The Aam Aadmi Party Government’s first Budget for the year 2015-16 saw a major emphasis on the health sector with a 45 per cent increase in the Budget plan than the planned expenditure in 2014-2015. The total expenditure has been pegged at Rs 4,787 crore out of which, a planned Budget is of Rs 3,138 crore.
For the expansion of healthcare infrastructure in the city, the Government has taken major policy initiatives in the heath sector. “Three new hospitals with total bed capacity of 1,800 are planned at Nagloi, Siraspur and Madipur,” said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, while announcing the Budget for the year 2015-2016.
Slamming the previous Governments for not focusing much on the healthcare facilities of the national Capital, the Government said it will revamp all the existing hospitals which were not renovated for the past 65 years. “We are planning to upgrade eleven existing hospitals and increase the number of beds within next two years,” said Sisodia.
Moreover, capacity of beds in hospital-cum-Medical College at Dwarka will increase from 700 beds to 1,500 beds. The new hospital complex at Burari with 200 beds will jump to 800 beds. Also, the new hospital complex which is under construction at Ambedkar Nagar as planned with 200 beds, will be increased to 600 beds, added the Minister.
The Government has planned to purchase 10 news plots at Mehrauli-Mahipalpur, Pitampura, Mandwali-Fazalpur, Geeta Colony, Pandav Nagar and Dwarka from DDA for the augmentation of the health infrastructure.
The Government is planning to set up 500 ‘Mohalla Clinic’ across the Capital within a year. “Five centralised labs with modern facility will be set up in North, South, East, West and Central Delhi to provide diagnostic services to the patients visiting these clinics,” said Sisodia, adding that for the patients of sports injury treatment, an Advanced Trauma Care Centre in lok Nayak Hospital will be created with 100 trauma beds including ICU and OT facilities.
From now on, patients can book the free bed occupancy online. In 42 private hospitals, economically-weaker section patients can book for the free beds facility online.
To ensure that the availability of blood bank in the capital is in adequate amount, the Government has planned to provide free dialysis to poor patients suffering from kidney failure. “Around 40 unit have been made functional at Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty and lok Nayak Hospitals,” said the Minister.
Besides, the Government will provide Health Cards to each person in order to maintain health data, record of registration and treatment at various State-run-hospitals, said the Minister. As well, free medicine will be provided to the citizens of Delhi through charitable clinics and dispensaries.