More than 2000 Vacant Posts in Delhi Central Govt Hospitals: MoS Health informs Parliament

New Delhi: More than 2,000 sanctioned posts for doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff are lying vacant in three premier Central Government hospitals in the National Capital of Delhi including Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals, Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel informed the Lok Sabha last Friday.

While there are altogether 10,458 sanctioned posts of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff combined in these three hospitals, 2079 posts of them are lying vacant. The MoS Health has further informed that there is a combined capacity of 5,929 beds in these three hospitals.

The Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was responding to the questions raised by Shri Varun Chaudhary who sought to know the details of the number of beds available in Government hospitals for indoor patients in India during the last five years, the present sanctioned strength and vacancy of doctors, nurses and paramedics and also if there were any proposal to increase the healthcare infrastructure as per the WHO guidelines etc.

However, in response to these questions, MoS Patel informed that public health and hospitals being a state subject, "No such data is maintained centrally".

Smt Patel, however, provided the details of the number of available beds during the last five years at the Central Government Hospitals of New Delhi i.e. Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals.

Bed Strength at Central Govt Hospitals in Delhi:

As per the data provided by the Minister, there is a combined capacity of 5,929 beds in these three hospitals. While there were 2873 beds available at Safdarjung Hospital during the years 2019-2023, this year there are 2994 beds available. In the case of Dr. RML Hospital, during 2017-2019, there were 1447 beds available and it was increased to 1532 beds during 2020-2023 and in the year 2024, the hospital has a capacity of 1538 beds.

The data revealed that the bed strength at Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals was increased from 877 before 2022 to 1397 in 2024.

Sanctioned Number of Medical Staff and Vacant Posts:

Regarding the number of medical staff, there are 2116 sanctioned posts of doctors in Safdarjung Hospital, 1123 posts at Dr RML Hospital and 333 posts at LHMC and Hospitals. However, among these sanctioned posts, 430, 429 and 49 posts are lying vacant respectively.

In Safdarjung Hospital, 2723 posts of nurses and 186 posts of Paramedical staff are sanctioned and 153 and 82 of them are lying vacant respectively. Dr RML Hospital has 1592 sanctioned posts of nurses and 1235 posts of paramedical staff. However, 121 and 473 posts respectively are vacant. In LHMC, 202 out of 834 sanctioned posts of nurses and 140 out of 316 sanctioned posts of paramedical staff are unfilled.

Meanwhile, MP Mala Roy questioned the Ministry regarding the plans to revise the rates including that of OPD for empanelled private hospitals under CGHS (Central Government Health Service).

In response to the question, the MoS Health informed the Lok Sabha that a Committee was constituted for the revision of rates of Investigations and Procedures under CGHS, which has submitted report on 03.06.2024. "In CGHS Wellness Centres, essential medicines are available. The medicines in Bulk are procured from Medical Stores Organization (the Central Purchase Organization of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare), and direct supplies from distributors of Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana. In case any particular medicine, prescribed by the specialist is not readily available at any Wellness center, the same is procured through Authorised Local Chemist (ALC) and supplied to the beneficiary. Lifesaving medicines like Chemotherapy medicines for treatment of cancer are procured from Medical Store Depot (MSD) and are supplied directly to the beneficiary," she added.