Delhi gets nod for one-time age relaxation in Ayushman Arogya Mandirs recruitment

New Delhi: In a move aimed at filling long-pending vacancies in Delhi’s health sector, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has approved the Delhi government’s proposal to relax the upper age limit for the recruitment of doctors and healthcare staff in Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) by up to 10 years for only one time.

With this one-time relaxation, doctors up to the age of 55 years and pharmacists or multipurpose health workers (MHWs) up to the age of 40 years will now be eligible to apply. Until now, the age limit stood at 45 years for doctors and 30 years for other staff.

Officials said the step would help speed up recruitment and widen the applicant pool, especially since many posts have been lying vacant for a long time. This will allow qualified candidates, including those currently working in Mohalla Clinics, to apply, and the selection will be based on merit.

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The staff in AAMs will be hired on a contractual basis under National Health Mission (NHM) rules, with fixed monthly pay. Unlike Mohalla Clinics, where pay depends on patient numbers, AAM staff will get structured salaries, TOI reports.

Recruitment is expected to start in September. The urgency comes from the fact that AAMs are part of the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, launched in 2021–22. The scheme has central funding only till March 2026, after which states will have to manage the cost unless the Centre extends support.

As per Indian Public Health Standards, each AAM sub-centre will have one medical officer, one pharmacist and one multipurpose health worker. A staff nurse may be deployed in the MHW role if their qualification is auxiliary nurse midwife or higher. Sanitation and security staff can be hired or outsourced.

"Anyone who is qualified, whether currently working in a Mohalla Clinic or elsewhere, can apply. Appointments will be merit-based," said a senior health department official.

Another official said, "Given the time required for recruitment and infrastructure rollout, officials said the age relaxation was a necessary step to ensure AAMs become functional before the funding cycle ends. Based on Delhi's population, the city requires around 1,139 AAMs — about 15 centres in every assembly constituency — to deliver comprehensive primary healthcare. "This one-time provision is designed to fast-track recruitment without compromising quality."

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