New
Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta made a significant announcement on
Monday during the inauguration of Yatharth Hospital in Model Town. In a bold
move aimed at overhauling the capital's healthcare infrastructure, CM Gupta
pledged to convert seven long-pending hospital projects left incomplete during
the Aam Aadmi Party regime — into state-of-the-art super specialty hospitals.
'These
hospitals were originally planned as ICU centers during the Covid era but never
saw completion due to widespread corruption,' Gupta said. 'Now, we will not
just finish the job — we will elevate it. Each of these hospitals will be
developed into super specialty institutions equipped with advanced ICU care and
treatment facilities for critical conditions like cancer, kidney failure, and
organ transplants.'
Addressing
the acute shortage of ICU beds in Delhi, the Chief Minister emphasized the
urgent need to strengthen medical infrastructure. 'The number of ICU beds in
Delhi is woefully inadequate. These new hospitals are being designed with a
higher proportion of ICU beds and fewer general beds, to ensure emergency and
critical care are prioritized,' she explained.
The
current status of the seven proposed hospitals reflects uneven progress.
Shalimar Bagh and Sultanpuri hospitals have each reached 63% completion, while
Sarita Vihar stands at 58%. Geeta Colony and Dilshad Garden are both at 52%
progress, and Raghubir Nagar has reached 40%. However, in Kirari, construction
work has not yet started. Once completed, these hospitals will add a total of
6,836 ICU beds to the capital's health system, greatly enhancing critical care
capacity.
According
to Gupta, the government aims to ensure that each facility specializes in
specific domains, such as dialysis, cancer treatment, or transplant care,
thereby creating a more efficient and focused healthcare delivery system. 'We
are planning these hospitals so that not a single rupee of public money is
wasted,' she added.
Upon
completion, the seven hospitals are expected to add 6,836 ICU beds to the
city's healthcare system. However, the scale of this expansion also demands
human resources. The project will require the creation of approximately 42,000
new posts -- a move that could significantly boost employment in the medical
sector.
The
project is expected to require a substantial investment of ₹5,758.38 crore. To
expedite construction and enhance long-term efficiency, the government is also
considering implementing the hospitals through the Public-Private Partnership
(PPP) model.
Reflecting
on the Covid-19 crisis, Gupta stressed the need for permanent solutions. 'The
scenes from the pandemic were heartbreaking. Delhi had only two beds for every
thousand people. That is unacceptable,' she said. 'This is not just about
fixing infrastructure — it's about protecting lives.'
In
a move welcomed by many, the Chief Minister confirmed that Ayushman Bharat, the
central government's flagship health insurance scheme will also be implemented
in the newly inaugurated Yatharth Hospital and eventually extended to the
upcoming facilities.
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