UPGRADES ON THE WAY!! Delhi Health Minister Unveils Bold Reforms
Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh announced sweeping reforms to uplift hospital infrastructure and management.
Delhi’s healthcare system is on the cusp of transformation as Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh announced sweeping reforms to uplift hospital infrastructure and management. In an interview with PTI today, Singh outlined plans to launch pilot projects aimed at enhancing healthcare services across the capital, signaling a new era under the BJP-led government.
Among the initiatives is the introduction of polyclinics offering primary and secondary daycare while collecting patient data to streamline services. Singh emphasized addressing the chronic manpower shortage by recruiting doctors and healthcare professionals. Under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana—recently greenlit by the new Cabinet—Delhi’s government hospitals will receive higher-quality medicines and Rs 10 lakh coverage per beneficiary, split evenly between the Centre and Delhi government. This move reverses what Chief Minister Rekha Gupta called obstruction by the previous AAP administration.
Singh promised a phased approach, with essential reforms rolling out in the next six months, followed by larger projects. “Our vision is to provide quality medicines, better facilities, and structural improvements,” he said. He criticized the AAP’s mohalla clinics, claiming 90% operate in rented, often non-functional spaces, and pledged to replace them with robust healthcare systems.
As a doctor himself, Singh vowed to equip medical professionals with necessary tools, targeting major hospitals for upgrades. The reforms align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president JP Nadda’s healthcare priorities. However, challenges loom large, as highlighted by a recent CAG report. It flagged underused operation theaters, severe staff and medicine shortages, and surgery delays of up to 10 months. With a 21% staff deficit and struggling ICU services, the road ahead is steep. Still, Singh remains optimistic, personally overseeing efforts to make Delhi’s healthcare efficient, transparent, and accessible to all.
