Delhi Health Minister Seeks Report on Staff Shortage at Govt Hospitals
New Delhi: In a move to address the operational challenges and improve patient services, Delhi’s Health Minister, Pankaj Singh, has called for detailed reports from all government hospitals. The reports should include data on staffing levels, the number of personnel in each role, and information about staff managing multiple facilities.
Singh assured that the Delhi government would ensure that one medical superintendent does not have to take administrative charge of multiple hospitals.
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Speaking to TOI, Singh said, "Delhi govt hospitals are facing a staffing crunch, including a shortage of senior officials such as hospital heads. For instance, one medical superintendent is managing three to four hospitals. How can a doctor, traveling daily from Deen Dayal Hospital to a hospital in Jafrabad, and spending three hours commuting, effectively perform his or her duty? Much of their time is spent traveling instead of managing the hospitals."
The minister stated that 17 hospitals were operating under a situation where one individual was managing multiple facilities, ranging from two to three centres. "When I asked, doctors assured me that they are working to resolve the issue, and it should be settled soon. But you can't run hospitals like NGOs. There are two types of doctors—specialists and general duty medical officers. A senior-level GDMO can become an MS and manage hospitals with up to 200 beds," he added.
Singh said that he sought details from the hospitals to ensure the appointment of one superintendent per hospital.
Singh’s directives aim to ensure that each hospital has a dedicated medical superintendent. Medical superintendents and directors have a vast range of responsibilities, including daily supervision, handling patient and staff grievances, inspecting stocks of medicines, planning hospital development, and making crucial emergency decisions. Their role is to ensure the smooth operation of outpatient departments (OPDs).
In addition to the hospital staffing issue, Singh also directed the special secretary to compile a report on the functioning of AAP's flagship Mohalla Clinics. These clinics, which provide basic healthcare services to Delhi's residents, will also come under scrutiny. Singh stressed that any loopholes in their operations must be identified and corrected promptly.
