Delhi Faces 30% Doctor Shortage, Minister Blames LG for Inaction

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed on Tuesday that there is a nearly 30 per cent shortage of doctors and specialists at several city hospitals. Despite repeated requests to the lieutenant governor, no efforts have been made to fill these vacancies. He also said excuses such as the chief minister's unavailability and the lack of an NCCSA meeting are being cited by the LG's office to delay the appointments for these positions.

Hitting back at the minister, the LG Secretariat alleged that Bharadwaj had failed miserably in looking after the departments that he is in charge of. "He now seems to have got a fresh brief of retaining his ministerial position by pointlessly abusing the LG without any basis daily," it said.

Shortage of Medical Staff

Bharadwaj's remarks came at a press meet where he also discussed the measures taken by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi to combat the spread of dengue. "We have requested that warnings and awareness announcements be made across all metro stations, bus stations and other public transport hubs to inform people about dengue prevention," he said.

Emphasising that it is important that all government hospitals in Delhi are fully equipped to handle dengue cases, Bharadwaj said he has suggested several measures to the health secretary but is unsure if those steps have been implemented. "I have directed the health secretary to visit one government hospital every day to check that all necessary dengue-related equipment is available. However, I am uncertain if these visits have commenced. If not, I will personally visit the hospitals and ensure compliance," he said.

Efforts to Combat Dengue

The Delhi health minister further said he held a meeting with the health secretary and other officials on Friday and pointed out that his previous directions are yet to be implemented. "We have asked all schools to ensure that students wear full-sleeve clothing as a protective measure against mosquito bites, but I am not sure if this directive is being effectively followed," he added.

"I have also directed that the police and transport departments be informed about breeding sites and said the district magistrate and sub-divisional magistrate should also take up enforcement work," the AAP leader said.

He also accused the LG's office of spreading rumours and deliberately obstructing the recruitment process in Delhi government hospitals. Bharadwaj alleged that whenever a major crisis occurs in Delhi and the blame is placed on LG V K Saxena, who has been appointed by the BJP-led Centre, the response from his office is always evasive.

Accusations Against LG's Office

He cited a recent incident at the Asha Kiran Home Shelter, where 13 residents died due to a lack of doctors and paramedical staff, and alleged that this was a direct result of the LG's failure to appoint necessary medical personnel, despite having full control over transfers and postings. The minister accused the LG's office of issuing a misleading statement claiming that the absence of an NCCSA meeting prevented the appointment of staff at the Asha Kiran Home Shelter. However, following a court order, these appointments were made without the need for an NCCSA meeting, exposing the lie propagated by the LG's office, he added.

Many hospitals are being managed by a single director or medical superintendent, who is often overburdened with responsibilities due to the lack of staff, Bharadwaj said. Despite multiple letters sent to the LG, highlighting that nearly 30 per cent of doctors and specialists positions remain vacant, the LG's office has responded with excuses, such as the unavailability of the chief minister and the lack of an NCCSA meeting, he said.

Response from Raj Niwas

The National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) is chaired by the Delhi chief minister and includes the chief secretary and principal secretary home, who serves as its secretary. The panel was formed in May last year to make decisions on service matters, including transfers and postings of Group A officers and disciplinary action against officials in Delhi government.

Rebutting Bharadwaj's charges, Raj Niwas posted on X: "Shri @ArvindKejriwal's AAP propaganda of SHAMEFUL Abuse and Scoot EXPOSED by their own X handle. These are NOT transfer posting done by NCCSA/LG -- it's never done. They are internal work allocation of engineers by PWD under AAP. Even the attached order says it's done by Pr Secy, PWD."

In another post on X, Raj Niwas said it has taken cognisance of this proof of deliberate defamatory misinformation from an official X handle. "While Delhi and its people reel under garbage, sewerage, waste, contaminated water, malaria and dengue due to misgovernance over 10 years, AAP ministers do nothing but criminal tamasha," it said.

Allegations Against Health Ministers

Blaming Bharadwaj and his predecessor, the LG Secretariat stated it is because of their ineptness that even creating 38,000 posts for ghost hospitals has yet to start. The AAP government has to define scale, specialisations and quantum of posts needed before creating posts can commence. No effort has been made to procure beds or finalise designs for operation theatres or allocate budget for these things.

"Even as health ministers who also doubled up as PWD ministers awarded contracts worth thousands of crores for hospital construction, they did not move a single paper for manpower or medical equipment requirements thereof," it alleged. These hospitals were supposed to be completed in six months, according to LG Secretariat.

Dengue Awareness Campaigns

Regarding public awareness on dengue, Bharadwaj said there are plans to raise awareness through radio advertisements, campaigns, posters, hoardings, newspapers and announcements in metro and public transport stations.

Sharing details about dengue cases reported this year at Delhi government-run Lok Nayak Hospital, Dr Suresh Kumar stated: "Every year during monsoon we see a rise in dengue cases due to waterlogging. Like last year we are treating both children and adults with fever and low-platelet counts. As of now we have 60 patients but fortunately none has severe complications."

The officer at Asha Kiran Home knows fully well he was posted there by his government and not LG's office.