NEW DELHI: After a gap of two months, the cost-free diagnostic and lab facilities are once again available at Delhi government-run mohalla clinics and polyclinics.Last month, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that starting from January 1, the number of free services was to be increased to 450 from around 250 earlier.”The free laboratory services resumed two days ago. However, we are yet to receive the list of all 450 free services. But the ones being provided earlier have restarted,” said a staff member from a mohalla clinic.TOI had earlier conducted a ground report, which found that the diagnostic services were not on, owing to which many patients at mohalla clinics were forced to get the costly tests done at private labs. The payment of dues to companies that conduct tests were pending for several months, following which they stopped conducting free tests.Some of the tests that will be free of cost, include Hepatitis B antigen, Hepatitis C virus, HIV, Hepatitis B DNA, Hepatitis C RNA, HPV serology, PCR for tuberculosis, and H1N1.At present, the Delhi government has 522 Aam Aadmi mohalla clinics, four mahila mohalla clinics, 21 polyclinics, and 201 dispensaries across the city – where the testing facility will be available free of cost.The 450 free-of-cost test services will also be available at government hospitals. Last week, Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena approved the proposal of the Delhi government to outsource private diagnostic and lab services to mohalla clinics.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/free-diagnostic-services-resume-at-delhis-mohalla-clinics/articleshow/96695610.cms