KKN Gurugram Desk | A recent Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has raised serious concerns about the deteriorating condition of Delhi government hospitals. Despite claims of world-class healthcare facilities, the report reveals a severe shortage of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff. It also highlights irregularities in drug procurement, with low-quality medicines being supplied to patients. Furthermore, a significant portion of the allocated budget remains unutilized, affecting healthcare infrastructure.

Massive Shortage of Medical Staff in Delhi Government Hospitals

According to the CAG audit, Delhi’s medical colleges and government hospitals are facing a severe shortage of medical professionals. The report states:

• Doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff are insufficient, leading to increased patient burden.
• Despite announcements to double the number of hospital beds, the initiative remains incomplete.
• The budget allocated for healthcare projects between 2016-17 and 2021-22 remained underutilized by 13.29% to 78.41%.

Mismanagement in Drug Procurement: Substandard Medicines Supplied

The CAG report has also exposed serious lapses in medicine procurement. The findings indicate that:

• Essential Drug Lists (EDL) were not updated annually. In 10 years, the EDL was revised only three times.
• Central Procurement Agency (CPA), responsible for purchasing medicines, failed to supply all essential drugs.
• Hospitals received medicines from suppliers directly, bypassing CPA regulations.
• Some medicines were of poor quality, and by the time quality test reports arrived, these drugs had already been administered.

Delay in Drug Testing and Quality Control Lapses

The CAG audit revealed flaws in the drug testing process, affecting patient safety:

• Testing labs lacked accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
• Delayed drug quality checks resulted in hospitals receiving and using low-quality medicines before certification.
• Blacklisted and banned firms were involved in drug supply, raising concerns about corruption and mismanagement.

52% Shortage of Drug Control Department Staff

The Drug Control Department is also in crisis, with 52% of positions vacant. The shortage is even worse for Drug Inspectors, where 62% of positions remain unfilled. Due to the lack of advanced equipment and manpower in drug testing labs, reports take longer than expected, delaying corrective actions.

Additional Healthcare Irregularities Found in CAG Audit

The CAG report has highlighted multiple irregularities in Delhi’s public healthcare system, including:

• 33% to 47% of essential medicines were procured from local chemists due to unavailability from CPA.
• Only 24 out of 86 tenders issued by CPA were successfully allocated, delaying drug procurement.
• Shortages of critical medicines like Hemophilia and Anti-Rabies Injections were reported.
• CPA took 2-3 months to procure medicines and receive quality testing reports, causing delays.

Budget Mismanagement: Funds Remain Unused

Despite increasing demand for better medical facilities, a major portion of the allocated healthcare budget has gone unspent. Between 2016-17 and 2021-22, the Delhi government failed to utilize up to 78.41% of the healthcare budget.

Experts believe that delays in infrastructure projects, corruption in procurement, and lack of accountability are the main reasons for the underutilization of funds.

CAG Report to be Presented in Delhi Assembly

The CAG report on Delhi’s healthcare system will soon be tabled in the Delhi Assembly. The findings are expected to trigger a political debate over the mismanagement of healthcare services.

Delhi Government Faces Criticism Over Healthcare Crisis

The Delhi government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been promoting its healthcare model as one of the best in India. However, the CAG findings contradict these claims, exposing serious deficiencies in government hospitals and medical colleges.

Opposition leaders and healthcare experts have criticized the government for:

• Failing to recruit doctors and medical staff, leading to a severe staff shortage.
• Allowing low-quality medicines to be distributed in hospitals without proper checks.
• Neglecting critical drug shortages, affecting emergency medical care.
• Mismanaging funds, resulting in delayed healthcare projects.

Political Reactions to CAG Report

The Delhi Assembly is expected to witness heated debates over the CAG report. Critics argue that the Delhi government must take immediate action to address the healthcare crisis.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government is likely to defend itself, citing previous healthcare achievements, such as the Mohalla Clinics initiative. However, the CAG findings raise serious concerns about transparency and efficiency in Delhi’s public healthcare sector.

Conclusion: Urgent Reforms Needed in Delhi’s Healthcare System

The CAG report has exposed the harsh reality of Delhi’s public healthcare system, highlighting staff shortages, mismanagement in drug procurement, and underutilization of healthcare funds.

Key Takeaways from the CAG Report:

• Severe shortage of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff in government hospitals and medical colleges.
• Mismanagement in drug procurement, with low-quality medicines supplied to hospitals.
• Delays in drug testing, leading to the use of substandard medicines.
• 52% staff shortage in the Drug Control Department, affecting quality checks.
• Unspent healthcare budget, with up to 78.41% funds left unused.

What Needs to Be Done?

• Immediate recruitment of medical professionals to fill vacancies in government hospitals.
• Strict quality control for drug procurement and transparent tender allocation.
• Upgrading drug testing laboratories with modern equipment and adequate staffing.
• Ensuring full utilization of the healthcare budget to improve hospital infrastructure.

If immediate action is not taken, Delhi’s public healthcare system will continue to decline, affecting millions of residents who rely on government hospitals for medical treatment.

The Delhi government must address these issues urgently to rebuild trust in its healthcare model and ensure better medical facilities for all.