Mumbai: The Maharashtra state health department is considering halting the free medication supply under its flagship Aapla Dawakhana initiative and instead linking these clinics to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi scheme, which provides medication at subsidised rates.
“There is a separate budget for Aapla Dawakhana, which covers everything from recruitment to medicine procurement. It will continue as is for the next two years. By 2027, the state will either continue to supply free medicines or link to PM Jan Aushadhi. The central linkage will help the state manage funds,” said Dr Swapnil Lale, the state’s director of health services.
Since its launch, the health department established 417 ‘Hindurhiday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhanas’ across 34 districts, providing care to 36 lakh in urban areas—though this number is disproportionately small compared to Maharashtra’s urban population of over 5 crore, including a vast slum population.
Dr Lale said, “There were some challenges in securing rented spaces for these clinics. They need to be located along main roads, not within residential interiors, and require ample space. The rental costs for such locations can exceed our budgetary allocations.”
The 2023-24 state budget allocated Rs 3,501 crore to the initiative, with plans to establish 283 more clinics. Notably, 244 Aapla Dawakhanas are currently operating in Mumbai, serving an additional 38 lakh since the scheme’s 2022 launch and expansion. Across Maharashtra, the initiative is managed by the state health department, while in Mumbai, the BMC —which originally launched the programme in the state—oversees both funding and operations.
Each clinic is staffed by a medical officer, nurse, multi-purpose health worker (MPW), attendant, and cleaning staff. While patients receive free medications, diagnostic services are offered at subsidised rates through a govt partnership with HLL Diagnostics. However, public health activists, like Dr Abhay Shukla, National Co-convener of Jan Swashtya Abhiyan, argue that the scheme—modelled after Delhi’s mohalla clinics—was less effective outside Mumbai.
“The figures are misleading and represent just a drop in the ocean. It may have worked in Mumbai, but not elsewhere. The focus should have been on upgrading public hospitals, particularly after recent tragedies in Nanded and Kalva, and expanding existing govt-run health and wellness centres. The scheme reflects tokenism rather than a genuine strengthening of public health in Maharashtra’s urban areas,” Dr Shukla said.