In a recent development, Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has expressed his “disappointment and concern” over the state of public health infrastructure in Delhi in a three-page letter addressed to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The letter, dated February 3, highlighted the Delhi High Court’s remarks on the inadequate health infrastructure, media reports on the lack of essential facilities, and a case where a man died after being denied treatment due to non-functioning equipment in government hospitals.
LG Saxena urged Chief Minister Kejriwal to provide a “time-bound response” and submit a factual report on the condition of the health sector. The LG emphasized the need for a world-class healthcare system in the capital, criticizing the current state as one “plagued by systemic dysfunction and neglect.”
Saxena’s communication pointed out that the government inherited a robust health infrastructure, further supplemented by health institutions run by the Government of India. He highlighted the availability of ample funds and the best medical manpower, stating that such resources leave little room for inaction and failures.
The LG noted that he had previously raised related issues in June 2023 to enhance public health infrastructure and bed capacity in the city. He emphasized that the bed capacity has been stagnant for the past decade, and recent incidents, such as fake tests on ghost patients in Mohalla clinics and reports of drug tests failing efficacy tests, demand urgent attention.
In response to the LG’s concerns, Chief Minister Kejriwal shifted the blame to two bureaucrats—the health secretary and the finance secretary. He urged LG Saxena to replace both officials and accused Health Secretary Deepak Kumar of being inefficient and openly defying orders. Kejriwal stated, “How can an elected government function if the seniormost bureaucrat in that department refuses to follow the orders?”
The Chief Minister also accused Finance Secretary Ashish Verma of stopping payments for medicines, lab tests, doctors’ salaries, and the farishetey scheme, thereby “paralyzing the entire health system.” In his defense, Verma stated, “The finance department has nothing to do with the matter. All hospitals have been given sufficient allocation in the budget which, in any case, is decided by the cabinet.”
As the situation unfolds, the health secretary has yet to respond to requests for comment. The exchange between the LG and the CM sheds light on the deep-rooted issues within Delhi’s health infrastructure, raising concerns about its efficiency and management. The public awaits further developments and concrete actions to address the challenges highlighted by both the LG and the CM.
Sources By Agencies
