Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel told the Lok Sabha last Friday that more than 2,000 sanctioned positions for doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff are empty in three prestigious Central Government hospitals in Delhi, the nation's capital: Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals.

In these three hospitals, there are 10,458 authorized positions for doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff combined; however, 2079 of those positions remain vacant. The MoS Health has additionally disclosed that these three hospitals have a total capacity of 5,929 beds.

The Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was answering inquiries from Shri Varun Chaudhary, who wanted to know specifics like how many beds were available in Indian government hospitals for inpatient patients over the previous five years, the number of doctors, nurses, and paramedics currently sanctioned and open positions, and whether any plans were in the works to expand the healthcare infrastructure in accordance with WHO guidelines, etc.

However, Smt. Patel gave information about the number of beds that were available at the Central Government Hospitals in New Delhi—namely, Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals—during the previous five years.

Delhi's Central Government Hospitals' bed strength:

These three hospitals have a total of 5,929 beds available, according to the Minister's data. This year, there are 2994 beds available at Safdarjung Hospital, compared to 2873 beds available from 2019 to 2023. Regarding Dr. RML Hospital, its bed capacity was 1447 in 2017–2019, rising to 1532 in 2020–2023, and 1538 in 2024.

The information showed that, as of 2024, there were 1397 beds at Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals, an increase from 877 in 2022.

The authorized number of medical staff and vacant positions:

In terms of medical staffing, Safdarjung Hospital has 2116 authorized doctor posts, Dr. RML Hospital has 1123 posts, and LHMC and Hospitals has 333 posts. Nevertheless, there are 430, 429, and 49 unfilled positions among these approved positions.

There are 186 approved paramedical staff positions and 2723 sanctioned nursing posts at Safdarjung Hospital; now, 153 and 82 of these positions are unfilled. There are 1235 paramedical staff positions and 1592 sanctioned nursing posts at Dr. RML Hospital. But there are 121 and 473 open positions, respectively. 140 of the 316 authorized paramedical staff positions and 202 of the 834 authorized nursing posts at LHMC are vacant.

MP Mala Roy, meantime, questioned the Ministry about the plan to change the rates, particularly the outpatient department fee, for private hospitals that have been impanelled under the Central Government Health Service (CGHS).

In answer to the inquiry, the Ministry of Health told the Lok Sabha that a committee was established to review the fees for CGHS investigations and procedures, and the committee turned in a report on June 3, 2024. "In CGHS Wellness Centres, essential medicines are available. The medicines in Bulk are procured from Medical Stores Organization (the Central Purchase Organization of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare), and direct supplies from distributors of Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana. In case any particular medicine, prescribed by the specialist is not readily available at any Wellness center, the same is procured through Authorised Local Chemist (ALC) and supplied to the beneficiary. Lifesaving medicines like Chemotherapy medicines for treatment of cancer are procured from Medical Store Depot (MSD) and are supplied directly to the beneficiary," she added.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Priyanka Pandey/MSM)