Rs 382 cr scam in health sector under AAP govt: Cong’s Maken

Congress leaders exposed alleged corruption in the health sector under the former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led government, as revealed in the latest CAG report.

Congress treasurer and MP Ajay Maken began a series of “AAP’s sins” at a press conference on Wednesday by highlighting the discrepancies in the health sector, accusing the Kejriwal government of mismanagement and corruption.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devendra Yadav, who also addressed the conference, called for an immediate investigation into the matter.

“The CAG report on the health sector of the Kejriwal government must be thoroughly investigated by the relevant agencies. We urge the Lieutenant Governor to intervene and ensure a proper investigation is carried out,” he demanded.

Maken accused Arvind Kejriwal of failing to live up to his promise of fighting corruption. “Kejriwal came to power claiming to eradicate corruption. But he never allowed 14 CAG reports detailing corruption in his government to be discussed in the Delhi Assembly,” Maken said.

“Today, we are exposing one such report related to the health sector,” he said. According to the CAG report, there has been a scam of Rs 382.52 crore in the health sector under the Kejriwal government. Maken criticised Kejriwal’s claims of timely completion and cost saving, pointing out that the government had only built three hospitals in 10 years, with costs overrun by hundreds of crores.

“Work on these hospitals was started during the Congress rule, but the delays and additional costs occurred under the Kejriwal government,” Maken added.

The report highlights delays and cost overruns in the construction of several hospitals. Indira Gandhi Hospital was delayed by five years with an extra cost of Rs 314.9 crore. Burari Hospital was delayed by six years, incurring additional cost of Rs 41.26 crore, while Maulana Azad Dental Hospital, Phase II, was delayed by three years, costing extra Rs 26.36 crore.

The report also revealed that the Kejriwal government had acquired 15 plots for building hospitals and dispensaries, but no work was initiated. Additionally, Rs 2,623.35 crore allocated for infrastructure projects between 2016 and 2022 lapsed and a significant portion of the Covid relief funds from the Central Government went unused.

“Out of Rs 635.62 crore allocated by the Central Government for Covid relief, a sum of Rs 360.64 crore was not spent, despite the dire shortage of medicines, oxygen and hospital beds during the pandemic,” Maken stated.

The health sector’s failure was further exemplified by the inability to meet targets for increasing hospital beds. While the government aimed to add 32,000 beds, only 1,235 beds were added, a meager 3.86 per cent increase. The CAG report also highlights severe shortages in healthcare infrastructure.

He shared that nine government hospitals in Delhi have an average bed occupancy rate of 101-189 per cent, with two patients sharing one bed in some cases. Four major hospitals, including LNJP and Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya, were found to be suffering from staff shortage and equipment malfunctions. LNJP’s burn surgery theatre was non-functional and five of its 12 ECG machines were not working. Chacha Nehru hospital has a waiting period of 12 months for surgery of children. Rajiv Gandhi and Janakpuri hospitals are severely understaffed, with 50-74 per cent shortage of doctors and nurses.

Further, several hospitals lack essential facilities. ICUs are missing in 14 hospitals, blood banks are unavailable in 16 hospitals, oxygen facilities are missing in eight hospitals, mortuaries are absent in 15 hospitals and ambulance services are unavailable in 12 hospitals.

“Ambulances provided by the Kejriwal government are now used only as hearses, with only two ambulances functioning in LNJP Hospital,” Maken stated, emphasising the government’s failure to provide basic healthcare services.