Directorate General of Health Services
Government of NCT of Delhi

Mobile Health Scheme

 

Mobile Health Scheme is an independent plan scheme “Special component plan for scheduled Castes.” Rapid urbanization and construction boom has brought about migration of rural population to urban settings in search of food and job. Prevailing high disparity between rich and poor has forced this migrant population to settle in the small groups in unauthorized colonies called J.J. Clusters. Poverty, sub-human conditions, poor quality of life and lack of medical facilities has resulted in higher incidence of diseases in the population. More than 2 million migrant was found to be in Delhi itself with around 35% living in the J.J. Clusters and unauthorized colonies.  

PRIORITY AREAS:

Civic bodies are not able to provide required civic amenities as they are all settled in the area labelled as unauthorized. Among the many initiatives of the Government of Delhi to benefit the population residing in the fringe of society, Mobile Health Scheme was one of them as the Govt took a serious note of poor health status of residents of J.J. Clusters and decided to strengthen the Mobile Health Scheme to provide basic health care to the residents at their door-step according to their felt needs. This was to start with a fleet of 20 mobile dispensaries which was launched covering different J.J. Clusters all over Delhi on weekly basis in1989, which was strengthened gradually with time and 45 MV Dispensaries started providing health care to the J. J. Clusters / unserved areas / construction sites, welfare homes etc.  Directorate of Health Services realizes that no number of drugs and curative care provided to J.J. Clusters can control their pathetic condition until or unless other sectors like NGOs and others also contribute with DHS to improve overall physical quality of life.

OBJECTIVES AND SERVICES

The present status of Mobile Health Scheme is as follows and the functioning of Mobile Health Scheme is as under:

1. To provide basic health care to people living in JJ Clusters / underserved areas / constructions sites, night shelters etc. at their doorstep regularly but as per schedule all areas covered at least twice a week.

2. To provide health education.

3. To take active participation in National Health Programs like Pulse Polio, Measles and other immunization, Dengue control, Family welfare etc.

4. To provide medical coverage in important institute and at activities and special events like, (some of the above)

1. Haz Manjil pilgrims ( for three months at different locations round the clock.)
2. Urs Mela for pilgrims (For 20 days at Burari ground round the clock)
3. Kanwar Camps (for 15 days at more than 100 camps spread all over Delhi round the clock )
4. Bhartiyam
5. Sant Nirankari Sammagam (10 camps round the clock for 5 days)
6. Chhat Puja ( More than 100 camps round the clock)
7. Bangladeshi Prisoners (As per Court instructions on regular basis)
8. Juvenile Home, Majnu ka tilla
9. Tahirpur Leprosy Complex (On regular basis)
10. Lampur Beggar Home and FRRO (As per Court instructions on regular basis)
11. Tilak Nagar, Peeragarhi, Shalimar Bagh, RK Puram, Lajpat Nagar, Shadipur Depot Leprosy colonies
12. Children Home, Ali Pur etc. ( Regular Basis) and Arya Anathalaya Daryaganj
13. Destitute Home Motia Khan, Old age homes and Senior Citizen homes and welfare clubs
14. Matratva Chhaya at Jahangir Puri and Sarai Rohilla (On regular basis)
15. Independence Day Celebrations (National and State level) Republic Day Celebrations (National and State level)
16. Night Shelter (As per court order more than 200 camps on regular basis)
17. Constructions Sites (All over Delhi on regular basis)
18. IITF Pragati Maidan (15 days), Perfect Health Mela at Delhi Haat.
19. Global Conference on Mysticism (15 days at Burari Ground)
20. Other activities such as Public political gatherings, Senior Citizen Screening, disasters management, various melas,
21. Request from public representative, time to time for providing medical facilities etc

5. To organise special health camps at underserved areas and JJ colonies and focus groups like workers and laborers.

 MODUS OPERANDI:

1. For the above-mentioned activities, staff, logistics, supply of medicines and equipment for all camps are provided through Mobile Dispensaries Vans.
2.  Activities of Mobile Health Dispensaries are not stationary but mobile in nature i.e these areas are covered by one Mobile Dispensary two times a week and there are diversions of Mobile Dispensaries to cover the aforesaid activities due to its wider approach and flexibility in terms of spatial area and population. Hence the concept of Mobile Health Scheme is totally different in nature from the concept of Mohalla Clinics.
3.  Mobile Van Dispensaries for providing basic healthcare facilities to Underserved / JJ clusters where there are no permanent health facilities available nearby.

