A May 12 directive by the Delhi health minister to all Delhi government hospitals, directing them to create a designated office space for local MLAs on the hospital premises, has elicited strong reactions from all quarters.

The letter, signed by Satyendra Jain, Minister of Health and Family Welfare (Mail Today has a copy of the letter), has asked all medical superintendents of Delhi government hospitals to immediately provide office space to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs nominated as chairpersons of Rogi Kalyan Samiti (patient welfare committee) in each hospital.

However, hospital authorities said they are already struggling with increased patient footfall and other resources being stretched.

A directive by the Delhi health minister to all government hospitals, directing them to create a designated office space for local MLAs on the hospital premises, has elicited strong reactions from all quarters

Shortage of beds is one of the most common problems prevalent in government hospitals, so much so that in many cases the hospital administration has to refuse admission to patients.

A medical superintendent of a Delhi government hospital, on condition of anonymity, told Mail Today: “There is shortage of rooms in the hospital for patients and they want us to create special space for AAP’s MLAs. It is wastage of resources as well as infrastructure. This is an extremely wrong decision taken by the government.”

During his tenure, former Delhi health minister Dr Ashok Walia had strictly refused to give any space to local MLAs in the hospital premises.

“We were in a meeting when Dr Walia was discussing the roles and responsibilities of the committee. He completely refused to create any special space and instead suggested that the meeting be conducted at the office of medical superintendent,” one of the Delhi government officials said.

The welfare committee also includes people’s representatives, MLA/MP, health officials (including an Ayush doctor), local district officials, representatives of the Indian Medical Association and members of local bodies and Panchayati Raj representative.

It has the power to utilise all government assets and services to impose user charges at hospitals and is free to determine the quantum of charges on the basis of local circumstances.

A copy of the letter sent by Delhi Health Minister SatyendraJain to government hospitals, which asks all their medical superintendents to provide office space for MLAs

“The move is undesirable and unwanted. A local MLA has no business to interfere in the day-to-day functioning of a medical institution. This will only hamper the functioning of a hospital,” lawyer and EWS Monitoring Committee member Ashok Aggarwal said.

Congress leader Ajay Maken also questioned the move and said: “Why should the MLAs be given a special space in the hospital? This is like giving VIP treatment to the local MLAs.”

According to sources, this is the AAP government’s way of strengthening the role of the party’s MLA.