CAG Report Exposes Delhi’s Healthcare Crisis: No ICUs in 14 Hospitals, Mohalla Clinics Lacking Toilets

New Delhi, India: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has revealed serious lapses in Delhi’s healthcare system, highlighting severe financial mismanagement, a shortage of critical medical services, and poor infrastructure in mohalla clinics and hospitals.

Key Findings:

- No ICU in 14 hospitals; 16 hospitals lack blood banks, while ambulance services are missing in 12 hospitals.
- Mohalla clinics and AYUSH dispensaries lack basic facilities like toilets and power backup.
- Severe staff shortages: 50-96% shortage of doctors and nurses in some hospitals.
- Underutilized infrastructure: ICU beds, operation theatres, and trauma centers remain unused due to a lack of specialists.
- Covid funds mismanagement: ₹205 crore allocated for emergency response and essential supplies went unused.
- Hospital bed crisis: Out of 32,000 promised beds, only 1,357 were added, leading to overcrowding with occupancy rates as high as 189%.
- Delays & cost overruns: Major projects were delayed by 3-6 years, increasing costs by ₹382 crore.
- Long surgery wait times: Up to 12 months for pediatric surgeries at CNBC Hospital, 6-8 months for burn and plastic surgeries.

This is the second CAG report being presented in the Delhi Assembly, following the recent Delhi Excise Policy report. The findings raise serious concerns about healthcare governance in the capital.