The office of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena was accused by Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday of "spreading falsehood" and neglecting an acute medical staffing crisis in the city's government hospitals.

Raj Niwas officials responded to the claim with strong words, stating that ten years of misgovernance, covered up by propaganda and ads, had started to come apart.

"Now that the system is crumbling, Press Conference Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj is frantically searching for alibis. The AAP's health model is there for all to see," an official said.

During a press conference, Mr. Bharadwaj charged that the LG was "indirectly spreading lies to the public and the media" while hiding behind his office.

"I request the LG not to hide behind his office and indirectly present lies to the public, but rather hold a press conference and instead of officials, write these lies with his own pen and present them to the media and the people of the country so that action can be taken against him for his lies," he said.

He said that the poorest of the poor from the capital and the neighboring states visit hospitals in Delhi in the hopes of receiving quality medical care. However, these underprivileged people are unable to receive proper treatment because of the severe shortage of doctors, nurses, paramedical personnel, lab technicians, OT technicians, etc. at Delhi's hospitals, Bharadwaj claimed, and this is being done on purpose as part of a conspiracy.

Introducing the letters he had previously written to Mr. Saxena regarding these openings, Mr. Bharadwaj stated that he became Delhi's health minister in March 2023 and that on April 19, 2023, he sent the first letter to the LG, alerting him to the fact that 292 general medical duty officers (GDMOs) and 234 specialists were lacking in Delhi government hospitals.

"No action was taken to fill these vacancies, rather the doctors who were holding high positions in Delhi government hospitals through the Central Health Services (CHS) were also called back by the Centre by removing them from Delhi government hospitals," he claimed.

According to him, he informed the LG in a follow-up letter dated June 6 that recruiting doctors via the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) would be slow and difficult.

"There are many hospitals, there are big machines in the hospitals, but due to the shortage of doctors, people are not able to get surgeries, treatment is not being done, so for the time being, doctors should be appointed on a contractual basis.

"But despite that, no order was issued by the LG for the recruitment of doctors on contract," he claimed.

The minister added that he had written to the LG once more through Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal regarding the hiring of doctors and other paramedical personnel to fill vacant positions in the government hospitals in Delhi.

Through the letter, Mr. Bharadwaj claimed to have informed the LG about the 1,658 vacant positions for OT technicians, lab technicians, post-mortem technicians, and other positions, as well as the 30% of doctors, 20% of nurses, and 30% of pharmacist positions.

Mr. Bharadwaj claimed to have written the health secretary on June 25.

"I told him that many new hospitals of the Delhi government are being built and new blocks are being constructed in some old hospitals, about 12,000-14,000 new beds are going to be added in the hospitals, but the number of staff and doctors required for the existing hospitals is not complete, at least the number of staff and doctors required in the existing hospitals should be recruited and I should be provided information on what action is being taken on that," he added.

He said that the health secretary had not responded to him.

Mr. Bharadwaj drew attention to the fact that the Dr. Sarin committee, which the high court had established, recognized that the Delhi government hospitals are severely short-staffed in doctors and other paramedical personnel, which is preventing patients from receiving proper care. He further emphasized that hiring should begin on a contract basis immediately.

As the UPSC can take a long time to appoint a doctor, Mr. Bharadwaj said that on July 26, he again wrote a letter to Mr. Saxena requesting that doctors be hired on a contractual basis as soon as possible for Delhi government hospitals. This will ensure that the underprivileged patients receiving care in these hospitals receive complete and adequate treatment.

Subsequently, in a press conference, AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar stated that the Delhi government's health model is being studied internationally and that they will not allow it to replicate Uttar Pradesh.

Officials from Raj Niwas responded by saying that Bharadwaj was summoned by the high court, which took suo-motu cognizance of the terrible conditions in the government hospital.

"It appointed a committee under Dr SK Sarin to improve things, but its comprehensive report was neither deliberated upon by the PC minister, who also happens to be the health minister. Fraud in mohalla clinics, no new hospital in 10 years, tenders increasing from ₹ 400 crore to ₹ 1,100 crore for the construction of hospitals, medicine purchase scam, etc. lie totally exposed," an official said.

Furthermore, he said, the NCCSA, which is led by the Chief Minister, decides on all matters pertaining to the service, including appointments, postings, transfers, and disciplinary actions, and then submits its decision to the LG.

"Kejriwal has not convened a single meeting of the NCCSA since ages. Even when he was out on bail and authorized by the Supreme Court to do so," the official said.

Speaking about Mr. Bharadwaj, he stated that instead of writing fig-leaf alibis to the LG, he would have done better to bring these concerns to Mr. Kejriwal while he was free on bail and requested that he take action.

"It will be in the interest of the public health system in Delhi if he indulges in governance rather than doing three to four press conferences a day," he added.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Priyanka Pandey)