“No progress has been made by health department officials even after the Expert Committee had developed technical specifications of all orthopaedic implants,” mentioned Bharadwaj.

“They (the officials) are responsible for this sorry state of affairs…when the government had committed to provide 100% drugs and consumables free of cost. Sadly, there won’t be any vigilance inquiries in such matters,” he mentioned, stating that the Vigilance Department has been introduced underneath the Lieutenant Governor after the notification of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023.

“I convened a meeting of Directors and Medical Superintendents and HODs of surgical specialties (orthopaedics, neurosurgery, etc.) of all Delhi government hospitals on March 31… most hospitals informed that they neither have any valid Rate Contract (RC) for orthopaedic implants nor the requisite expertise for formulating specifications for floating individual tenders for Orthopaedic implants,” he mentioned. The minister mentioned it was determined that Medical Director, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, together with different specialists having area experience and previous expertise within the matter will develop technical specs of all orthopaedic implants utilized in Delhi authorities hospitals, newest by April 10.

“Thereafter, in multiple meetings, I enquired from the officers of the Department of Health & Family Welfare regarding the progress of the tenders floated by the individual hospitals. To my surprise, no progress has been made by Health department officials even after the Expert Committee had developed the technical specifications of all orthopaedic implants,” the well being minister mentioned, including that after the notification of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, the officers of the division began avoiding the implementation of the instructions given by their ministers.