The Tribune impact: HC amicus flags CT machine shortage at GTB Hospital

Days after The Tribune highlighted how Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital in East Delhi here struggles with only one ageing CT scan machine for thousands of patients daily, the issue has now reached the Delhi High Court.

In a note filed on October 31 before the High Court, amicus curiae advocate Ashok Agarwal cited The Tribune’s October 29 report to flag the severe shortage of diagnostic facilities at the 1,000-bed hospital. The note is submitted to the Bench and the AIIMS Director.

“The Tribune report dated October 29, 2025, mentioned about a single CT scan machine and no MRI machine at GTB Hospital despite having huge footfall,” Agarwal wrote in his submission.

“The only CT scan machine is also old. The hospital is overburdened due to non-availability of CT scan at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS). The GTB and University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) also train radiology residents. Due to the non-availability of MRI machine, they have to undergo training at other Delhi hospitals,” he wrote.

The note, submitted after a review meeting held on September 22 between the Delhi Government, AIIMS Director and the amicus, includes the Sarin Committee’s earlier recommendations on strengthening Delhi’s healthcare system. The committee had emphasised that all district hospitals must have round-the-clock diagnostic services, trauma centres with CT/MRI/USG facilities and fully functional emergency operation theatres. Agarwal further urged the court to direct the Delhi Government to provide timelines for installing new machines under the proposed public-private partnership (PPP) model.

“At present, the government is providing free radiodiagnosis services to citizens of Delhi. Now, there is a concern that under the PPP model, patients may be charged for these essential services,” Agarwal said.

In The Tribune’s ground report, GTB’s Medical Director Dr Vinod Kumar had admitted that “the hospital witnesses 6,000 to 12,000 patients daily. The CT scanner is more than a decade old and it breaks down frequently.” He confirmed that the hospital was in talks with the government to procure a new machine.

The October 29 report had detailed how patients were forced to wait for weeks — sometimes months — for their scans or reports, with surgeries delayed and repeated breakdowns disrupting services.