Over 2,000 vacant posts in three government hospitals in Delhi: Health Ministry

There are over 2,000 vacant posts for doctors, nurses and paramedical staff in three large Central government hospitals in the National Capital — Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals, according to information provided by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry in the Lok Sabha earlier this week. Responding to a question by Member of Parliament Varun Chaudhary, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel told the House that a total of 903 posts for doctors are vacant in the three hospitals, while 476 posts for nursing staff and 695 paramedical staff positions are vacant this year. The Ministry was questioned about the number of beds available in government hospitals for in-patients in the country during the last five years; the present sanctioned strength and vacancies of doctors, nurses and paramedics; and whether there is any proposal to increase the healthcare infrastructure in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines, and details thereof. The Ministry was also asked by MP Mala Roy of its plan to revise the rates, including those of the Out-Patient Department for empanelled private hospitals under the Central Government Health Service, and the Minister in her response noted that a committee had been constituted for revision of rates of investigations and procedures under the CGHS, which submitted its report in June this year.