In a decisive mandate, the Delhi High Court has ordered the Delhi government to finalize the construction of three government hospitals by the end of the current financial year. This directive was issued during a hearing on October 15, where the court emphasized the urgency of finishing the projects, which are already 96% complete, to prevent the wastage of already incurred expenditures.
The hospitals in question, Guru Gobind Singh Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, and Acharya Shree Bhikshu Govt. Hospital, are crucial for enhancing healthcare facilities in the capital. The court also mandated the creation of necessary posts for these hospitals within the next 15 days, directing the Finance Department of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to provide the required financial sanctions immediately.
This directive stems from a suo motu case initiated by the court in 2017, addressing concerns over the lack of critical care facilities in government hospitals. The recent developments highlighted the court’s concern over delayed healthcare projects, where the Health Minister’s counsel assured readiness to secure and allocate the necessary funds.
In addition to these three hospitals, the Delhi government is in the process of constructing 24 more hospitals, labeled as ‘green field’ and ‘brown field’ projects, under various operational models including government, private, and public-private partnerships (PPP). The court has asked for a status report on the completion of selected brown field and green field projects, which are 74-87% complete, by the next hearing.
The court also addressed the implementation of critical care reforms based on recommendations from an expert committee led by renowned physician Dr. SK Sarin. Observing delays and bureaucratic hurdles, the court reiterated that the final decision on implementing these reforms lies with the AIIMS director, underscoring the need for timely action.
