The Services dept under Hon’ble LG did not fill up the huge vacancies of doctors, specialists and paramedics – Saurabh Bharadwaj

The Hon’ble High Court of Delhi had in its own motion initiated a writ petition in 2017 and had invested its valuable time in the larger interest of Delhi.  Health Minister, Govt. of NCT of Delhi in his status report earlier this month had submitted that he strongly believed that indulgence of the Hon’ble Bench of Acting Chief Justice of High Court would go a long way in ensuring better health services in Delhi.
 
Health Minister, Govt. of NCT of Delhi in his status report to High Court had welcomed the constitution of the Committee comprising of experts and expressed his gratefulness towards the Hon’ble Court for taking into consideration the suggestions made by him in the status reports filed on 05.02.2024 & 12.02.2024 with respect to its constitution and terms of reference.
 
Secretary (Health) attempted to paint a false rosy picture before the Hon’ble Court regarding the available health infrastructure and manpower by bypassing Health Minister, Govt. of NCT of Delhi. On learning about the same, Health Minister, Govt. of NCT of Delhi was left with no option but to place the status reports under his own signature, containing the true facts, before the Hon’ble Court through the Standing Counsel of Govt. of NCT of Delhi.  
 
For almost a decade, the Services Department, GNCTD is under the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Delhi and the elected government has no power with respect to recruitment of manpower (doctors, specialists & paramedics). Consequently, large numbers of sanctioned posts were not filled and are lying vacant since years together. Moreover, new posts have not been created proportionately. Even for the upcoming hospitals , new positions have not been created.
 
Unlike other sectors, health sector is a manpower intensive sector and creation of infrastructure without adequate positioning of requisite manpower is of no use.
 
Time and again, Health Department, GNCTD and the Hon’ble LG was requested by Health Minister, Govt. of NCT of Delhi to fill the vacant sanctioned posts of doctors, specialists & paramedics on contractual basis till regular incumbents join through UPSC/DSSSB. Health Minister believes that indulgence of High Court would help in filling up vacant positions of Doctors and specialists.
 
 Since more than 75% of sanctioned posts of radiologists are lying vacant, the existing radiological equipments are either not being optimally utilized or not being utilized at all leading to problems and long waiting times in diagnosis like CT scan, MRI etc. Therefore, Health Minister, Govt. of NCT of Delhi repeatedly directed the Health Secratary to outsource the radiological services under PPP mode so that the present practice of allotting long dates (in many instances for three years) to patients for tests like MRI, CT Scan, etc. is done away with and patients are provided timely treatment. The file for PPP outsourcing of Radiological Tests has been going around since May 2022.
 
Health Minister, Govt. of NCT of Delhi has also requested the Hon’ble Court to closely monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee so that better health facilities are available to the people, especially poor and needy, undergoing treatment in hospitals in NCT of Delhi.
 
Health Minister, Govt. of NCT of Delhi expressed his gratitude towards the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi for sparing its precious time in order to safeguard the healthcare needs of citizens.