On Tuesday, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj criticized LG Vinai Saxena for mismanagement in various departments, including health services. Bharadwaj claimed that whenever a major issue arises in Delhi, the LG, appointed by the BJP, is blamed. He said that the Raj Niwas (LG’s office) responds with misleading statements.
Accusations Against LG
Bharadwaj stated that the LG is responsible for every crisis in Delhi. He provided two examples to explain this:
- Asha Kiran Shelter Home Deaths: Recently, 14 people died at the Asha Kiran shelter home. BJP and other leaders blamed the Delhi government for this. An investigation revealed that there was a severe shortage of doctors and staff at the shelter, which falls under the Social Welfare Department, managed by the Delhi government. However, the responsibility for appointing and transferring doctors lies with the LG, as this is related to the Service Department under the LG’s control. The LG’s office claimed that vacancies were due to the NCCSA (National Capital Civil Services Authority) not meeting. This shows that the Service Department under the LG did not perform its duties, yet the LG’s office provided false information.
- Shortage of Doctors in Government Hospitals: Bharadwaj also mentioned that there is a shortage of doctors in Delhi’s government hospitals. New hospitals are being built, but doctors and staff are not being appointed. Each Medical Superintendent (MS) is managing two or three hospitals, leading to overwork and poor management. Bharadwaj criticized the LG for giving nonsensical reasons for the issues, saying the LG blames the lack of NCCSA meetings for the problems.
Current Situation in Hospitals
The situation in Delhi’s hospitals is dire. Many hospitals have up to 30% of doctor positions vacant, and there is a significant shortage of paramedical and nursing staff.
