For many of us, especially in crowded cities like Delhi, a clinic is more than just four walls with a doctor inside. It’s where a rickshaw driver goes when his child has a fever. It’s where an elderly mother gets her blood pressure checked without paying thousands at a private hospital. It’s where a young worker, earning daily wages, finds affordable treatment without losing half his income on medicines.
That’s why the fight between AAP’s Mohalla Clinics and BJP’s Ayushman Arogya Mandirs is not just a political game, it feels personal. When clinics shut down or change names, it is the common man who suffers first.
Mohalla Clinics: AAP’s promise of care near home
When Arvind Kejriwal’s government started Mohalla Clinics in Delhi, the idea sounded simple: ‘healthcare at your doorstep.’ People could walk in, meet a doctor, get medicines, and even basic tests all for free.
For a vegetable seller, this was a blessing. No need to stand in long lines at big hospitals, no need to spend ₹500 just for a consultation. The clinics were small, often inside neighbourhoods, making them feel like a part of daily life.
Over time, these clinics became AAP’s political identity. For supporters, they showed that politics could actually deliver something useful to ordinary citizens. For critics, they were ‘too small’ or ‘not enough’ to handle serious health issues. But for the common man, they mattered because they were accessible and affordable.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs: BJP’s big healthcare push
The BJP, on the other hand, has been talking about Ayushman Bharat at the national level, a massive scheme that promises free healthcare up to ₹5 lakh per family per year in empanelled hospitals. Recently, the government also announced the idea of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, set up in local areas to provide primary care.
For many people, the scheme sounds impressive; ‘free treatment in big hospitals’ is no small thing. But when you dig deeper, the questions begin:
- How many poor families know how to apply for the scheme?
- Are private hospitals always willing to accept Ayushman cards?
- Will these Ayushman Mandirs actually reach every colony and slum, like Mohalla Clinics do?
This is where people start comparing the two models one is local and simple (Mohalla Clinics), the other is large and ambitious (Ayushman).
The ground reality: Patients caught in politics
Now comes the real issue when politics enters healthcare, patients often become the losers. Recently, there have been reports of Mohalla Clinics facing shutdowns or funding delays. Some say it’s mismanagement, others say it’s politics. But for the patient standing outside a closed clinic, the reason does not matter.
Imagine a daily wage worker who used to get free medicines from the clinic. One day, he finds it locked. Should he wait for AAP and BJP to sort out their fight? No, he has to rush to a private chemist and pay ₹200 for medicines. That’s his dinner money gone.
For the elderly who need regular check-ups, the uncertainty is even worse. They don’t care whether the clinic is called ‘Mohalla’ or ‘Ayushman.’ They just want a doctor nearby who will treat them with dignity.
A political battle with real human costs
What we are witnessing is not just about healthcare, it’s about political branding.
AAP wants to be remembered as the party that gave Delhi ‘clinics in every neighbourhood.’
BJP wants to be seen as the party that provides ‘healthcare for every Indian family.’
Both slogans sound good, but when their fight leads to closed clinics, delayed medicines, or confused patients, the real question arises: ‘Who is thinking about us, the people, in this battle?’
The fight between AAP’s Mohalla Clinics and BJP’s Ayushman Mandirs shows how healthcare has become a tool of political competition. But for millions of Indians, this is not a game. It’s about whether they can afford to fall sick or not.As a common man, one thing is clear: healthcare should not depend on elections, parties, or power struggles. It should be a right, guaranteed, and accessible to all.Until politicians stop fighting over names and start working together, it is the ordinary citizen who will keep paying the price.
For a common person from a poor family, it does not really matter whether BJP or AAP is in power. What truly concerns them is whether their healthcare and daily survival will be affected. For many households, free medicines are not just a facility but a lifeline, as even a few hundred rupees can disrupt their monthly budget. Women, elderly patients, and children who were dependent on these medicines now live with the fear of uncertainty. Will this support continue, or will they be left to struggle on their own? For the poor, the real question is simple: will they still get the medicines they need without worrying about the cost?
