AIIMS, Safdarjung, LNJP serving patients more than capacity: HC told

AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital and LNJP Hospital in the national capital are providing service to patients far beyond their capacity, a private body tasked to evaluate healthcare quality in the three hospitals told the Delhi High Court today.

The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH), a body under the Quality Council of India (QCI), told a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar there are much more patients than doctors as sanctioned posts are not filled up in time.

The NABH, which was tasked by the high court to carry out the assessment, also said that by the time the government goes ahead with recruitment or decides to sanction more posts, the number of patients increases even further.

These were the prima facie findings that the organisation communicated to the bench while seeking two more weeks to give a final "holistic" report.

NABH sought more time to file its report, as Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital was yet to reply to certain queries raised by it regarding the functioning of the hospital.

It said that All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Safdarjung Hospital have replied to its queries.

Taking note of the submissions, the bench directed the three hospitals to facilitate NABH and to promptly respond to its queries.

The court also said there is need for more doctors, hospitals and medical facilities in the national capital.

It asked the Centre why it was not considering setting up more hospitals in the national capital as there are only six central government-run hospitals in Delhi for its 11 districts.

The Centre, however, said that health was the responsibility of the state government which should set up more hospitals.

The court had ordered evaluation of healthcare quality at the three hospitals as it was of the view that the Centre was "not placing" the correct picture before it regarding the same.

The bench had observed that insufficiency of medical staff was one of the major causes of discontent among patients and their attendants.

NABH is a constituent board of QCI and was set up to establish and operate an accreditation programme for health care organizations.

QCI, set up as a public private partnership, is an independent body that works towards assuring quality standards across all spheres of economic and social activities.

The bench had earlier decided to look into the aspects of healthcare quality and working conditions of medical professionals in hospitals in Delhi while hearing a PIL initiated by it after perusing a news report on the rise in violent attacks on doctors.

The court, through the plea, has been issuing periodic directions for ensuring safety and security of doctors and other medical staff.