The new BJP government’s report presented in the Delhi Assembly by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) highlighted that Delhi’s healthcare infrastructure is suffering from neglect, severe shortages of equipment, and a lack of healthcare personnel.
The seven-page CAG report highlighted the “alarming state” of ‘mohalla’ clinics in Delhi, a key initiative of the previous Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration.
The CAG report highlighted that hospitals in Delhi lacked sufficient doctors and nurses, essential equipment in ambulances and ICUs, and there was a shortage of funding for maternal health initiatives.
ALSO READ: Manipur Governor must clear the air on Arambai Tenggol’s claim
The report noted that there was “intentional inaction concerning a critical lack of medical infrastructure,” further mentioning, “Key audit findings include staffing shortages in multiple healthcare facilities, inadequacies in patient care such as lack of medications and equipment in hospitals, delays in medicine distribution, extended waiting periods for diagnostic services and surgeries, postponements in finishing health infrastructure projects, and shortcomings in the execution of central and state-funded health sector schemes, among others.”
Here are key highlights from the CAG report regarding Delhi’s healthcare infrastructure:
The report mentioned that the AAP administration utilized Rs 582.84 out of the Rs 787.91 crore provided by the Centre amid the Covid pandemic. The unutilized sum comprised Rs 30.52 crore for human resources, indicating an “insufficient payment to, and reduced allocation of, staff.”
Furthermore, Rs 119.95 crore was allocated for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, such as PPE, or personal protective equipment; however, a significant shortage of PPEs was noted during the pandemic, as the CAG report indicated that only Rs 83.14 crore of this sum was utilized.
The report indicated that the AAP government did not use the budget effectively to expand hospital beds; between the 2016/17 and 2020/21 budgets, provisions for 32,000 were allocated, yet only 1,357 were added. In addition, occupancy ranged from an impressive 101 percent to 189 percent.
The report indicated that the bed shortage was accompanied by a “major deficiency of workforce in the public health sector,” highlighting a gap of more than 2,000 personnel across five facilities, including Lok Nayak Hospital and Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya.