These mobile Van Dispensaries as their name suggests are mobile units that cater to the population and which are equipped with staff, medicines, other logistics and move from their respective control room to their working stations or designated places on daily basis. On reaching the J J clusters, the Mobile van parks itself at pre-determined regular spot and renders health care services as per timings and moves to next designated place for functioning. After completion of scheduled work, the mobile teams return to the control room.

The medical facilities include examination of patient and dispensing of medicines to patients and record keeping thereof are being managed by staff in and around the vehicle itself as there is no proper place in JJ clusters, etc. for staff other than vehicle. Vehicles are also used as Mobile Van Dispensaries to provide health care facilities in night shelters also. Each vehicle assigned for night shelters covers minimum eight to ten night shelters daily.

BUDGET:

MHS has been allotted a budget of RS 17 crores for this financial year 2017-18 which includes sub heads like Salary of the staff, materials and Supplies etc.

ACTIVITIES PLANNED

1. MHS every year provides medical coverage to all important events organised in the city as per need or as deemed necessary as mentioned above like Kanwar , Haj, Urs Mela etc.
2. MHS zones are divided into five main zones and each zone has a QRT or Quick Response Team for emergency and disaster management.
3. Conducting health awareness and diagnostic camps in their designated areas, construction areas and welfare homes regularly.
4. Contributing towards the various Govt. Health programmes as and when necessary for a common goal of disease control and eradication.
5. Creating awareness in its own individual way for various health related international days in its targeted population.
6. MHS Staff Training programmes, Refresher programmes and Discussions  

ACTIVITIES STARTED

MHS has already provided coverage in URS Mela, Republic Day celebrations, NCC Camp training programme, Ambedkar Jayanti and others.

IMPLEMENTATION STRUCTURE AT STATE AND DISTRICT LEVEL

Mobile Health Scheme is headed by the Addl. Director MHS which is headquartered at Dwarka. The functioning of MHS has been divided into 5 main zones of Delhi – North, West, South, East and Central. Though there is no clear cut demarcation of areas in district level but for convenience sake, areas from North and north west district are covered by North Zone, from East, North East and Shahdara are covered by East Zone, areas of South, South east are covered by South Zone, areas of Central, New Delhi district areas are covered by Central zone, Southwest and west district areas are covered by the West district. However that is not a strict norm and flexible as per need. Each zone has a zonal in charge to administer the daily affairs of a particular zone who also has the additional duties of covering his or her assigned areas. Each team is led by a medical officer under whom the following staffs works – PHN/ANM, Pharmacist, Dresser and a NO. MHS has a sanction of 35 posts in each category. The team provides the services as stated above.

Vacancy Position MHS, April-2017

REPORTING SYSTEM

Every month a monthly morbidity report is compiled and sent for further submission to the MHS headquarter. The reporting is done in a modified version of ICD 10 reporting and is further submitted to SHIB. Immunisation and other reports as prescribed by the State Health Department are regularly sent to the DHS. Reports are usually sent monthly, quarterly and annual mode.

Some Photographs of MHS teams in Action 

 

COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL NGOS

This is an issue that needs further exploring as an arrangement can be worked out for the maximum benefit of the targeted population as collaboration will bring better outcome.

However a stringent monitoring and reporting need to be in place for complete success of such collaboration. As in any collaboration, there should be a complete demarcation of the responsibilities and liabilities so as no dispute or confusion arises in future. MHS will be providing coverage in Shraddhanand Marg in collaboration with an NGO.

PENDING ISSUES

At present vehicles are not available with MHS and the dedicated teams are carrying out their assigned duties on their own.

 POTENTIAL: 

Mobile Health Scheme is a unique and novel initiative and in a modern system where mobility and flexibility is the order of the day, this scheme can be developed to its full potential for the maximum benefits of its targeted population. In fact it can achieve phenomenal results by not only performing in its targeted population, but also in population beyond its perceived scope. Its mobility is the biggest plus point as it will have a broader outreach and can cater to a far greater population than a fixed dispensary.

Since it is a mobile dispensary, providing treatment and care for general complaints, it can be incorporated for the promotion and awareness of any government health scheme.

It also can procure data for analysis from a population which is dynamic in nature and is variable, that which is missed during fixed surveys. These are just a few of the many fold ways a mobile van dispensary can function in the health care system.

For further information /suggestions write to:

Dr K S Baghotia
Addl. Director (Mobile Health Scheme)
Govt. of NCT of Delhi,
DGHS, Pt DCSS Bhawan, Sector-20,
Dwarka- New Delhi-110077
E-Mail: cmomhs-dhs[dot]delhi[at]nic[dot]in