New Delhi, March 4, 2025: A detailed discussion was held today in the Delhi Assembly on the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report regarding public health infrastructure and the management of health services. The report, which was tabled in the Assembly on February 28, 2025, has highlighted several critical lapses and irregularities in the Delhi Government’s Health Department. This information was shared by the Hon’ble Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta today.
The CAG audit covered the period from 2016-17 to 2021-22, during which the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was in power in Delhi. The report points out several significant shortcomings and irregularities, including:
•Severe Shortage of Healthcare Personnel: A significant deficit of specialist doctors, medical officers, nurses, paramedical staff, and pharmacists was recorded in government hospitals.
•Unavailability of Essential Medicines and Equipment: Many hospitals lacked the necessary medicines and medical equipment required for patient treatment.
•Poor Ambulance Services: Most CATS ambulances were found to be operating without the essential life-saving equipment.
•Weak Health Infrastructure Management: The Health Department failed to utilize 15 plots of land that had been specifically acquired for healthcare facilities.
•Financial Mismanagement: A significant portion of the allocated budget remained unutilized each year. Notably, 78.41% of the health infrastructure budget in 2018-19 was left unspent.
Hon’ble Speaker ruled that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House shall prioritize the examination of the CAG report and submit its findings within three months. The Assembly Secretariat shall immediately forward the report to the Health Department, which must submit its Action Taken Note (ATN) within one month.
