Unannounced inspection exposes gaps in healthcare services; strict directions issued to hospital authorities
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta conducted a surprise inspection at Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital on Thursday, uncovering serious lapses including alleged medicine shortages and poor sanitation, according to an official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
CM Orders Immediate Improvements in Patient Care
During the visit, the Chief Minister directed hospital authorities to ensure the availability of essential medicines, clean drinking water, and proper hygiene, especially considering the rising summer temperatures. She also emphasized that patients must receive prescribed medicines on the same day of consultation without delays.
The inspection covered multiple departments, including the OPD, patient wards, pharmacy counters, sanitation systems, water supply, and digital services. Gupta also interacted directly with patients and their attendants to gather first-hand feedback on hospital functioning.
Patients Complain of Long Wait Times and Lack of Doctors
Several patients, particularly elderly individuals, informed the Chief Minister that they had been waiting in queues since early morning without being attended to by doctors. Taking serious note, Gupta termed the situation “completely unacceptable” and expressed strong displeasure over the administration’s handling of services.
She also identified gaps in doctors’ availability, overcrowding in OPD sections, and inefficiencies in the hospital’s online appointment system.
Directions to Fix Systemic Issues
Pulling up officials, Gupta ordered better coordination between online and offline systems to reduce patient waiting time. She also instructed authorities to immediately verify medicine stock registers after multiple complaints about unavailability of drugs, which forced patients to purchase medicines from private pharmacies.
Additionally, concerns related to poor sanitation, inadequate water supply, and lack of basic amenities were raised by patients and their families during the visit.
Focus on Modern, Citizen-Centric Healthcare
The Chief Minister also interacted with doctors and staff, directing them to modernise healthcare services and make them faster and more patient-friendly. Reiterating her government’s commitment, Gupta stated that every citizen should have access to timely treatment, modern facilities, and a clean, dignified healthcare environment.
“Our goal is to build a healthcare system that delivers dependable, efficient, and compassionate services to every household in Delhi,” she said in a post on X.
The inspection highlights growing concerns over public healthcare infrastructure in the capital, with the government now pushing for urgent corrective measures to improve service delivery.
