Category: Medical

US medical device companies continue to face uncertainty and instability as President Donald Trump’s tariffs continue to disrupt the market. Major manufacturers are currently most concerned with supply chain interruptions and cost increases, leading to constant adjustments of company forecasts.

Cardiovascular devices are especially vulnerable to the impacts of tariffs, as many of these devices are reliant upon parts from multiple countries. This could cause delays in the manufacturing and distribution of life-saving cardiovascular devices, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Cardiovascular devices include equipment for structural heart conditions, cardiac rhythm management, and both arterial and peripheral vascular interventions. The largest markets within the cardiovascular space include devices such as pacemakers, transcatheter heart valves, electrophysiology catheters, and stents. The largest companies operating within the space include medical device giants such as Medtronic, Abbott, and Boston Scientific, and specialized manufacturers including Edwards Lifesciences and W. L. Gore.

David Beauchamp, Medical Analyst at GlobalData said: “Many cardiovascular device companies rely on manufacturing outside the US to address demand, especially from the US. Tariffs are likely to cause increases in material cost and disrupt long-standing supply chains. Currently, the US does not have the manufacturing capacity to adjust to possible losses that could result from the impacts of tariffs.”

GlobalData estimates the US cardiovascular device market to be worth approximately 34.5 billion USD, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4% from 2024 to 2034. Due to the impact of tariffs on cardiovascular device companies, sales and growth in the US could decrease as companies focus on other countrys’ markets or are forced to absorb the impact of tariffs on their revenue.

Beauchamp concluded: “US tariffs on other countries, especially on major manufacturing centres in Asia, could cause cardiovascular device manufacturers to see decreased revenues and growth within the US. It remains unlikely that the US can become completely self-sufficient in producing all the components required for advanced cardiovascular medical devices. Without a more concrete and stable policy on these tariffs from the current American administration, it is likely that most manufacturers will be forced to continuously change their internal forecasts and production plans.” Med-Tech Insights

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are reportedly taking different approaches to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. According to recent updates, the NIH is focusing on advancing AI research through funding initiatives aimed at improving diagnostics and treatment methods. Meanwhile, the FDA is prioritizing regulatory frameworks to ensure safety and efficacy as AI technologies become more prevalent in medical devices and drug development.

This divergence highlights contrasting priorities between the two agencies. The NIH has allocated significant resources toward fostering innovation in AI applications for health research, including grants for projects that explore machine learning’s potential in identifying disease patterns. On the other hand, the FDA has concentrated its efforts on establishing guidelines for evaluating AI-driven tools, particularly those used in clinical settings. Officials have emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in algorithms to protect patient safety while maintaining public trust. These differing strategies reflect broader discussions within the healthcare sector about balancing innovation with regulation as AI continues to reshape medical practices. GeneOnline

SDP Japan, Inc., announced today that the Company has successfully raised approximately JPY 4.5 billion (equivalent to USD 31 million) through a Series D equity financing round, alongside secondary transaction, debt financing and asset-based funding. The equity round was led by Japan Post Investment and included participation from seven institutional investors.

Background and Future Outlook
Japan’s super-aging society continues to fuel steady growth in the healthcare sector, particularly in the fields of orthopedics and cardiovascular — two core areas of focus for SDP Japan. Surgical procedures in these specialties are increasing at 5–8% per annum, with demand projected to grow through 2050, according to research by Yano Research Institute.

Despite growing need, the surgical care sector faces systemic challenges: surgeons often lack access to adequate infrastructure and support, while patients continue to struggle with finding reliable specialists — often by chance — highlighting persistent disparities in access to information and care.

SDP Japan is redefining the surgical care model by building integrated platforms where physicians can focus purely on their expertise, and patients are guided seamlessly toward optimal treatments. With a unique position at the intersection of patient marketing, facility production, and healthcare operations management, the Company has expanded the footprint of surgery-focused medical institutions — primarily in urban areas — and is now poised to scale its next-generation model nationwide.

This funding round will further strengthen SDP Japan’s growth platform and enable the rollout of advanced surgical care models to underserved regions. The Company is committed to rebuilding medical infrastructure in regional cities through close collaboration with stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem, aiming to establish a sustainable and equitable healthcare system.

With the agility and execution power of a startup, SDP Japan aspires to be a transformative force in the Japanese healthcare industry.
TheNewsBit Bureau

India is seeing an uptick in Covid-19 infections, reaching over 7,000 cases. But in contrast to earlier waves, there seems to be gaps in diagnosis and testing.

