Health minister visits hospital, finds many deficiencies

Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain made a surprise visit to the state-run Rao Tula Ram Hospital on Wednesday and found several deficiencies in the way it is being run.

The Minister has sought detailed reports on the hospital. Jain is also drawing up plans to add more than 100 beds here to turn it into a “full-fledged” hospital. The initial plan was to upgrade the existing 100-bed hospital to a 200-bed one.

“The annual expenditure on the 100-bed hospital is around Rs 32 crore. We will work out methods which will bring down the operational cost by adding over 100 beds here. There are several deficiencies now and it cannot be called a full-fledged hospital,” Jain said.

The Minister has identified the lack of proper construction, staff crunch, lack of machines to carry out investigation procedures for patients and lack of water coolers in the premises as the major problems at the hospital.

“There are no seats for patients in waiting. With several services not available, patients are referred to other hospitals. They are disappointed with this. I have asked for detailed reports to assess the situation,” said Jain.

The hospital, located in Jaffarpur village in south-west district of the Capital, is reeling under shortage of staff, lack of security and deficiencies in construction work. 

The number of specialists at the hospital is also inadequate, pointed out doctors. “Of a staff strength of 101, there are only 20 specialists. In addition, there is an acute staff shortage in the orthopaedic and radiology departments,” said a senior doctor at the hospital.

With the hospital being located in the village, there is also a need to upgrade the security system at the hospital. Thefts in the hospital premises are also common, said doctors. 

Currently, the gynaecology OPD is being run out of porta cabins at the hospital. “There is a need to have a dedicated wing for a department like gynaecology,” said the doctor.

Jain also visited Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sanasthan. Patients complained of the lack of availability of medicines here, said the Minister.