There is no doubt that J&K has a working healthcare infrastructure, but there are still some locations where there is a paucity of healthcare services. This is most noticeable during the winter, when the delivery of healthcare services suffers, especially in the remote areas of Kashmir. The necessary required infrastructure, if the Government gives a thought about setting up community clinics in J&K, already exists, it just has to be used effectively to get the outcomes the Delhi clinics achieved as several studies carried out proved that the Muhalla Clinics in Delhi contributed to a substantial reduction in morbidity and mortality rates due to their ability to provide early diagnosis and timely treatment, thus preventing the escalation of a medical condition.
What AAP has done in Delhi, apart from receiving applauds globally, is an excellent example of how the government can use innovative approaches to tackle the problem of access to healthcare, because, it has not only turned out to be successful in providing quality healthcare to the underserved population, but has also, improved the overall health and access to the healthcare for the general population. There is a need for the LG Manoj Sinha-led administration to launch something akin to the Delhi Muhalla Clinics in J&K, particularly in the areas with poor healthcare, challenging terrain, and barriers to accessing healthcare services.
The UT administration has a history of thinking outside the box when it comes to providing healthcare services, so the government has everything it needs to launch an initiative: the infrastructure, the required staff, and the expertise. It has been successfully managing the medical needs of yatris during the Amarnath Yatra and did set up state-of-the-art facilities last year in challenging terrain, so if the administration makes it a point that it must follow Delhi’s lead, it very well may and would improve people’s lives. Even though the J&K administration has been working to make healthcare access simple and efficient, opening Muhalla Clinics may be the best shot.