Given the current season of rampant viral infections and many individuals showing symptoms, RT-PCR tests are neither being prescribed widely nor being voluntarily taken.

“Most of the Covid-19 testing we’re seeing today is happening within hospitals, where viral panel testing is mandatory before procedures or in cases of severe symptoms. Neither clinicians nor patients are approaching it with the same urgency anymore,” said Dr. Vibhu Kawatra, a Delhi-based pulmonologist and allergy specialist.

RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription–Polymerase Chain Reaction), which remains the gold standard for detecting Covid-19, works by identifying the virus’s genetic material in nasal or throat samples.

However, Dr. Kawatra pointed out, “Only a doctor can prescribe an RT-PCR test, and unless the symptoms are severe or hospitalisation is required, the test is often skipped.”

Even when testing is sought, accessibility and affordability are serious barriers.

In the private sector, RT-PCR test prices vary drastically depending on the diagnostic lab. Dr. Lal PathLabs charges Rs 5,000 for a home collection of an RT-PCR test combined with a full fever panel. Meanwhile, Max Healthcare offers just an RT-PCR test at Rs 500. At Dr. Dangs Lab, a home visit costs Rs 700. Similar price ranges are being seen across neighbourhood clinics as well.

This wide pricing disparity reflects the fragmented nature of the diagnostic sector, proving to be unregulated.

But despite this inconsistent pricing model, there seems to be reduced testing rates, coupled with the closure of many free government testing centres.

A recent visit to Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi revealed that the Covid testing window had been shut down. Many other government-run facilities have scaled back or completely discontinued RT-PCR testing, further limiting testing options for the general public.

Rising cases highlight the need for routine testing to monitor its spread.

“The patients who have died not just had Covid-19 but also had underlying health conditions. It is not always the virus alone, but the comorbidities that tip the scale,” said Dr. Sudeep Khanna, gastroenterologist and liver specialist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.

Delay in Virus Genomic Data
Surveillance at the national level is also facing delays.

The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), the official body monitoring Covid-19 variants in India, has been slow in releasing updated epidemiological data.

Only limited information has been shared so far for newer variants like LF.1, NB.1.8.1, and XFG, making it difficult to gauge the evolving nature of the virus.

Public health experts stress the need for proactive surveillance, affordable and accessible testing, and better data transparency.

Vaccines Stockpile
Government sources told India Today that there are enough Covid-19 vaccines in storage and ready to use. “We are fully prepared for any situation. We have enough stockpile to meet the requirements of our citizens. Moreover, if needed, we can even supply vaccines to other countries,” the sources said.

Nearly 1 billion people in India have taken at least one dose of either Covishield or Covaxin.

Covishield, manufactured and distributed by the Serum Institute of India under a licence from AstraZeneca, stopped being produced in December 2021 because fewer people were taking it.

Similarly, Covaxin, India’s first home-grown Covid-19 vaccine made by Bharat Biotech with ICMR-NIV, also stopped production in early 2022.

Despite the halt in manufacturing, officials say that vaccine availability is not a concern.

Doctors believe the current rise in cases may be due to seasonal changes in respiratory infections though global health experts say the protection from past infections and vaccines may be wearing off, which could be causing new spikes in some areas.

While general information about Covid-19 continues to be available, there seems to be hindrances in the timely response to the infection. India Today

Several hospitals are set to get upgrades after Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust secured government funding.

Work will include improving fire safety systems, water infrastructure and electrical and energy systems at Rampton Hospital, The Wells Road Centre, Wathwood Hospital, Thorneywood Mount and Arnold Lodge Hospital.

The improvements at the sites, which offer mental health and community services across the Midlands and South Yorkshire, are due to start in the summer with the aim of completing next spring.

The trust, which runs the hospitals, said the funding would support urgent infrastructure projects and create a better environment for patients.

The £2,595,000 grant is part of a national project to improve NHS buildings and infrastructure in England.

At Rampton High Secure Hospital and several others, it is hoped the money will allow a full upgrade of fire safety systems – including alarms, fire compartmentation and suppression technology.

The Wells Road Centre in Mapperley, Nottingham, will benefit from the replacement of ageing machinery.

While at Arnold Lodge, in Leicester, a specialist secure unit, the money will deliver electrical and energy system improvements.

The trust said planning work was under way to ensure the disruption was minimal.

