Secretariat on Monday, demanding clarity on their employment status under the newly rebranded Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandir initiative, launched by the BJP-led government in the capital. The demonstration saw the participation of at least 580 healthcare professionals. 

Speaking to the Indian Express last week, Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh, amid prevailing concerns among the staff of the Mohalla Clinics, had said, “We have staff in the Arogya Mandirs, which are ready for the launch, but we are planning to absorb the existing staff of Mohalla clinics. I have discussed this with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. They will have to reappear in an exam, and those who fulfil the criteria will get the jobs.”

With Mohalla Clinics remaining closed, doctors and staff staged a sit-in outside the Delhi Secretariat throughout the day, expressing uncertainty about their future. They claimed that written orders from officials contradict the Chief Minister's assurances made during her Jan Sunwai camps, where she had promised that the staff would be absorbed into the newly formed Arogya Mandirs.

Also Read: Delhi CM Assures Jobs for Mohalla Clinic staff in Arogya Mandirs

Jitendra Kumar, president of the Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics (AAMC) union, stated that those meeting the criteria under the National Health Mission would be hired, as confirmed by the Health Minister. He also mentioned that some staff members had been asked to stay at home, while permanent employees from various hospitals had been transferred to the clinics.

Some representatives were called inside and met with the Health Minister’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Vaibhav Rikhari. A memorandum was submitted, outlining their demands and grievances.

Doctors involved in the protest stressed that they were recruited after qualifying through a Delhi government examination and have served diligently. They are now demanding that all existing staff be directly transferred to the rebranded Arogya Mandirs without service gaps, exams, or altered terms of employment.

“Following the Assembly elections earlier this year, the staff have not been given salaries. Recently, an MOU (memorandum of understanding) of conditional extension of a maximum of one year or earlier was provided,” read the memorandum submitted by the doctors, reports the Indian Express.

They said a memorandum issued by officials and minutes of a meeting dated April 17, signed by the Health Minister and Special Secretary, have raised further doubts.

Also Read: Delhi set to launch first Ayushman Arogya Mandir this week