The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report on public health infrastructure and management of health services during the Aam Aadmi Party government has highlighted underutilisation of funds during the COVID period, delays in project execution, and a shortage of drugs and staff in city hospitals. The report, which was tabled by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in the Delhi Assembly, found that the previous government utilised around 543 crore rupees out of nearly 788 crore received from the Centre during the COVID period.
The report covered the period from 2016-17 to 2021-22 and unveiled the shortage of injections for rare and fatal diseases like haemophilia and rabies in Delhi government hospitals. It added that the hospitals failed to monitor and evaluate timely maintenance, replacement, and condemnation of equipment.
The audit noted that a few drugs supplied were of inferior quality and also observed the procurement of medicines from blacklisted and debarred firms. The over 300-page report also discussed the shortage of equipment in medical colleges and hospital labs. The CAG report also recommended that the state government increase expenditure on health services to 2.5 percent of Gross State Domestic Product in a time-bound manner. It also advocated for immediate measures to reduce the waiting time for registration, consultation, diagnostics, surgery, and pharmacy in Delhi government hospitals.
Furthermore, it suggested that the Delhi government ensure the availability of basic amenities in its hospitals and that vacancies against the sanctioned posts be filled to improve the functioning of public health facilities. Initiating the discussion on the CAG report in the House, BJP MLA Harish Khurana alleged that it had exposed the claims of the previous government. He said the Aam Aadmi Party government had delayed the construction of three hospitals, resulting in a loss of 382 crore rupees.
Mr. Khurana highlighted that the last regime had claimed to build 32,000 new hospital beds in Delhi hospitals, but in the last ten years, only 1,235 beds were built. Another BJP member, Ajay Mahawar, said the CAG report shows that the number of ambulances in hospitals had continuously decreased from 2016 to 2022. He demanded that an investigation be conducted based on the CAG report and that action be taken against those found guilty in this matter.