During surprise inspection of the Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday ordered the hospital authorities to implement administrative reforms with emphasis on discipline and accountability, mandating biometric attendance system to ensure punctuality of the staff and directing all personnel to wear nameplates during duty hours to improve transparency.
After arriving at the hospital without prior notice, Rekha Gupta took a round of the Outpatient Department, patient wards; pharmacy counters, and assessed the sanitation system, water supply, digital services. Interacting with patients and their families, the Chief Minister sought first-hand feedback from them on the hospital’s functioning, and ordered immediate corrective measures based on the complaints received from them.
According to officials, several elderly patients told the CM that they had been standing in queues since early morning without being attended to. Taking serious note of the complaints, Gupta expressed strong displeasure at the hospital administration, calling the situation ‘completely unacceptable’.
She directed officials to immediately ensure adequate seating arrangements and implement a streamlined token system so that patients, especially the elderly, are not forced to wait for hours.
Her inspection of the hospital revealed gaps in doctor availability, overcrowding in the OPD, and flaws in the online appointment and token systems.
Finding that patients continued to face long queues despite having an online booking mechanism, CM Gupta ordered better integration of online and offline systems. Noting heavy footfall in the orthopaedics department, she discussed workflow with doctors and stressed the need to maintain quality treatment amid the rush.
Several patients also complained of unavailability of medicines forcing them to buy drugs from outside. The CM immediately ordered a check of stock registers and announced a zero-tolerance policy towards shortages of medicines and vaccines. “If a medicine is needed today, it must be provided today,” she asserted, terming it a serious lapse to inconvenience citizens over basic healthcare needs.
She directed the authorities concerned to ensure uninterrupted supply of medicines and vaccines as a large number of patients visit the hospital for vaccination for rabies and other ailments.
The patients and their attendants raised concerns about poor sanitation, water supply issues and lack of basic amenities, and on hearing their experiences and complaints on cleanliness and dysfunctional toilets, she sharply reprimanded officials, saying ignoring such issues despite clear feedback from patients and staff amounted to gross negligence.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, the CM said the goal of the government is to ensure that every citizen in Delhi experiences a healthcare that delivers timely treatment, modern facilities, clean surroundings and dignified service. She stressed that healthcare services must be citizen-centric, efficient and accountable, adding that no shortcomings would be tolerated.