Redistribute GTB Hospital's surplus equipment to other States: CM Rekha Gupta

New Delhi: Following an inspection by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the Health Department issued an advisory outlining guidelines for redistributing unused medical equipments. These supplies, initially purchased to address the surge in healthcare demand during the pandemic, will now be redirected to central hospitals, city-run health institutes, and hospitals in other states. 

Medical dialogues had earlier reported that days after the CAG report was tabled in the Delhi Assembly, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta slammed the state of healthcare under the previous Aam Aadmi Party government during a surprise inspection at the GTB hospital in East Delhi. Rekha Gupta lamented the previous Aam Aadmi Party government over the alleged wastage of healthcare equipment and the 'poor state' of health infrastructure in the national capital.

Also Read: Medical equipment worth crores lying unused in hospitals, says Delhi CM during GTB Visit

During her surprise visit to GTB Hospital, CM Rekha Gupta discovered that several critical and expensive medical devices purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic, including ventilators, oxygen concentrators, PPE kits, and masks, have remained unused for years in the hospital's warehouse. Expressing her displeasure over the negligence, CM directed hospital authorities to take immediate action to ensure better utilization of these medical resources.

In response to the Chief Minister's orders, the Delhi Health Department has swiftly issued an advisory detailing guidelines for the redistribution of surplus medical equipment. The guidelines specify that all government hospitals in Delhi should adhere to safety norms for storing medical equipment. Additionally, technical experts will inspect the machines, evaluate their condition, and ensure they are functional for future use.

Also Read: Surprise inspection reveals crisis at KC General Hospital

According to the TNIE, Hospitals have also been directed to redistribute surplus equipment to other state and central hospitals in Delhi while reaching out to other states that might require such resources. Hospitals must prioritize using existing stock before purchasing new equipment to prevent unnecessary expenditure.