Chief executive at the trust Ifti Majid said the funding was “fantastic news”, adding: “It allows us to fast-track improvements that make our hospitals safer, greener and more welcoming places to receive care and to work.”

Alison Wyld, executive director of finance and estates, added: “By tackling our highest-risk infrastructure now, we’re not only reducing future maintenance costs but also supporting the trust’s net zero ambitions.” BBC

In a bid to further research, the government has enhanced financial limits for the procurement of scientific instruments and consumables by various scientific institutions, including those pursuing research in the defence sector.

According to the amendments to the special provisions in the general financial rules (GFR), vice chancellors and directors of various research and development institutions will now be able to purchase scientific equipment and consumables for research purposes up to ₹2 lakh without seeking any quotations, as against the earlier limit of ₹1 lakh.

Directors, VCs can approve equipment purchases up to ₹200 crore
The financial limit for procuring goods by the Purchase Committee has been enhanced to ₹25 lakh from the existing ₹10 lakh.

The financial limits for procuring goods using the limited tender enquiry (LTE) and advertised tender enquiry have been increased to ₹1 crore from the existing ₹50 lakh.

Vice Chancellors and directors have been designated as competent authorities to approve the issuance of a global tender enquiry up to ₹200 crore for the procurement of scientific equipment and consumables required only for research purposes.

Eased GFR norms to cut delays, empower research
“In a landmark step enabling ease of doing research, the GFR rules have been simplified for procurement of scientific equipment and consumables,” Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said in a post on X.

Singh said the easing of GFR will reduce delays, enhance autonomy and flexibility for research institutions and empower them to innovate faster.

The amendments to the GFR will apply to the departments of science and technology, biotechnology, scientific and industrial research, atomic energy, space, earth sciences, health research, including the Indian Council of Medical Research.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and its affiliated institutions and universities, and educational and research institutes conducting post-graduate, doctoral-level courses or research under any ministry/department will also benefit from the amended GFR. PTI

Marking a strategic healthcare milestone for Assam and the Northeast, the Ambuja Neotia Group marks the group’s first foray outside West Bengal into the region’s private healthcare sector with the inauguration of the Rs 80 crore Neotia Bhagirathi Women and Child Care Centre- the first in Guwahati on Thursday. This 100-bed super-speciality hospital exclusively catering to women and children aims to bridge the persistent gap in high-end reproductive, pediatric, and neonatal healthcare services across the region.

Coming at a time when the Assam government is aggressively building public health infrastructure, the group’s entry underlines a converging momentum of public-private partnerships to meet the region’s surging demand for specialised healthcare, especially in IVF, neonatology, and reproductive medicine. With healthcare demand consistently outpacing capacity in government facilities, this move also signals a broader shift of Tier-II cities in Northeast India into the strategic lens of private healthcare majors.

Speaking exclusively to Business North East (BNE) at the launch, Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman of Ambuja Neotia Group, said, “We are delighted to be in Assam with our first centre outside Bengal. This 100-bed hospital will cater exclusively to women and children, providing services in key areas including reproductive medicine, IVF, and postnatal care. “We hope the people of Assam and the region benefit from the medical protocols and care models we’ve developed,” he added.

Neotia added, “The hospital includes advanced postnatal care and focuses exclusively on specialised services rather than general care. This is only for specialized care, not normal things”.

The Guwahati facility will generate direct employment for over 250 personnel, including around 50 doctors (both full-time and part-time), according to Neotia. While the project cost is pegged at Rs 80 crore, the hospital is expected to serve not just Assam but the broader Northeast region and neighbouring ASEAN countries over time.

He further elaborated, “Apart from healthcare, we are involved in real estate development, hospitality and education. Most of our work has been in West Bengal, but we’ve also done a lot in North Bengal and Sikkim”.

Inaugurating the hospital, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the facility as a “timely and much-needed” private investment that complements the state’s aggressive expansion in public medical infrastructure.

“There is a growing demand for high-quality, specialized services like IVF and reproductive medicine. In the reproductive and IVF sector, which is seeing a fast-growing demand, with the Neotia Bhagirathi Centre, people will no longer need to travel to Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata for such treatment,” said CM Sarma.

“This facility will bring advanced clinical care, cutting-edge technology, and specialised services to women and children, not only in Assam but across the neighbouring states.”

