Delhi Health Minister accuses LG Vinai Saxena of not filling vacant posts in Delhi hospitals

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged on Sunday at a press conference that Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena's office is spreading falsehoods and ignoring the acute shortage of medical personnel in Delhi government hospitals.

Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj stated that nature seems to repeatedly create opportunities to expose Delhi's LG Vinai Saxena, who is ruling Delhi, and reveal his truth to the whole country.

The Delhi Health Minister continued, "The LG continuously hides behind his office and indirectly spreads lies to the public and the media. One such lie was again presented to the media yesterday from the LG's office. I request the LG to stop hiding behind his office and indirectly presenting lies to the public. Instead, he should hold a press conference and write these lies himself to present them to the media and the people of the country so that action can be taken against him for his falsehoods."

He mentioned that the poorest of the poor from Delhi and surrounding states come to Delhi hospitals with the hope of receiving adequate treatment. However, due to the significant shortage of doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, lab technicians, and OT technicians in Delhi hospitals, these poor people are not able to receive adequate and complete treatment, which is being done deliberately under a conspiracy.

Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj expressed his surprise at a news article that stated it is the Delhi government's responsibility to fill the vacant posts of doctors, nurses, and other paramedical staff in Delhi hospitals. He emphasized that everyone knows the 'Services' Department falls directly under the LG of Delhi, making it the responsibility of the Lieutenant Governor to fill these vacancies.

The Health Minister presented letters he had written earlier to the LG informing him about these vacancies. He stated that after taking over as the Health Minister of Delhi in March 2023, he wrote his first letter to the LG on April 19, 2023, informing him of a shortage of 292 General Medical Duty Officers (GDMOs) and 234 Specialists in Delhi Government hospitals, and appealed for these vacancies to be filled as soon as possible.

No action was taken to fill these vacancies. Instead, doctors holding high positions in Delhi Government hospitals through Central Health Services (CHS) were also recalled by the Central Government, removing them from Delhi Government hospitals.