14 hospitals do not have ICU, 12 do not have ambulances, Mohalla clinics do not even have toilets… CAG report makes big revelations on Delhi’s ‘health’

New Delhi: The Comptroller and Auditor General’s report on Delhi’s health services has made many shocking revelations. According to sources, the CAG report has exposed serious mismanagement, financial negligence and lack of accountability in Delhi’s public health care system during the last 6 years. The CAG report states that 14 hospitals in Delhi do not have ICUs, while 12 hospitals do not have ambulances and Mohalla clinics do not have toilets.

Big revelation in CAG report

According to the report, out of the Rs 787.91 crore received from the Central Government to deal with Covid-19, only Rs 582.84 crore was spent, while the rest of the amount remained unused. Due to this, there was a huge shortage of essential facilities during the Corona crisis. There have been many shocking revelations in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report regarding Delhi’s health services. According to the report, out of Rs 787.91 crore received from the central government to deal with Kovid-19, only Rs 582.84 crore was spent, while the rest of the amount remained unused. Due to this, there was a huge shortage of essential facilities during the Corona crisis.

Allegations of ignoring funds and corruption

According to the report, out of Rs 52 crore received for the recruitment and salary of health workers, Rs 30.52 crore was not spent. It is clear from this that the government did not recruit enough health workers, due to which people had to face great difficulties in treatment during the epidemic. Similarly, out of Rs 119.85 crore received for medicines, PPE kits and other medical supplies, Rs 83.14 crore was not spent.

Huge shortage of beds in government hospitals
The Delhi government had promised to add 32,000 new beds between 2016-17 and 2020-21, but only 1,357 beds were added, which is just 4.24% of the total target. A huge shortage of beds was seen in many hospitals of the capital, where bed occupancy ranged from 101% to 189%, that is, two patients were kept on the same bed or patients had to be treated on the floor.

Delay in hospital projects and huge increase in cost
The report also said that three new hospitals were built in Delhi, but all the projects were started during the tenure of the previous government. There was a delay of 5 to 6 years in their construction and the cost also increased.

• Indira Gandhi Hospital: Delay of 5 years, cost increased by Rs 314.9 crore.
• Burari Hospital: Delay of 6 years, cost increased by Rs 41.26 crore.
• MA Dental Hospital (Phase-2): 3 years delay, cost increased by Rs 26.36 crore.

Huge shortage of doctors and staff

• 8,194 posts are lying vacant in Delhi’s government hospitals and health departments.
• There is a shortage of 21% nursing staff and 38% paramedical staff.
• 50-74% shortage of doctors was found in Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital and Janakpuri Super Specialty Hospital.
• Severe shortage of nursing staff of 73-96% was recorded.

Long wait for surgery, many equipments were damaged

• In Lok Nayak Hospital, one had to wait for 2-3 months for major surgery and 6-8 months for burn and plastic surgery.
• In Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalay, one had to wait for 12 months for pediatric surgery.
• Many X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound machines were lying idle in hospitals like CNBC, RGSSH and JSSH.

Lack of essential services and poor condition of Mohalla clinics

• Out of 27 hospitals, ICU service was not available in 14.
• There was no blood bank facility in 16 hospitals.
• There was no oxygen supply in 8 hospitals.
• There was no ambulance facility in 12 hospitals.
• Even the CATS ambulances were being run without necessary equipment.

The condition of Mohalla clinics was also found to be poor:

• There were no toilets in 21 Mohalla clinics.
• There was no power backup facility in 15 clinics.
• There was not even a table for doctors in 6 clinics.
• There was no facility for the disabled in 12 clinics.

The CAG report has exposed the reality of Delhi’s health services. The lack of proper use of funds received by the government during the Covid period points to a huge lack of essential facilities in hospitals, severe shortage of staff and corruption. Now the government will have to answer for this negligence related to public health.