Highlighting the state’s aggressive focus on healthcare infrastructure Assam is currently implementing expansion of public medical infrastructure with 24 medical colleges planned by 2029, out of which 14 are already functional and the rest are in various stages of development. “Guwahati will have two medical colleges, Guwahati Medical College and the upcoming Pragjyotishpur Medical College. We have also taken up a major initiative with an investment of Rs 4,000 crore to upgrade GMCH (Guwahati Medical College and Hospital) into a 5,000-bed super-speciality hospital,” mentioned Sarma during the launch.

Despite this growth, Sarma acknowledged the persistent gap between demand and supply in terms of quality and specialised healthcare. “Even then, I see people not getting enough seats or access to care. The demand is always rising. That is why private investments such as Neotia Bhagirathi Hospital play a critical role in bridging the healthcare gap, especially in areas where demand outpaces government capacity. We are committed to supporting such ventures for operational ease and future expansion.”

According to the Assam Budget 2025–26, the Health and Family Welfare Department has been allocated Rs 5,393 crore, with a major focus on rural health systems, pediatric intensive care, maternal health, essential drugs, diagnostics, and health infrastructure development. An additional Rs 4,449 crore has been earmarked for Women and Child Development, making maternal and child health a key policy priority.

The Neotia Bhagirathi Hospital thus fits seamlessly into this dual public-private growth narrative in Assam’s healthcare. It signals a maturing of Assam’s medical ecosystem, where the government expands access and scale, while the private sector brings in depth, technology, and focused specialisation. As Sarma affirmed, “With this launch, a new standard of excellence in women and children’s healthcare has been achieved. I assure the group of all possible support for the hospital’s operations.” Business Northeast

A newly discovered coronavirus in China poses a significant threat and could spark the next pandemic.

American researchers say the new HKU5-CoV-2 virus is just one ‘small’ mutation away from being able to infect and cause outbreaks in humans.

The discovery is causing alarm because the pathogen is closely related to MERS, a highly lethal virus that kills up to a third of those it infects.

Adding to the controversy is the fact HKU5 was first documented in bats by researchers from the Chinese lab where Covid is feared to have leaked from.

For the latest study, a team from Washington State University studied how the new pathogen interacts with human cells in lab experiments.

Professor Michael Letko, a virologist at Washington State who co-led the study, said: ‘HKU5 viruses in particular really hadn’t been looked at much, but our study shows how these viruses infect cells.

‘What we also found is HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans.’

The findings reveal that a small change in the virus’s spike protein could enable it to bind to human ACE2 cells, which are found in people’s throats, mouths and noses.

Researchers collected the HKU5-CoV-2 strain from a small subset of hundreds of bats swabbed across southern and eastern regions of China.

It is currently only spreading in bats – but experts fear unregulated wildlife trade in China raises risk of spillover events.

In their experiments, the researchers used gene-editing tools to create ‘pseudoviruses’, lab-made virus particles that include the HKU5 spike protein but are harmless and don’t replicate.

These pseudoviruses were introduced to different types of cells, some carrying bat ACE2 and others carrying human ACE2.

The virus glowed green when it successfully entered and replicated inside a cell. Bat cells lit up brightly, showing HKU5 can easily infect them.

Human cells, however, showed little response unless the virus carried specific mutations that improved its ability to latch onto ACE2.

The results raise concern that if HKU5 jumps to an intermediate animal, such as mink or civets, it could acquire mutatations before reaching humans.

The FBI and CIA believe Covid-19 most likely originated from a lab leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which was working with dangerous coronaviruses in the years leading up to the pandemic.

Another theory points to a wet market, where dozens of animals were kept in squalid conditions, possibly serving as an intermediate host before the virus jumped to humans.

The new study published in the Nature Communications, focused on a lesser-known group of coronaviruses known as merbecoviruses, which includes HKU5 and MERS-CoV, the virus responsible for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

MERS spreads from camels to humans and has a fatality rate of about 34 percent.

To visualize the virus’s structure, scientists used cryo-electron microscopy, a high-resolution imaging method that allowed them to examine the spike protein in detail.

They found that key parts of the spike remained in a ‘closed’ position, which makes infection more difficult, but not impossible.

‘These viruses are so closely related to MERS, so we have to be concerned if they ever infect humans,’ Letko said.

‘While there’s no evidence they’ve crossed into people yet, the potential is there and that makes them worth watching.’

Earlier this year, scientists in Wuhan reported that one strain of HKU5, Lineage 2, could already bind to human ACE2 receptors.

