Looking back: Shortages persisted despite health schemes
Government went long on Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, health infra but fell short on medicines and workers
Delhi’s Health Department spent 2025 implementing new schemes to restructure healthcare delivery. The adoption of Ayushman Bharat and the expansion of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM’s) were key policy decisions that aimed to increase insurance coverage for Delhi residents and bring them under national health programmes. However, despite positive budget announcements, health camps faced disruptions and medicine, equipment and staff shortages persisted.
Ayushman Bharat schemes
A major decision of the Health Department was to implement the Ayushman Bharat schemes in Delhi. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and related parts of the national programme such as installation of Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission were formally approved by the Delhi cabinet early in the year.
Under AB-PMJAY, residents of Delhi gained insured health coverage up to Rs 10 lakh per family per year for serious illnesses, with the city government providing an additional top-up of Rs 5 lakh on top of the central government’s cover.
The government allocated funds in the 2025-26 budget for Ayushman Bharat programmes and also for digitisation of health records. The plan was to connect patients with cashless treatment at participating public and private hospitals under the national scheme.
Arogya mandirs
A key health infrastructure decision taken this year was the expansion of Delhi’s Ayushman Arogya Mandirs network. These are primary healthcare centres under the national mission that offer outpatient services, basic diagnostics, pharmacy access, tele-consultation and referral support. The government opened dozens of new Arogya Mandirs in the city in 2025 and formalised plans to add many more. By late November, the total number of operational Mandirs had exceeded 200, and the rollout continued across multiple districts.
This expansion also prioritised utilising available government space and reducing dependence on rented facilities for delivering primary care services. The Delhi Municipal Corporation (MC) also proposed converting over 200 existing health facilities into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to widen the city’s primary health care base.
Community health camps
Health camps under the ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Pariwar’ campaign were set up in 2025. The Delhi Government said it would set up around 7,500 camps at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and community centres. The camps offered screening for conditions like anaemia, diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis, and cancer and were designed to reach women and families who might not routinely visit large hospitals.
Mohalla clinic conversion
A notable policy shift this year was the conversion of existing Mohalla Clinics into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Mohalla Clinics had been a long-running part of Delhi’s health programme, providing neighbourhood-level care. The Health Department worked to replace or rebrand many of these clinics under the AAMs model and add other services such as Ayurveda.
However, this shift also sparked debate since many of the previously employed staff at these clinics suddenly found themselves out of work. Some residents reported that certain Mohalla Clinics stopped offering services during the transition, leading to gaps in basic care and access to free medicines for patients who were dependent on these clinics. The Tribune field visits to these clinics reported limited diagnostics, medicine shortages, short operating hours and patients being referred elsewhere for tests. Many users felt the upgraded centres offered no significant changes compared to the Mohalla clinics.
Budget announcements
In the 2025 26 budget, the Delhi government allocated Rs 12,893 crore to the health sector, prioritising the AB-PMJAY and the expansion of health infrastructure. The budget proposed the establishment of two new medical colleges and the addition of 16,186 hospital beds across government hospitals, including ICU and oxygen-supported beds. A significant portion of funds were also set aside for upgrading critical care and diagnostic facilities under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. The budget focused on primary healthcare and financial protection for health. A sum of Rs 320 crore was allocated to establish 400 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, while Rs 147.64 crore were made available to expand coverage under AB-PMJAY, extending the benefits of cashless treatment to more families. Funds were also earmarked for the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (Rs 9.92 crore) to digitise health records, and the creation of the Delhi State AYUSH Society to promote traditional medicine systems. A Rs 1,000 crore fast-track fund was announced to expedite new hospital construction.
App delays
The Delhi High Court reprimanded the government for significant delays in rolling out the NextGen e-Hospital application, which is meant to provide real-time data on ICU beds, doctors, and diagnostic services like radiology across government hospitals. Justices Prathiba M Singh and Manoj Kumar Ohri expressed grave concern, stating the delays defeat the application’s purpose of assisting emergency patients and addressing healthcare gaps in the Capital. The court summoned the Health Secretary, furnished clear implementation instructions, taking note of unfulfilled Dr SK Sarin Committee recommendations. It also flagged pending decisions on income limits for economically weaker sections’ treatments and held Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital liable for non-compliance.
Worker and infra shortages
In 2025, Delhi’s health sector continued to suffer from staff deficits. Hospitals and clinics lacked doctors, specialists, nurses and paramedics, leading to longer patient waiting times. Government hospitals also faced infrastructure challenges, including missing ICUs, equipment and basic facilities, which limited the quality of healthcare. Patients had to endure long waiting periods even for basic tests like ultrasound, MRI and CT scans.
Programme disruptions
Several essential health programs faced implementation gaps over the year. Sanitary napkin distribution in government schools under the Kishori Yojana was disrupted, affecting adolescent hygiene. Furthermore, medical colleges failed to submit mandatory reports for anti-drug campaigns.
Accessibility issues
Although schemes like AB-PMJAY expanded coverage and issued more health cards, participation by private hospitals remained limited, reducing access to cashless care. Operational and reimbursement delays meant beneficiaries still struggled to find timely hospital services.
Denial of medicine deficit
In 2025, government hospitals faced frequent medicine shortages that affected patient care. Reports indicated key drugs for chronic and emergency conditions were often unavailable, forcing patients to buy medicines from private institutions. Despite mounting complaints, the Delhi Government denied these shortages, claiming that hospitals were adequately stocked.
