CM Rekha orders revamp of mental healthcare facility in national capital

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday conducted a surprise inspection of the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) at Dilshad Garden and expressed shock at the hospital’s poor state of facilities.

She announced that construction of a new building with a large, modern OPD would begin soon and assured that all medical and administrative shortcomings would be addressed within the current fiscal year.

The CM interacted with patients and their families and reviewed the hospital’s infrastructure. She was dismayed to learn that the IHBAS, considered one of India’s premier centres for neurological and mental healthcare, had not had a single MRI or CT scan machine since 2012. X-ray and ultrasonography (USG) facilities were also found to be severely limited.

“It is extremely unfortunate that doctors in such a sensitive field have been compelled to treat patients without essential machines. Despite these constraints, the medical staff have been performing their duties commendably. The problem lies not with the doctors, but with the lack of government support provided to this institute so far,” Gupta said.

IHBAS currently has 317 beds, with just ten ventilator beds against a much higher demand — its OPD caters to nearly 2,500–3,000 patients daily. Gupta stressed that her government would prioritise filling these critical gaps by equipping the hospital with MRI, CT scan, X-ray and USG machines, along with additional staff.

The CM said that while the hospital had 111 acres of land, only 20 per cent of it was being utilised. The upcoming building will expand OPD capacity and house new faculties to strengthen services.

Taking a dig at the previous government, Gupta remarked, “The so-called health model was only about tall claims and incomplete projects. Our government is committed to completing those hospitals and upgrading IHBAS into a world-class centre for mental and neurological healthcare.”