Delhi Government does well to collaborate with private hospitals on urgent surgeries
The Delhi Government needs to be complimented for having launched a scheme to provide free surgeries to patients at select private hospitals in case the waiting period for such surgeries is long at Government-run hospitals. The Arvind Kejriwal regime shall, in such cases, bear the cost of operations. A list of 52 surgeries and also private hospitals has been finalised to be covered under this unique scheme. The Government's decision shows both an understanding of the ground realities patients face as well as promptness to address the issue. Patients often have to go through a difficult phase when they have to wait or long — often weeks and even months — for their turn. Their condition worsens and their suffering is extended. Those who can manage, shift to private hospitals — though even here, many have to endure terrible problems in raising the money needed for expensive surgeries. However, while the Delhi Government's scheme is praiseworthy, problems still need to be fixed to reach a long-term solution. The Government cannot for an indeterminate period of time run this project, because it will be a drain on the exchequer and the public will eventually have to make up for the fiscal losses of the State. The Kejriwal regime must immediately set to work on enhancing the capabilities of Government-operated hospitals. Better equipment and an increased number of doctors and supporting staff are the need of the hour. Government hospitals see a large turnout of patients, including those will serious illnesses that need surgical treatment. Government doctors generally work under tremendous stress as a result, and this could show in their performance. Besides, they do not even have the monetary incentives which private practitioners in well-funded hospitals enjoy. One reason for the many complaints against Government-run hospitals relates to inadequate treatment and attention that patients receive. This is certainly not because Government doctors are less competent or less committed — though there may be exceptions. It is primarily because they are so burdened that it becomes near impossible for them to extend the care and attention patients expect of them. Thus, more hospitals, more hospital beds, and more and better equipped doctors can to a large extent tackle the crisis.
Meanwhile, it is churlish of critics of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to ridicule the new measure. They can have other, valid reasons to oppose the Kejriwal Government, but it makes no sense for them to jump to judgement on this new initiative. Even if one assumes for argument's sake that the AAP has launched this scheme to divert attention from its failures — of which there are many — the obvious benefits to patients cannot be wished away. Opponents of the scheme will have better reasons to put the Delhi Government on the mat in case this idea fails to work, for whatever reasons.