India, April 24 -- In a stern message on accountability in public healthcare, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta conducted a surprise inspection of Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital, uncovering medicine shortages, long queues, and poor sanitation, and ordering immediate corrective action. Arriving unannounced, the Chief Minister reviewed multiple departments including OPD, wards, pharmacy counters, sanitation, and digital services. She interacted directly with patients and attendants to gather first-hand feedback on the hospital's functioning. During the visit, several elderly patients informed her that they had been waiting since early morning without being attended to. Taking serious note, Gupta termed the
situation "completely unacceptable" and directed officials to ensure proper seating arrangements and introduce a streamlined token system to reduce waiting time. The inspection also highlighted gaps in doctor availability, overcrowding in the OPD, and inefficiencies in the online appointment system. Despite digital booking facilities, patients continued to face long queues. The Chief Minister instructed authorities to better integrate online and offline systems for smoother patient flow. A key concern raised by patients was the shortage of medicines, forcing many to purchase drugs from outside. Acting swiftly, Gupta ordered an immediate audit of stock registers and announced a strict stance against shortages. "If a medicine is needed today, it must be provided today," she said, calling such lapses unacceptable.
Complaints regarding unhygienic conditions, water supply issues, and poorly maintained toilets also drew sharp criticism from the Chief Minister. She warned officials that negligence in basic facilities would not be tolerated. To address systemic issues, Gupta ordered administrative reforms, including mandatory biometric attendance for staff and the use of nameplates to ensure accountability. She also raised concerns over increasing hepatitis cases and directed doctors to take preventive measures. Reiterating the government's commitment to citizen-centric healthcare, Gupta said, "Hospitals are not just centres of treatment, but spaces of service, compassion and trust," adding that the administration is focused on delivering efficient, clean, and reliable healthcare services.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.