New Delhi, India – Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has blamed Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena for the acute shortage of doctors and healthcare workers in Delhi’s government hospitals and dispensaries. Bharadwaj stated on Sunday that the shortage is severely impacting healthcare services and accused the LG of not initiating the hiring process through the services department.
Bharadwaj revealed that he has written to the LG multiple times since April 2023, flagging the scarcity of doctors in government-run hospitals. Despite these repeated requests, no action has been taken. He released a series of five letters addressed to Saxena and senior bureaucrats, dated April 19 and June 6 in 2023 and January 2, June 25, and July 27 in 2024. In his final letter, Bharadwaj emphasized that since the services department falls directly under the LG’s jurisdiction, the hiring process should be expedited.
In response, the LG’s office stated that all services matters, including appointments, postings, transfers, and disciplinary actions, are decided by the National Capital Civic Services Authority (NCCSA). The NCCSA is headed by the Chief Minister and then put up to the LG for approval. The LG’s office added that the Chief Minister has not convened a meeting of the NCCSA in a long time.
The shortage of healthcare staff has created significant challenges in Delhi’s government hospitals and dispensaries, with patients facing long waits and limited access to medical care. The dispute between the Health Minister and the LG over responsibility and action highlights the ongoing administrative challenges affecting the healthcare system in the capital.
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