Empty government clinic leaves villagers without promised healthcare

A government-funded health clinic in Bhimakheda village, Mahidpur, stands empty despite being open daily. Built three years ago at considerable expense, the facility operates from 9 am to 5 pm but offers no medical services due to shortages of staff and supplies. Patients arriving for treatment are turned away, leaving residents frustrated and demanding action.

The Mukhya Mantri Sanjeevani Clinic near the old high school grounds on Deviji Mandir Road was meant to provide essential healthcare. Instead, it remains non-functional, with no doctors, nurses, or medicines available. A second clinic in front of the Bhimakheda Panchayat faces the same issue—locked and unused since its inauguration.

Across Madhya Pradesh, 1,506 of the planned 5,000 such clinics were operational as of February 2026. These are spread across 52 districts, with at least 20 clinics in each urban and rural area, including Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, and Gwalior. Yet, in Bhimakheda, the lack of resources has rendered the facility useless.

Local residents continue to visit, only to leave disappointed. Block Medical Officer Shobhana Bhabar, responsible for oversight, was unavailable for comment, reportedly engaged in training.

The clinic's failure to function has left villagers without access to promised health insurance. Authorities now face growing pressure to address the shortages and ensure the facility meets its intended purpose. Without intervention, the building will remain a costly but empty structure.