Kofi Annan: Mohalla clinics model to scale up healthcare

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 27  

Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan has praised the Delhi Government for its concept of mohalla clinics. In a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Annan has lauded the health reforms in the national capital, notably in providing free primary healthcare 

services through the mohalla clinics. 

“We understand that this initiative is proving very successful and we commend you on this impressive achievement,” Annan wrote in the letter dated January 25 in his capacity as the Chair of ‘The Elders’, an organisation of independent global leaders founded by anti-apartheid icon and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela.

The letter read: “The Elders are keen to raise with you an issue of great international importance, which we understand is also a top priority for your government: Universal Health Coverage (UHC). As you may know, the UHC is one of the key targets within the new health Sustainable Development Goal. It is achieved when everybody receives the healthcare they need without suffering financial hardship.”

 “Last May, The Elders launched a new initiative to encourage countries to reach the UHC as we are convinced that providing universal healthcare, free at the point of delivery, is one of the most important drivers of development. We are aware that your administration has implemented a series of health reforms consistent with the UHC goal. In particular, you have scaled up the provision of universal free health services, most notably in providing free primary healthcare services through your new mohalla clinics,” the letter said. 

“Delhi’s mohalla clinics may prove to be a good model to scale up Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in India. Many key health stakeholders in India are, therefore, very excited about the mohalla clinic programme and its potential to become a model for scaling up coverage in other states,” it said.