The Delhi High Court moved to address the persistent problems in the city’s health department—which has been beset by internal strife and inefficiencies—on September 2. The Director of AIIMS was tasked by the court with carrying out the recommendations made by a six-person expert committee chaired by Dr. S.K. Sarin. Discord between the health authorities of the Delhi government surrounded this decision.
In a letter, Dr. Sarin raised doubts about the committee’s capacity to supervise the application of its recommendations because of the difficult circumstances in which its members operate. This led to the court’s intervention. Four of the six committee members, prominent physicians employed by Delhi government hospitals, felt intimidated and threatened, according to Dr. Sarin’s letter. This incident brought to light a larger problem in the health department, where accusations and internal disputes between the health minister and bureaucrats have been making matters worse.
The High Court expressed disapproval of the current unrest and pointed out that Delhi’s healthcare system continues to provide mediocre care, which affects the general public who are harmed by inefficiencies and a lack of advancement in healthcare reforms. The health department’s “toxic” atmosphere, where senior physicians are subjected to excessive pressure and are reluctant to fully engage in the implementation process, was noted by the court.
The court underlined how urgently the crisis needed to be addressed with reforms and extreme measures. It instructed the Director of AIIMS to supervise the full execution of the Sarin committee’s recommendations. This entails assembling teams, obtaining funding, obtaining required gear, and making certain that medical personnel are hired. Reports on the status of these implementations must also be filed on a regular basis by the AIIMS Director.
In addition, the court directed the Delhi government to stop harassing the four doctors whose jobs were in jeopardy and to extend their contracts for a further two years. Additionally, the government was told to convene a meeting in a week to talk about the establishment of positions for paramedics and physicians in the new hospitals that are being built in Delhi. The lieutenant governor, the minister of health, the chief secretary, and other pertinent officials will be present at this meeting.
The court’s measures demonstrate its dedication to enhancing Delhi’s healthcare system in the wake of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that brought attention to shortcomings such a lack of ventilators and ICU beds in 2017. The Sarin committee’s report had noted a number of structural problems, such as a lack of crucial professors, open posts, and poor infrastructure. In order to close these significant gaps and enhance the quality of healthcare provided in the city, the court decided to involve AIIMS and guarantee the correct execution of changes.
SOURCE :
THE PRINT
