CM inaugurates three advanced health facilities at LNJP Hospital

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated three critical health facilities - a medical genetics ward, a lactation management unit (LMU) and a nucleic acid testing (NAT) lab - at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital here on Thursday.

The CM described the move as “a new era” in advanced diagnostics, neonatal care and genetic health services in the Capital.

“Our goal is to ensure accessible, high-quality and timely medical services for every citizen, regardless of age, background or region. A healthy Delhi is the foundation of a developed Delhi. With this vision, three highly advanced health services have been launched, setting a new milestone in the city’s medical infrastructure,” Gupta said at the event, where Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh was also present.

Among the three facilities, the Medical Genetics Department at the LNJP is a first for any Delhi Government hospital, and only the fourth in India to be recognised by the National Medical Commission. This department will offer diagnosis, treatment and counselling for rare and complex genetic disorders, including prenatal care for newborns with serious conditions. It will provide support from before birth through old age. It will also serve as a Centre of Excellence for Rare Genetic Disorders.

The lactation management unit is designed to support preterm and critically ill newborns by ensuring access to safe donor human milk.

“This unit will reduce risks like neonatal sepsis and other complications. The importance of this unit is ensuring that needy infants receive life-saving nourishment, thereby helping reduce malnutrition and infant mortality,” Gupta said.

The newly inaugurated NAT lab — the first of its kind in a Delhi government hospital — promises faster and more reliable blood screening. Previously, blood testing for infections like HIV and Hepatitis B/C could take up to 45 days. With NAT technology, reports will now be available in just two days, significantly improving the safety of blood transfusions.

Taking a swipe at the previous administrations, CM Gupta criticised the health infrastructure inherited from them.

“Despite grand claims, there wasn’t even one bed available per 1,000 people. The WHO recommends at least two per 1,000 people. We’ve set a target of at least three beds per 1,000 people within the next five years,” she said.

She also flagged serious gaps in diagnostic capabilities, noting that several government hospitals still lack basic facilities like CT and MRI scans. “It is shameful that the entire Delhi government system has only a few functional MRI machines,” she remarked, promising swift action to equip hospitals with modern technology.

The Chief Minister said a centralised drug procurement system is being implemented to end medicine shortages, while recruitments for medical staff are being expedited. She also underscored the need to integrate primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare systems for seamless service delivery, aided by schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Jan Arogya Mandirs.

Health Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh said the government was working tirelessly to deliver on the vision of a “Viksit Delhi” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

“All pending health infrastructure projects will be completed soon. We have prioritised and implemented all Central Government healthcare schemes to ensure better medical services for every citizen of Delhi,” he said.