Scrapping of pilot plan at GTB hospital puts paid to govt’s plans

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court’s order against the pilot project to reserve 80% beds for locals in state-run hospitals is a big blow to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government.

Currently, the project was implemented at Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) Hospital and the government planned to implement the same in other hospitals like Delhi State Cancer Institute and G B Pant hospital, on the ground that too many outsiders flocking government hospitals was restricting the options for local residents.

On Friday, after the court verdict, health minister Satyendar Jain said the government will challenge the HC order in the Supreme Court.

Under the pilot project implemented at GTB hospital earlier this month, Delhi residents get preference at registration counters, in-patient department, tests and medicine counter service. The identification is done on the basis of voter identity cards.

“Three years ago, we had made disbursing of essential medicines free, following which the crowd at the hospital increased. Earlier, it used to be 5,000-5,500 people per day but it went up to around 10,000,” Jain said.

The minister said that the move to give preference to Delhiites was mooted because many residents had “complained” that though the facility had been announced they couldn’t avail it due to huge crowd. One bed was being shared by two persons, which “we thought was unfair,” he said.

“Also, consultancy and OPD facilities are free for all, and only medicine facilities would be for the people of Delhi. Besides, emergency facilities are free and only for planned treatment we have reserved 80% for Delhiites and rest for others,” Jain said.