Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Friday wrote to Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj expressing grave considerations concerning the state of the “much-touted Delhi mannequin” of health service delivery. He proposed the idea of initiating a white paper on the matter, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

In his letter, the L-G said he was “appalled at the pathetic state of affairs prevailing in Delhi government hospitals”. “It is certainly surprising that the much-touted Delhi Model’ of well being service supply lies in shambles- certainly it seems to be on life assist ventilator.

Saxena’s response got here a day after Bharadwaj wrote to him asking him to order an inquiry into the “non-availability of medicines and consumables in metropolis authorities hospitals”.

Following reports regarding the shortage of essential supplies at Dr. Hedgewar Arogya Sansthan and Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalya, Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had written to the Lieutenant Governor. In response to the LG’s letter, the Delhi government dismissed the claims of shortages, attributing them to a conspiracy aimed at undermining its hospitals’ credibility.

In his letter, the Lieutenant Governor stated that he had invited Bharadwaj for discussions regarding healthcare-related matters of public importance on two occasions within the last week. “However, you chose to disregard the invitation and instead offered some frivolous excuse for not attending the same,” Saxena expressed.

“I’m afraid that you’ve got run down the a lot publicised claims of your individual Chief Minister and your predecessors within the division on the a lot glorified well being mannequin. I’m shocked that hospitals within the nationwide capital run by Delhi authorities aren’t geared up even with fundamental consummables like cotton. You have additionally highlighted the unavailability of orthopaedic physician in a single facility,” Saxena wrote.

Saxena also accused Bharadwaj of making “it a recurrent practice to cast the blame for any deficiency solely on senior officers and repeatedly address letters to me seeking disciplinary action against officers”.

He clarified that the National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) is answerable for recommending transfers, postings, and vigilance/disciplinary actions. This authority is chaired by the chief minister, who determines the agenda and schedules conferences for such issues.

“Initiation of any such motion is finished by the NCCSA and it is best to have shared your considerations with the chief minister. However, the chief minister, for causes greatest recognized to him, had chosen to not convene any assembly of NCCSA because the final six months,” Saxena noted.

Referring to Bharadwaj’s letter to him, the Lt Governor said, “The sole objective of such a communication is to shirk your own responsibility for lapses in administration and create a false narrative in public domain, projecting that all failures are attributable to anyone but you.”

“Instead of taking the problem head on, you might have persistently chosen to shoot off deceptive missives and bask in media blame sport,” he mentioned.

Last month, the Delhi High Court had admonished the health minister and the health secretary for not complying with judicial orders on enactment of a law to regulate clinical establishments, and had warned them that they could be sent to jail. Citing that instance, Saxena said the court “was so anguished with the miserable situation of health infrastructure, that the division bench threatened you in open court with imprisonment”.

“This itself ought to have been purpose sufficient so that you can take corrective measures for easy functioning in your division,” he added.

He said that the “sad situation points to a virtual collapse of health administration during the last ten years”, whereas stressing that well being is a topic which is wholly transferred to the elected authorities below the constitutional scheme of issues in Delhi. “I might as soon as once more urge you to reveal management and put together a roadmap for critical motion. A white paper on this topic may very well be a helpful place to begin. You may rope in specialists and consultants for steerage,” he said. Hitting back, the Delhi government accused the lieutenant governor of “doing politics on the issue”.

“The Lt Governor is siding with the officers answerable for scarcity of medicines. Only the Lt Governor can act in opposition to officers however this reveals he doesn’t need to act in opposition to them,” the government said.

(With inputs from PTI)