That means it might infect human cells without needing to evolve further.

Now, US researchers have broadened the investigation, studying the entire merbecovirus family, not just one strain, but dozens, including MERS-CoV and multiple HKU5 variants, to better understand their potential to infect human cells.

Lineage 2 appears more immediately dangerous, already equipped to enter human cells.

But this new study reveals that several other type of HKU5 viruses may only be a few mutations away from doing the same. Daily Mail

As of June 4, India has recorded over 4,300 active Covid-19 cases, with nearly 300 new infections and seven deaths reported in the past 24 hours. States such as Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi are witnessing a gradual rise, prompting health authorities to step up surveillance and response measures.

In response to the ongoing risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released two key global guidance documents:

Strategic and Operational Plan for Coronavirus Disease Threat Management: 2025–2030

Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005): Extension of the Standing Recommendations for Covid-19

These documents lay out how countries, including India, should navigate the next phase of the pandemic, prepare for future waves, and protect public health without repeating the chaos of previous years.

New WHO documents on Covid-19 strategy and regulations
1. The Strategic and Operational Plan (2025–2030)
This plan outlines how countries should sustainably manage coronavirus threats, including Covid-19, Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers), and potential new variants.

“This plan sets out WHO’s strategic and operational framework to support Member States in the sustained, integrated, evidence-based management of coronavirus disease threats, including Covid-19, Mers, and potential novel coronavirus diseases of public health importance,” the WHO states in the document.

2. Extension of standing recommendations under international health regulations
This is a set of updated global guidelines that will remain in effect until April 30, 2026, helping countries tackle Covid-19 with smarter, integrated strategies.

WHO notes: “The extension of these standing recommendations is necessary to support States Parties in addressing the risk posed by Covid-19 and to prevent or reduce the international spread of Covid-19, as well as its impact on health.”

WHO’s five-point Covid-19 management framework for 2025–2030
According to WHO, Covid-19 should be managed like other ongoing health threats, not as a separate emergency. The plan outlines five key areas of focus:

• Early surveillance and variant tracking
• Strong community engagement
• High-quality clinical care
• Fair access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatment
• Global and national coordination and cooperation

WHO recommendations for India’s Covid-19 response
Both documents are global frameworks meant to guide all WHO Member States, including India, and should be adapted nationally based on context, needs, and public health capacities. For India, this means scaling up what worked and fixing what did not.

WHO recommends that countries:

• Update national Covid-19 readiness and vaccine delivery systems
• Avoid relying on travel restrictions; instead, focus on real-time data and risk assessment
• Continue Covid-19 vaccinations, especially for high-risk groups
• Integrate Covid-19 care with general health services to avoid parallel systems

Are new Covid-19 restrictions likely in India?
Not necessarily. WHO is no longer recommending lockdowns or sweeping travel bans. Instead, it suggests evidence-based measures that do not disrupt daily life—such as early detection of variants, focused vaccinations, and improved public communication.
WHO priorities for long Covid, new variants, and vaccine development

WHO strongly emphasises the need to:

• Continue research on long Covid-19, particularly its effects on productivity, mental health, and quality of life
• Study variant evolution, transmission patterns, and vaccine performance
• Develop new vaccines and therapeutics that can reduce transmission and hospitalisation

Why WHO wants countries to keep sharing Covid-19 data
WHO urges countries to continue sharing data on:

• New cases, deaths, and hospitalisations
• Virus variants and sequencing
• Vaccine effectiveness and adverse events
• Major outbreaks or shifts in virus behaviour

This global sharing helps WHO make timely assessments and prepare for future threats. India has been contributing to this effort but must scale up further.

WHO’s vaccine plan and recommendations for 2025–2030

Yes. WHO advises:

• Vaccinating all high-priority groups with WHO-recommended shots
• Tackling vaccine hesitancy through targeted communication
• Ensuring equitable access, particularly in rural and underserved areas

It also recommends continued improvements in vaccine research, delivery systems, and regulatory frameworks.
How individuals can contribute to India’s Covid preparedness
As cases rise again, WHO’s roadmap is meant not just for policymakers but for the public too. If you travel frequently or spend time in crowded settings, you are at high risk of transmission. Many long Covid-19 sufferers are working-age adults grappling with fatigue, brain fog, and anxiety. You are also among the most connected online—crucial in countering misinformation.

Stay informed, encourage vaccinations, and do not dismiss “mild symptoms”—they may affect others more severely.

