Funds increased, payments to suppliers faster in Delhi hospitals

In the wake of the Gorakhpur hospital tragedy, the Delhi government has decided to pay medical suppliers within 45 days and also increase funds for hospitals to buy new equipment to Rs 1 crore, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Wednesday.

Jain said the decisions were taken in a review meeting of Delhi government hospitals chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

He said the vendors, who supply commodities to hospitals, are currently paid within 30-60 days, adding it will be reduced to a maximum of 45 days.

"Gorakhpur won't be repeated in Delhi. We have been conducting regular inspections," Jain said.

He said the small hospitals can currently purchase equipment worth Rs 10 lakh while the big hospitals can purchase equipment worth Rs 50 lakh. The Health Minister added that the amount has been increased to Rs 1 crore for both categories.

Jain also said that a helpline number would be soon started for any hospital-related complaints and added that the availability of medicines was 90-95 per cent.

"The helpline number would be run through call centres and it would be monitored every day by the Chief Minister," he said.

Jain said that things were under control and emergency wards of all hospitals were working fine.

--IANS

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