Ayushman Arogya Mandir at Tis Hazari Court complex in New Delhi. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Since May 2025, the Delhi government has been setting up Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), which serve as primary healthcare centres, across the Capital. In phases, they replaced the Aam Aadmi Party government’s Mohalla Clinics, which are no longer operational. While many staff members were absorbed into the AAMs, some say they have not received their final salary dues and have been told that the budget for the payments is “under consideration”.
There were 553 Mohalla Clinics. So far, the Delhi government has set up 415 AAMs and aims to establish 1,100 in all. The centres were envisaged to provide additional services such as maternal and child healthcare, routine immunisation, free screening for non-communicable diseases and nearly 80 types of free diagnostic tests.
However, some former mohalla clinic staff who were not absorbed into the AAMs are still awaiting their dues. Dr. Amit Gupta, who worked at a mohalla clinic near Mandawali metro station, said he is owed ₹78,000. He said interviews for AAM posts were open to all staff and some were selected. He is currently practising at his own clinic.
‘Budget under consideration’
In an email to an east district health official, Dr. Gupta wrote, “It is very unfortunate that our salaries for January and February are still pending”.
He received a response from an official on August 27, seen by The Hindu, stating that the file had been transferred to the respective cell and that “the approval of budget is under consideration”.
Another senior Health Department official said, “Many of them have been retained by AAMs and have received their salaries till date. If there has been any negligence, we will look into the matter”.
Two staff members retained at AAMs told The Hindu that they had been receiving their salaries. Those who spoke of pending dues were among the staff not retained.
Pending dues
Mohalla Clinics employed four staff members each: a doctor, a pharmacist, a multi-task worker and a lab technician. AAMs have a similar staffing structure, though the number of personnel varies with the size of the centre.
A former multi-task worker at a mohalla clinic in the east district said, “I am trying to get a job in the AAM but the vacancy has not risen yet. We have been told by supervisors that the funds have not been released for our last salaries. I have been without a job since March, when the Mohalla Clinic shut.”
Another doctor said that, besides salaries, which were linked to the number of patients seen, staff had not received other dues, including cleaning and costs incurred in transporting medicines for the final month. “Authorities have said that they are doubtful that it will come through but we are still waiting.” The doctor said she was ineligible to apply to the AAMs because the age limit was 55.
Last year, Mohalla Clinic staff protested outside the Secretariat, demanding that they be retained at AAMs. Selection tests have since been conducted and several former staff members have been appointed. Some have approached the Delhi High Court over the matter, which is to be heard on September 8.
Published – September 06, 2026 02:26 am IST
