HC Flags lapses at Chhattisgarh Govt Hospitals, seeks Health Secretary's Response
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh High Court has taken serious note of recent media reports highlighting alarming conditions at government hospitals across the state, particularly in Raipur, and has directed the state’s Health Secretary to submit a personal affidavit addressing the concerns. The matter will be heard again on August 12, 2025.
The case, initially scheduled for August following its last hearing on June 10, 2025, was brought forward after a Hindi daily carried a detailed report on July 13, exposing severe lapses in public healthcare. “The worst AIIMS! From resignation to see the doctor, it took 48 hours. It is a headache to get a test done,” the report mentioned.
The report described long queues and excessive waiting times at AIIMS Raipur, where patients reportedly have to wait up to 48 hours after registration to meet a doctor. Surgeries are being delayed by four months, and X-ray services involve a wait of nearly three hours. Given that most residents cannot afford private care, these delays are said to cause unnecessary suffering.
Another news, published on 24.07.2025 in Navbharat, portrayed a very horrific situation, and it raised a serious question on the functioning of the Health Department of the State as well as the CGMSC. The aforesaid news stated that the pregnancy kit, which gives faulty results, is being distributed. It has been reported that the company that supplied the defective materials has been directed not to supply any further materials, but still, inferior quality surgical items and medicines are being supplied. Some of the lifesaving drugs, which have been found to be of substandard quality and failing in laboratory tests, are also being supplied.
There is yet another news published in Haribhoomi which is in respect of a Community Health Centre of Bilha Block, District Bilaspur, and the situation at CHC Bilha was also criticised in it, with claims that although 15 doctors are on the roster, no doctors were present until 11 a.m. on August 4, forcing more than 250 patients to wait for hours. Specialist doctors in gynaecology, orthopaedics, dentistry, and paediatrics were reportedly unavailable, and an X-ray machine has been unused for a year.
The court was further informed that the surgical ward remains avoided by patients due to the absence of doctors during the night, despite a 24-hour duty requirement. Additionally, “Hamar Lab” — a facility set up with lakhs of rupees to perform 71 diagnostic tests — is barely functional due to a shortage of reagents from CGMSC, limiting it to 11–12 tests at present. Taking a stern view, the court said the situation, if accurate, reflects poorly on the functioning of the state’s Health Department and CGMSC. It has sought a detailed explanation from the Health Secretary before the next hearing.
To view the official order, click on the link below:
