Today one of the biggest service sectors in the developing country like India is healthcare and having the second largest population doesn’t help. Due to an always increasing number, decreasing quality of life, the challenges possessed by the sector have rapidly increased. In the times when the promises like clean water, improved hygiene, more beds in hospitals which are shouted in the political campaigns rarely see the light of day, overcoming the hurdles and putting something substantial on ground is a great achievement.

The latest example that we will talk about comes from the capital city of New Delhi, where the focus has been shifted to the community health centers called "Mohalla i.e. neighborhood clinics". though we are far behind from meeting the required facilities spelled out by the country’s public health standards from twenty to forty percent, such initiatives can still be seen as a step in the right direction.

The Concept

"Mohalla clinics" is a flagship initiative of the current state government in the national capital of New Delhi. These are provided mostly in the low to medium income group area and delivers a number of diagnostic services and necessary medications for either free or very low cost, making these services affordable and convenient. A typical clinic has a doctor and a nurse and also provides the referral services depending upon the nature and stage of Illness to the nearby govt. hospitals or dispensaries keeping in mind the ease of patients.

The political motivation

There is a three-tier system of administrative organizations that are responsible for providing healthcare facilities in the state, which include National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which in turns come under the blanket of either central and state govt. when the Aam Aadmi party came into power in the 2015 state elections, the proposal for 1000 Mohalla clinics was the main focus. However, due to several difficulties only half of the given number were commissioned, out of which the number of properly functional clinics remains even less than half. The biggest reasons as mentioned by the officials is ‘land procurement’ for the initiative as the clinics are needed in the dense fabric of low-income group neighbourhoods and are needed closer to people to be effective and thus can’t be put in a secluded spot. As this ‘land’ necessity lies in the lap of central govt, there is a constant political fight for permissions and allotments as a result of which in past five years no land has been allotted even for a single clinic by the central govt, totally opposite to their word given in the Delhi high court. The solution came made of steel, with new clinics made out of shipping containers jumping the big land hurdle.

The new look..

The new Mohalla clinics made out of shipping containers are compact and portable taking an area up to 350 sq.ft making them easily fit anywhere into the dense web of by lanes of the city, overcoming the challenge of land and rent issues. Its modular interiors and narrow design are made to utilize every inch of space available and also has an added benefit of pre customization and easy installation which is way quicker yet cheaper. The containers will also be able to withstand the security issues like break In and theft that kept arising in the previous design of clinic due to the material sturdiness. As of now, two clinics made out of shipping containers have been places in two different neighborhoods on a pilot basis, in the constituency of Delhi’s health minister – Satyendar jain. The public response to the new versions has been very positive and thus more clinics will be seen throughout the city very soon.

Project Facts

Design: Akshat Bhatt

Design firm: Architecture Discipline

Location: New delhi

Year: 2021

All images © Jeetin Sharma

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