Two newly upgraded Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) — located on Babar Road and in Sarojini Nagar — opened to the public on Tuesday, offering a wide range of free healthcare services including pharmacies, maternity care, and play areas for young children.
These centres, located in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area, were previously standard dispensaries. They are part of a larger initiative under which 33 Arogya Mandirs and 17 Jan Aushadhi Kendras were inaugurated across the capital by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and other senior ministers.
Chief Minister Gupta described the launch as part of a broader health campaign. In a post on X, she said, “The inauguration of 33 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in Delhi today marks a comprehensive campaign for a healthy and secure lifestyle. These centres will offer 105 essential medicines and 93 diagnostic tests free of cost. Facilities also include regular yoga sessions and screenings for five types of cancers, including breast, uterine, and prostate.”
At the Sarojini Nagar centre, Dr. Shelly Dua Chauhan, the medical officer in charge, noted the complete transformation of the facility, which was earlier an allopathic-only clinic. Now functioning under the Delhi government’s Arogya Mandir programme, it provides consultations, physiotherapy, blood tests, and pharmacy services — all without charge.
“This is a one-stop centre for all medical needs. We’ll use a token system to manage patient flow and avoid long queues,” Dr. Chauhan explained. She also highlighted the importance of mental health, particularly for women, and pointed to yoga and meditation sessions as key offerings.
The Babar Road facility includes accessible infrastructure such as a dedicated parking area and ramp for people with disabilities. It features a pharmacy stocked with allopathic, homoeopathic, and ayurvedic medicines, and the centre is fully digitalised. The maternity and child welfare centre is on the first floor, along with a waiting area and children’s play spaces on both levels.
Free monthly health camps will be held at all centres to monitor diabetes, thyroid, blood pressure, and other common conditions. Officials said these centres will also work to spread awareness about the importance of supporting the girl child.
According to NDMC, one of the major features of the AAMs is an in-house laboratory for diagnostic testing and screening. This is aimed at improving early detection and treatment.
At the launch, New Delhi MLA and Cabinet Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said the central government had allocated ₹2,400 crore for these centres five years ago. However, he alleged that the previous administration failed to utilize the funds or construct a single facility.
Chief Minister Gupta confirmed that more Arogya Mandirs are on the way. “These centres will include digital health records, emergency oxygen supply, mother-child care rooms, and modern infrastructure. We aim to upgrade 964 more centres to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare reaches every street and colony,” she said.
