CAG report exposes gaps in Delhi’s healthcare infrastructure, CAG report, Delhi healthcare, hospital, equipments, staff, Delhi government, aap, rekha gupta, bjp

The report revealed that infrastructure development has fallen far short of government promises, with only 1,357 hospital beds added between 2016 and 2021 against the planned 10,000. Several hospital projects have been delayed by up to six years, and 15 allocated plots for new healthcare facilities remain unused.

A critical shortage of essential medical equipment has also impacted patient care. Intensive care unit (ICU) services were found lacking, with Lok Nayak Hospital’s (LNH) medicine department reporting that five of its 12 ECG machines were non-functional as of March 2020. One machine went missing in July 2020, and while a case was filed in February 2021, no further details were provided. Other essential equipment such as pulse oximeters, glucometers, X-ray viewers, thermometers and blood pressure monitors were also missing from healthcare facilities, including Mohalla Clinics.

The audit also flagged financial mismanagement as a key issue. The National Health Mission funds worth Rs 510.71 crore were left unutilised, and Delhi’s health expenditure stood at just 0.79 per cent of its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), far below the 2.5 per cent target set under the National Health Policy 2017. More than 57 per cent of funds allocated for maternal and child health programmes remained unused.

Public hospitals have been struggling with staff shortages, leading to long waiting times for surgeries and inadequate emergency services. A 21 per cent shortage of nursing staff was recorded across major hospitals, with GB Pant Hospital reporting a 34 per cent shortfall, GTB Hospital 28 per cent, LNH 20 per cent, and Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital 33 per cent. Over 30 per cent of vacancies were found in 19 paramedical categories, including occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Emergency services in hospitals have been severely affected due to a lack of permanent specialist doctors. In test-checked hospitals, operation theatres were underutilised because of manpower shortages, and the waiting time for surgeries ranged from one to 10 months. A shortfall of teaching and non-teaching specialists has further worsened delays, with some procedures being postponed for up to six months.

The Mohalla Clinic project, a key initiative of the previous AAP government, was found to be lacking in critical resources. A review of 74 Mohalla Clinics revealed that none had the full stock of 165 essential medicines. Additionally, the Central Procurement Agency failed to supply up to 47 per cent of essential drugs, forcing hospitals to purchase medicines from private vendors. Delays in quality testing led to the inadvertent use of substandard medicines.

Staff shortages also led to prolonged clinic closures. The audit found that 41 of the 218 Mohalla Clinics in four selected districts remained shut for periods ranging from 15 days to nearly two years due to doctors resigning, leaving, or being on extended leave. The report further highlighted that around 70 per cent of patients visiting these clinics between October 2022 and March 2023 spent less than a minute with a doctor.

Basic amenities in hospitals were also found to be lacking. A joint inspection of LNH revealed that its new outpatient department (OPD) block lacked toilets for patients and attendants, forcing visitors to use facilities in the Emergency and Casualty building. Similarly, an inspection of Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya found only one water cooler on the ground floor, despite the OPD operating on the first floor as well. Complaints regarding the issue had gone unattended.

This is the second CAG report tabled in the Delhi Assembly, following the audit on the Delhi liquor policy released last Tuesday. Twelve reports on the performance of the previous AAP government are expected to be presented by the Rekha Gupta-led BJP administration in the coming weeks.