Lack of docs in 2 govt super speciality hospitals under HC

Concerned over lack of doctors as well as other medical and administrative staff in two super speciality hospitals (SSH) in the national capital, the Delhi High Court today sought a response from the Centre and the city government.
A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and I S Mehta issued notices to the Ministry of Health and Delhi government, seeking their replies on a PIL alleging that the Rajiv Gandhi and Janakpuri SSHs are non-functional due to lack of medical staff and doctors.
"Why don't the hospitals have adequate number of doctors?" the bench said and listed the matter for further hearing on January 28.

The PIL, filed by lawyer Ramesh Chander, has contended that specialists, other medical staff and administrative personnel appointed to or selected for these two SSHs are being transferred to other government hospitals in Delhi.
The petition has claimed that land for these SSHs were allotted in 1998 and over Rs 225 crores have been spent on their construction, however, till date they are non-functional due to lack of doctors.
Janakpuri SSH till date has not admitted a single patient since its inauguration in 1999 and it also does not have an ambulance, the PIL has alleged.

It has alleged that while these two hospitals remain unused, others are "crumbling" under the crowd of patients they receive everyday.

Referring to answers received to queries in Rajya Sabha, the PIL has also claimed that Rs 30.88 crore and Rs 43.66 crore have been allocated to Rajiv Gandhi and Janakpuri SSHs, respectively, towards expenditure on salary of doctors and staff, procurement of drugs, consumables, machinery and equipment as well as office expenses.
The petition has also contended that the ministry's efforts to run the SSHs through public private partnership or as a society were unsuccessful.