Aam Aadmi vs Ayushman: What happens to Delhi's existing free health model?

'BOTH HAVE THEIR PLACE, BUT CLARITY IS ESSENTIAL'

- AIMAN FATIMA

NEW DELHI: The rollout of the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme in Delhi has sparked fresh debate over the future of the Capital's existing state-run healthcare system. With the promise of Rs 5 lakh in annual hospital coverage per family, the national scheme offers expansive coverage across over 20,000 empaneled hospitals.

However, its integration into a city already known for its hyperlocal, community-driven health model raises questions of overlap, resource allocation, and long-term direction.

Delhi's current model, developed under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, centers around Mohalla Clinics, polyclinics, and free hospital services. The city offers a preventive, doorstep approach with over 500 functional Mohalla Clinics delivering free consultations, diagnostics, and medicines, particularly targeting underserved and low-income areas.

Health policy experts describe the situation as a meeting of two ideologies. While Ayushman Bharat focuses on tertiary care and hospitalization, Delhi's existing infrastructure is geared toward early intervention and community health.