During her speech, CM Gupta referenced the Critique of AAP Government’s Health Infrastructure Management as outlined in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. She emphasized that the Mohalla Clinic scheme was fundamentally flawed. According to Gupta, “Everything related to Mohalla Clinics was fake – medicine, staff, and tests – but only one thing was real: the payments.”
The CM noted alarming statistics, revealing that 234 duty medical officer positions are vacant, alongside over 2,000 nursing roles and nearly 2,800 paramedic vacancies. The current state of the health system raises serious concerns about accessibility and quality of care for the residents of Delhi.
Gupta also criticized wasteful expenditures, claiming that hospitals are filled with unused PPE kits, masks, and oxygen cylinders. “During Covid, one mask costing Rs 10 was bought for Rs 150 to swindle money,” she stated, pointing to findings from the CAG report that underscore the financial mismanagement under the AAP government.
Project Delays and Financial Mismanagement
Another major issue highlighted by Gupta was the failure to complete 24 hospital projects initiated by the previous regime. Many of these projects have seen their costs double, yet they remain far from completion. Even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has reportedly acknowledged his failures in fulfilling promises related to health and sanitation, including cleaning the Yamuna and ensuring access to clean water.
The opposition members, visibly shaken by the revelations from the CAG reports, walked out in protest during Gupta’s address. The Health Minister, Critique of AAP Government’s Pankaj Kumar Singh, also lamented the AAP government’s inability to fully utilize funds allocated by the Centre during the pandemic. He revealed that the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) received a total of Rs 787.91 crore but only utilized Rs 542.84 crore by November 2021.
Future Commitments and Improvements
In light of these criticisms, the current government has pledged to introduce a Hospital Information Management System (HIMS), which will assign unique patient IDs and streamline healthcare services. This system aims to enhance the efficiency of treatment by making all patient information readily available online.
The Health Minister concluded by assuring the public that the government is committed to complying with a Delhi High Court order regarding the establishment of radiological diagnosis services, which is expected to commence by November 2024.
For more insights into the ongoing developments in Delhi’s healthcare system, visit The Hans Bharat.