The WHO documents are a reminder that complacency is dangerous and that preparedness must become a habit. Business Standard

They came in the dozens. Some in white coats, others in plainclothes. The mohalla clinic staffers gathered outside Delhi Secretariat, staged a sit-in protest and in a memorandum to officials pleaded they not be sacked. Some had received phone calls asking them to resign, others said they hadn’t been paid in two months.

Protest was a last resort, to call attention to the insecurity looming over Delhi’s mohalla clinics since March when Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said in no uncertain terms that these urban primary healthcare units, which he termed “just tin boxes”, would neither be rebranded nor continued. CM Rekha Gupta later assured healthcare workers on 16 May, in media glare, “Jab arogya mandir banenge, hum pehle aap logon ko occupy karenge.”

(Upon transition of mohalla clinics to arogya mandirs, we will give you first preference)

Her words did little to quell panic and speculation among doctors, pharmacists, multi-task workers, nurses and attendants employed at the nearly 553 mohalla clinics across Delhi.

Jitendra Kumar, president of Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinic Union (AAMCU) who was part of the delegation that met minister Singh’s OSD Vaibhav Rikhari on 2 June, told ThePrint, “There were no clear answers. We asked whether existing mohalla clinic staff would be retained in the new arogya mandirs, only vague assurances were given.”

“On salary delays, we were told new officials have been appointed and disbursement will happen soon,” read minutes of the meeting maintained by AAMCU.

In days leading up to the protest Monday, ThePrint visited mohalla clinics in East, South, West, North and Central Delhi, where multiple staffers said they had been handed a ‘one-sided’ MoU with an added clause common across all specialties. Their jobs or positions, it stated, would be valid from 1 April 2025 till 31 March 2026, or until they are replaced by the new staff for the Urban/Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (UAAMs/AAMs), whichever is earlier.

“Is that job security or countdown to my termination,” remarked a pharmacist at a mohalla clinic in Delhi’s South West district who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisal.

Launched in 2015 during Arvind Kejriwal’s second term, the mohalla clinic initiative emerged from ‘sabhas’ (neighbourhood meetings) organised by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), as a way to decentralise primary healthcare. Touted by the previous AAP government as a “healthcare revolution,” these neighbourhood clinics were set up to cater to a population of 10,000 to 15,000 residents, offering accessible and affordable care close to home.

On average, each clinic sees between 70 to 100 patients daily, providing a range of free services that include 212 diagnostic tests through empanelled laboratories and 109 essential medicines from the government’s approved list. The initiative was also praised by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan who in a letter to Kejriwal in 2017 said it “may prove to be a good model to scale up UHC [universal health coverage] in India”.

The idea caught on. A prime example was Karnataka’s Namma Clinics, more than a hundred of which were inaugurated by the previous BJP administration led by Basavaraj Bommai in December 2022. The number of Namma Clinics has grown since the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government came to power in May 2023.

Back in Delhi, soon after it assumed charge the newly elected BJP government announced that mohalla clinics would be ‘replaced’ by arogya mandirs—a model intended to integrate existing primary health facilities under the Centre’s flagship Ayushman Bharat scheme.

In an interview with ThePrint in March, Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh termed mohalla clinics “fundamentally flawed”. It is not viable for government to continue to run some 240 mohalla clinics which are on “rented properties” or suffered “significant financial losses”.

The minister, however, did not clarify whether mohalla clinics would be phased out entirely, or if only units housed on government land would be considered for transition to arogya mandirs—a move that could affect nearly a third of operational centres.

Coupled with the absence of a concrete timeline for the transition, this is what led mohalla clinic staffers to stage a sit-in protest at the Delhi Secretariat on 2 June.

The government, they said, pledged in March to transform primary healthcare in the capital in its first hundred days. But a hundred days later, confusion outweighs clarity. With unclear MoUs, disrupted routines, and unanswered questions about job security, both patients and staff find themselves navigating a system in transition, with little say in the outcome.

AAMCU’s Kumar told ThePrint Wednesday, “We were recruited into mohalla clinics through an exam. Now, the new government wants to introduce new criteria for hiring. Does that mean the exam we cleared no longer holds value just because the government changed?

“I don’t understand this. Why aren’t we being absorbed in the new arogya mandirs? CM said we would be given priority. But in the newly inaugurated AAMs new staff is being hired while old mohalla clinic staff wasn’t even considered. What are we to make of this?” ThePrint