Delhi govt. appoints 1,388 nurses; rolls out Ayushman vans to strengthen health services 

The Delhi government on Sunday (July 6, 2025) handed appointment letters to 1,388 nursing officers and 41 paramedical staff, and flagged off Ayushman Bharat registration vans to help eligible residents, especially from the weaker sections, to enrol for the Ayushman Bharat and Vaya Vandana Yojana schemes.

At a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda called the appointments a “historic initiative” that bridges a 15-year gap in Delhi’s healthcare recruitment. “This is not just a recruitment drive but a turning point, marking the beginning of a new era of specialist human resources in the Capital’s healthcare system,” he said.

Mr. Nadda said Delhi was now reaping the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which the previous government had failed to implement. “We are now moving from treatment to prevention. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs will offer free screening for multiple diseases. This is a holistic, sensitive and pre-emptive approach, far ahead of cosmetic schemes like Mohalla Clinics,” he said.

He also credited the “double-engine government” for driving reforms and addressing long-neglected employment and healthcare issues.

Policy shift

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta accused the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of letting Delhi’s health infrastructure collapse and alleged corruption in both the Mohalla Clinics initiative and hospital expansion projects. “Earlier, Delhi had only 0.42 hospital beds per 1,000 people. In 38 hospitals, there were just six MRI and 12 CT scan machines. Patients were regularly turned away due to medicine shortages,” she said.

Highlighting her government’s progress, Ms. Gupta said 34 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have already been inaugurated, with many more coming up this month. “We plan to add 100 Arogya Mandirs every month and aim to complete all 1,150 by March next year,” she said.

Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh said more than 4 lakh people have been registered under Ayushman Bharat in the Capital, including over 2 lakh senior citizens above 70. “Already, 2,258 patients have availed themselves of treatment under the scheme. Currently, 108 hospitals in Delhi are empanelled under Ayushman Bharat, and the number continues to grow,” he said.