Rekha asks hospitals to be prepared for any emergency

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday held a high-level meeting with Health Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh and Medical Superintendents of government hospitals to review the state of healthcare services in the Capital.

The meeting focused on upgrading hospital infrastructure, addressing key challenges like medicine shortages and preparing for possible emergencies.

Following the meeting, CM Gupta said the government’s top priority was to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare for all Delhi residents. She emphasised the importance of improving service delivery, expanding infrastructure and making hospitals more efficient and patient-friendly.

“We are committed to building a healthcare system that is closer to people’s homes and rooted in compassion and efficiency,” she said.

The Chief Minister directed all hospitals to be fully prepared for any disaster or emergency. She instructed the establishment of well-equipped emergency wards in light of national security concerns and seasonal illnesses like dengue and heatwaves. Hospitals were also asked to set up standard operating procedures (SOPs), conduct mock drills and stock up on essential supplies.

Taking a serious note of the repeated reports of medicine shortages, CM Gupta directed hospital heads to immediately assess the situation, prepare action plans and submit time-bound solutions. She stressed the need for transparency and timeliness in procurement processes and called for an efficient grievance redressal system to deal with complaints.

The CM also reviewed the implementation of three major Central Government schemes - Ayushman Bharat, Vay Vandana Yojana for senior citizens and Arogya Mandir for comprehensive care. She said these schemes could greatly benefit economically weaker sections and asked hospitals to submit reports on their readiness to implement them.

Hospital maintenance and cleanliness were highlighted as key concerns. CM Gupta said the condition of buildings, waiting areas and parks deeply impacts patient experiences. She directed hospital officials to coordinate with the PWD for basic repairs and upkeep, and to report any administrative delays promptly to the government.

To improve efficiency, the CM announced that the Cabinet had approved new proposals for OPD/IPD registration and diagnostic services. These would reduce waiting times and ensure faster processing of tests like MRI, CT scans and blood reports.

The Chief Minister asked hospitals to ensure proper duty rosters, reduce absenteeism and hire adequate medical, nursing and administrative staff. She emphasised the need for patient dignity and sensitive behavior by hospital personnel and encouraged training programs focused on empathy and communication.