Bengaluru
Despite Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao’s directive to extend the operating hours of clinics until 8 pm, nearly a month has passed, and the directive remains unimplemented. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palika (BBMP) Chief Health Officer, AS Balasunder, disclosed that approximately 100 clinics have yet to receive official instructions from the state government regarding the extended hours. While expressing readiness for the change, Balasunder cited a shortage of human resources within the health system as a significant challenge in implementing the directive across all 243 our clinics in the city. Presently, our clinics operate between 9 am to 4 pm, providing essential healthcare services to the public. Balasunder explained that doubling the existing staff would be necessary to extend the working hours of all 243 clinics until 8 pm. This resource shortage poses a considerable obstacle to realizing the minister’s vision of extended clinic hours. BBMP Special Commissioner (Health), Dr. KV Trilok Chandra, emphasized that no communication has been received from the government regarding the implementation of the new timings. He further suggested that discussions on the feasibility of the extended hours should be conducted, taking the resource shortage into account. The decision to extend clinic hours originated from Health Minister Gundurao’s visit to the Mohalla Clinic operated by the AAP-led government in Delhi on August 4. This visit sparked controversy and prompted the minister to announce the extension of hours for ‘our clinics’ the following day. However, the delay in implementation has raised concerns about the practicality of this directive and highlighted the need for a comprehensive plan to address staffing shortages within the healthcare system.
