Expansion of Public health infrastructure in Delhi is largest ever in history: CM Kejriwal

The report states that in addition to the existing capacity of 11,353 beds in 38 Delhi government hospitals, a total capacity of 13,899 beds is being added. Three hospitals, with a capacity of approximately 2,800 beds are set to open in the next six months. 

New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the expansion of public health infrastructure in Delhi is unprecedented, and it is the largest programme for improving access to healthcare anywhere in the world.

On the directions of Mr Kejriwal, Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday submitted a report to the CM on the status of Delhi government’s programme for expansion of public health infrastructure in the national capital.

The CM had asked for the details of the scope and nature of the Health department’s plan to build new hospitals, expand existing hospitals and add specialised treatment services in existing hospitals.

After receiving the report, the Chief Minister said,'' The expansion of public health infrastructure in Delhi is unprecedented. It is the largest programme for improving access to healthcare anywhere in the world. The total increase in capacity that is currently underway in terms of bed capacity is more than 122 per cent. But this is not just about the number of beds, but also about the quality of facilities provided. By 2023, the government expects all projects to be complete and all new hospitals and new blocks to be ready for operations.''

The report states that in addition to the existing capacity of 11,353 beds in 38 Delhi government hospitals, a total capacity of 13,899 beds is being added. Three hospitals, with a capacity of approximately 2,800 beds are set to open in the next six months.
The Indira Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka, with 1241 beds will be the largest hospital in West Delhi, with state-of-the-art facilities.

Similarly, two hospitals with approximately 772 and 600 beds respectively are nearing completion in Burari and Ambedkar Nagar.
A new Mother and Child Block has been cleared by the Cabinet for Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, Khichripur with 460 beds, and the tendering has been completed. Four new hospitals, one each in Sarita Vihar, Madipur, Hastsal and Jwalapuri will be brought before the Expenditure Finances Committee (EFC) in the coming week. The plans for the construction have already been drawn.

The total capacity of these new hospitals will be 2,200. Additionally, a 100 bedded hospital each in Bindapur and Siraspur has also been approved, and the tendering will be initiated soon. However, the largest share of the expanded capacity is from the projects to construct new blocks for existing hospitals of the Delhi government.
A capacity of 5,739 beds is being added in 15 existing hospitals, with simultaneous remodelling in all hospitals.

In 2015, when several of these projects were under consideration with the government, the Health minister had given specific instructions by the Chief Minister to ensure that all government hospitals must be centrally air-conditioned.

Following the CM's direction, all new hospitals are being built fully AC, and existing hospitals are being remodeled with ACs. The government’s philosophy has been to provide equal access to healthcare for all citizens of Delhi. In fact, when Mr Jain had brought plans for new hospitals for the chief minister’s approval, he had asked for provision of private rooms to be removed.

''Regardless of who seeks treatment in Delhi government hospitals, we will provide the same quality of treatment. If a VIP expects special treatment, then we will provide that same quality of treatment even to ordinary patients,'' Mr Jain said.

''Our goal is to make every single government hospital in Delhi, not just better than private hospitals in the city, but to make them the best hospitals in the entire country. Delhi citizens deserve world-class facilities and we will make that a reality,'' said the CM.

The Health department’s report also added that 200 Mohalla Clinics are ready for launch in October this year, and additionally 200 more will be ready by December. In the period since the first Mohalla Clinic was launched in Peeragarhi Relief Camp in July 2015, this would be the largest addition to any city’s primary healthcare network in history.

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