Mohalla clinics were inaugurated by the Aam Aadmi Party government in 2015 as an initiative in decentralised, preventive, and free primary healthcare. However, the reliability of community-based primary care is eroding currently. These supply-side failures are interconnected, reflecting structural deficiencies in India’s primary care system: persistent understaffing, drug procurement obstacles, substandard facility conditions, and insufficient oversight. When primary care is inadequate, the responsibility transfers to hospitals or private practitioners, resulting in inflated expenditures and crowding in advanced facilities. Delhi’s initiative in community primary care demonstrated the potential of health systems engaging with individuals in their communities.

Source: The Telegraph March 07, 2026 02:52 UTC