Shortages of Doctors, Medicines, and Infrastructure Hinder Healthcare Services
New Delhi: Delhi’s flagship Mohalla Clinics and hospitals, once celebrated for accessible healthcare, are facing a severe crisis, as revealed by a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit. The report highlights critical shortages of doctors, medicines, and essential medical infrastructure, painting a stark contrast to the AAP government’s claims.
Mohalla Clinics: Missed Targets & Facility Shortages
- Clinic Shortfall: Only 523 of the targeted 1,000 clinics were operational by 2023.
- Closed Clinics: 41 out of 218 clinics remained shut for periods ranging from 15 days to 23 months due to doctor shortages.
- Basic Facility Gaps:
- 10 clinics lacked drinking water.
- 21 had no toilets.
- 12 were not disabled-friendly.
- 31 had inadequate space for medicine storage.
- Equipment Shortages: Many clinics lacked essential medical devices like pulse oximeters, glucometers, thermometers, and BP monitors.
- Medicine Deficiency: In 39 of 81 clinics surveyed, less than 75% of essential medicines were stocked.
- Rushed Consultations: 70% of patients received consultations lasting less than one minute (Oct 2022 – March 2023).
Hospital Infrastructure in Crisis
- Lack of Critical Services:
- 50% of hospitals had no ICUs.
- 60% lacked blood banks.
- 8 hospitals had no oxygen systems.
- 15 lacked mortuaries, and 12 had no ambulances.
- Severe Staffing Shortages:
- 74% of doctor positions were vacant in super-specialty hospitals.
- 96% of nursing staff positions remained unfilled in top hospitals.
- 21% nurse & 38% paramedic vacancies persisted across the healthcare system.
- Non-utilization of Resources:
- Only 1,357 beds added out of the planned 32,000 (4.2% completion).
- 15 land plots worth ₹6.5 crore lay unused for 6-15 years.
Long Patient Waiting Times
- Major surgeries at Lok Nayak Hospital: 2-3 months wait.
- Burn & plastic surgeries: 6-8 months delay.
- Pediatric surgeries at Chacha Nehru Bal Chikatsalaya: 12-month waiting period.
Primary Healthcare Dispensaries: Staff & Medicine Shortages
- Staff Shortages:
- 23% shortage of doctors.
- 16% shortage of nursing staff.
- 37% shortage of paramedics.
- Uneven distribution of doctors across districts.
- Mobile & School Health Schemes Failing:
- Severe staffing gaps in mobile and school health programs.
- 76 out of 100 essential drugs missing from central medicine stores.
- Limited school health coverage: Only 2.8-3.5 lakh students (out of 17 lakh) benefited in 2016-17.
- Polyclinic Shortage: Only 28 out of 150 planned polyclinics were operational by 2018-19.
Healthcare in Decline
The CAG audit exposes severe inefficiencies in Delhi’s healthcare system, raising concerns over poor infrastructure, staff shortages, and lack of essential medicines in both mohalla clinics and hospitals. While the AAP government had promised a revolutionary healthcare model, the ground reality presents a struggling system in urgent need of reform.
