Govt OK’s Rs 150 cr

With an aim to remodel the dispensaries into polyclinics, the Delhi Government has sanctioned over Rs 150 crore for converting 94 dispensaries located in national Capital into the polyclinics.

For the purpose, a committee would be formed to closely monitor the work. In a written communication to Public Works Department's (PwD)Engineer-in-Chief Rakesh Kumar Agrawal, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Kirti Bhusan said a committee will be constituted to monitor the work on regular basis.

 "The Government has given administrative approval and expenditure sanction of Rs 168.58 crore to remodel 94 dispensaries into polyclinics across the national Capital," said a Delhi Government official. Currently, around 30 polyclinics are operational in the national Capital and the Government has set a target of 150 such polyclinics in the city. To build a robust three tier universal healthcare system in Delhi, the AAP Government has launched polyclinics that offer specialised diagnosis and treatment to patients for free thereby preventing the hassle to visit crowded hospitals. This, in turn, reduces the out-patient burden on Government hospitals and allows them to focus on quality in-patient care, said a Government official.

While the Mohalla Clinics at the primary level  are neighbourhood clinics set up by the Delhi Government in 158 locations across the city at an extremely low cost and are providing high-quality primary health care  where diagnosis, medicines and tests are all provided free of cost.

"The project of re-modeling of 94 dispensaries will be completed as per approved scope of work at the sanctioned cost within the stipulated period and no cost escalation will be allowed," said Bhusan. In the letter, he said the Public Works Department will make penalty clauses in the contract agreement for delay and defects in execution of the project.

 "Adequate provision will be made for maintenance and upkeep for five years after completion of work," he said. It stated that the status report maintained by the PWD will be submitted periodically to planning, finance and health departments to monitor the work regularly.