CAG Findings: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Critiques AAP Health Policies

New Delhi, March 3 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta, criticized the former AAP administration on Monday for deteriorating the condition of city hospitals and utilizing fictitious patients to embezzle funds, while neglecting to fill vacant positions for doctors and nurses.

Wrapping up the discussion on the Comptroller and Auditor General of India's report regarding the Performance Audit of Public Health Infrastructure & Management of Health Services, CM Gupta condemned the Mohalla Clinic initiative introduced by the AAP, stating, “Everything concerning Mohalla Clinics was deceptive – including medication, personnel, and testing – with the sole truth being the payments made.”

The Opposition members exited the House as she enumerated the failures of the AAP regime, emphasizing that 234 duty medical officer positions are unfilled, alongside over 2,000 nursing vacancies and 2,796 paramedic posts that remain vacant.

She further criticized the wasteful spending during the AAP government, mentioning that hospital storerooms are filled with PPE kits, masks, oxygen cylinders, and other supplies that are currently unused.

“During the Covid crisis, a mask priced at Rs 10 was purchased for Rs 150 to misappropriate funds,” she remarked, referencing the findings in the CAG report.

CM Gupta denounced the mismanagement under the AAP leadership, pointing out that 24 hospital projects initiated under the previous administration remain incomplete.

“Many of these projects have seen their costs balloon, and they are still far from completion,” she added.

Even Arvind Kejriwal acknowledged his failure to fulfill promises, including cleaning the Yamuna and providing safe drinking water. “I am pleased that ultimately, Kejriwal admitted his shortcomings,” she noted.

CM Gupta stated that the Opposition members were rattled by the two CAG reports presented in the House, asserting, “They lack the courage to confront the criticism.”

Earlier, Tilak Nagar legislator Jarnail Singh was removed from the House for disrupting CM Gupta’s address with chants.

Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh expressed disappointment over the AAP government for not fully utilizing the funds allocated by the Centre during Covid.

He cited a CAG observation indicating, “Under the Emergency Covid Response Plan, the GNCTD received a total of Rs 787.91 crore from the Government of India, yet only Rs 542.84 crore was utilized by November 2021.”

“It pains me to recount the dark actions of the previous administration. It is distressing to remember how a government could indulge in such severe negligence,” he remarked.

“In the upcoming days, we will introduce a Hospital Information Management System (HIMS) that will assign a unique patient ID to each individual, streamlining treatment as all information will be accessible online,” he announced.

Highlighting the deficiencies in AAP's health department during Covid, including the procurement of substandard medications, inadequate care for pregnant women, staffing shortages, and underutilization of dialysis machines, the Health Minister referenced several sections of the CAG report during the debate.

Referring to a directive from the Delhi High Court, he mentioned that the AAP government was supposed to initiate radiological diagnosis services by November 2024, which it failed to accomplish.

“I assure the public that our administration is dedicated to adhering to the High Court order with utmost urgency,” he concluded.