Doctors and staffers attached to mohalla clinics may retain their jobs only for one year or until the Delhi government recruits manpower to operate Ayushman arogya mandirs in the city, whichever is earlier, stated the minutes of a meeting attended by Health Minister Dr Pankaj Singh last week.

The move is set to impact around 2,000 staffers and more than 500 doctors attached to mohalla clinics, said officials.

At the meeting, held to discuss the operationalisation of Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), it was decided that sufficient notice for de-empanelment will be served to the doctors and staffers of mohalla clinics.

"It was discussed that the extension and empanelment of existing doctors and paramedical staff shall continue under existing terms and conditions for one year, or until the new manpower for Ayushman Arogya Mandir is appointed to serve areas currently covered by Mohalla Clinics, whichever is earlier. Further, sufficient notice for de-empanelment should be served to the empanelled human resource of the Mohalla Clinic as per the terms and conditions of empanelment," stated the minutes.

At the meeting, it was also decided that fresh hiring of doctors and staffers for Ayushman arogya mandirs will be undertaken based on the existing norms of National Health Mission (NHM). "The remuneration will be fixed as per NHM norms. Department further proposed that recruitment may be done by the respective districts under the supervision of district magistrates. Hon'ble minister directed to submit a detailed proposal in this regard separately," the minutes stated.

Earlier, Singh had said that doctors and staffers for Ayushman arogya mandirs will be hired as per NHM criteria. "Anybody can apply, whoever is eligible. We do not have any issues with any doctor. Whoever fits the criteria will be appointed - be it mohalla clinic doctors or anybody who wants to apply," he had added.

On March 31, the contract of doctors and staffers at mohalla clinics, set up by the previous AAP regime, had expired. This was a month after the new BJP government decided to convert mohalla clinics into Urban Ayushman arogya mandirs under PM-ABHIM.

In all, 1,139 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are to be set up in Delhi. So far, 123 of these have been approved under NHM for the financial year 2025-26. During the meeting, officials said that of the 553 mohalla clinics in Delhi, as of now, 70 are to be upgraded to Ayushman arogya mandirs.