उपराज्यपाल, दिल्ली

Lt. Governor of Delhi approves proposal for free treatment for medico- legal victims of road accidents, acid attack and burn injury, terms it as a step in the right direction.
Lt. Governor also approves Cabinet proposals to provide financial assistance for specified high-end diagnostic tests/ surgeries and for outsourcing of diagnostic services to provide free laboratory services.
Keep a suitable income ceiling so that the resources of the government are used to help the poor & the needy : LG
Strengthen the government institutions too for a robust healthcare system : LG
Evolve a mechanism for ensuring that unnecessary tests are not prescribed in collusion with private medical centres : LG
Ensure the quality of tests and the private institutions empanelled for these tests. Put in place a mechanism for appropriate penalties against institutions in case of malpractices / poor quality : LG
Hon’ble Lt. Governor today approved the Cabinet decision of the Health Department relating to provision of free treatment for medico- legal victims of road accidents, acid attack and burn injuries and termed it as a step in the right direction. Hon’ble LG has also approved the proposal of the Department for outsourcing of diagnostic (non-radiological) services to provide free laboratory services at Mohalla Clinics, Polyclinics and Mobile Health Clinics.

Further, Hon’ble LG has also concurred with the amendments to the Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK) scheme to provide financial assistance for specified high-end diagnostic (radiological) tests/ surgeries.

However, noting that the original purpose of the scheme was to help the poor & needy sections of the society, and that the Planning Department too has advised to keep an income ceiling, Hon’ble LG advised to retain some income ceiling so that the resources of the government are used to help the poor & the needy and the poor are not crowded out by the well-to-do.

LG also noted that the focus of these schemes appeared to be on outsourcing and there is no mention in the proposal about any action plan to strengthen the diagnostic infrastructure in the government institutions. LG stressed that for a robust healthcare system, the government institutions also need to be strengthened as the healthcare system cannot be left entirely in the hands of private sector.

LG observed that complete transparency and relevant procedures/guidelines should be followed strictly while empanelling private hospitals. He has also emphasized that a mechanism must be evolved for ensuring that unnecessary tests are not prescribed in collusion with private medical centres. Further, the quality of tests and the private institutions empanelled for these tests also should be ensured through appropriate penalties in case of malpractices / poor quality.

Hon’ble LG has further advised that the administrative department must also develop a system of online aadhar-based/biometric tracking of patients to ensure proper follow-up and to prevent any malpractices, given the financial implications.