NEW DELHI: HL October 17, 2026
Delhi’s dispensaries are witnessing a significant increase in patient footfall, while outpatient department (OPD) visits at hospitals have declined, according to figures cited in a report by the Delhi Government’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The trend highlights the growing role of primary healthcare facilities in providing treatment for common illnesses and routine medical conditions, potentially helping patients access healthcare closer to their homes while reducing unnecessary visits to larger hospitals.
According to the reported figures, dispensary visits increased from 78,87,620 in 2024–25 to 1,25,08,191 in 2025–26, registering a rise of approximately 46.21 lakh visits. During the same period, hospital OPD visits declined from 2,04,52,172 to 1,92,06,584, a reduction of nearly 12.46 lakh visits.
The figures suggest a shift towards dispensaries for primary medical consultations. However, further analysis would be required to establish how much of the decline in hospital visits is directly attributable to the increased use of dispensaries.
Dispensaries Strengthen Primary Healthcare
Dispensaries play an important role in treating common illnesses, providing basic medical consultations and guiding patients who require specialised investigations or advanced treatment. Strengthening these facilities can help people receive timely care without having to visit large hospitals for every minor health concern.
For patients, accessible primary healthcare can mean shorter travel distances and potentially less waiting time. For hospitals, effective treatment of routine conditions at the primary level may help preserve specialised services for patients who need emergency care, advanced diagnostics or specialist consultations.
Hospital OPD Visits Decline
The DGHS figures cited in the report show that hospital OPD visits fell from more than 2.04 crore in 2024–25 to approximately 1.92 crore in 2025–26.
The decline comes alongside a substantial increase in dispensary visits. While this pattern is consistent with a possible shift towards primary healthcare, patient satisfaction, availability of doctors and medicines, referral patterns, disease trends and hospital capacity would also need to be assessed to understand the reasons behind the change.
Need to Strengthen the Healthcare Network
The figures underline the importance of a well-connected healthcare system in which dispensaries manage routine conditions and hospitals provide specialised and advanced treatment.
Improving staffing, diagnostic facilities, medicine availability and referral systems at dispensaries could further strengthen primary healthcare delivery across Delhi. At the same time, monitoring patient outcomes and ensuring timely referrals will be essential to make certain that the increased use of dispensaries translates into better health outcomes.
