The Delhi High Court has issued a stern directive to the Delhi government, emphasizing the urgent need to operationalize incomplete hospital projects and to expedite the recruitment process for necessary staff. In a significant ruling, the court stressed that the completion of both ‘brownfield’ and ‘greenfield’ hospital projects, which are 80% complete, must be accelerated.
Presided over by Chief Justice Manmohan, the bench highlighted the need for these projects to be commissioned within the next three months. This directive comes in response to a suo motu case initiated in 2017, addressing critical deficiencies in the capital’s government hospitals as identified by the Dr. S.K. Sarin committee report.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that the Delhi government is currently overseeing the construction of 11 ‘greenfield’ and 13 ‘brownfield’ hospitals. These projects are expected to be managed under various operational models, including government-run, private, and public-private partnerships (PPP). The court mandated that for those projects where construction is more than 80% complete, the government should ensure that funding is secured to prevent wastage of already invested resources and to bring these projects to completion.
Chief Justice Manmohan also addressed the recruitment of manpower for these nearly completed projects. The Administrative Reforms Department (ARD) has been ordered to begin recruitment immediately in anticipation of the project completions. The court expressed its frustration over delays, emphasizing that the appointment of a full-time Medical Superintendent (MS) or director is critical and should not be hindered by bureaucratic processes.
Moreover, the court has taken significant steps to improve healthcare delivery by ordering the filling of 114 specialist vacancies and ensuring that 762 paramedics and 701 nursing staff, whose candidature has already been approved, are expedited into service. These directives aim to address the stark manpower shortages affecting the healthcare system in Delhi.
Additionally, the court has mandated cabinet approval within two weeks for the procurement of radiological diagnostic services through the PPP model under the PM-ABHIM scheme, which aims to enhance diagnostic capabilities within hospital premises.
The court also endorsed the Dr. Sarin Committee’s recommendation to open a Jan Aushadhi Kendra in each hospital, instructing the Delhi government to implement this within four weeks. This move is intended to provide patients and caregivers easy access to affordable medicines.
