To issue timely disability certificate, the Health Department of the Delhi Government asked Medical Superintendents of all its hospitals to designate a specialist at every hospital to attend to the needful person. The decision was taken in the wake of the difficulties faced by many patients suffering from disability. It was a common complaint that it takes significantly more time to procure disability certificate from State-run hospitals.
Recently, the department has issued an order and sent it to all 39 Medical Superintendents. It also mentioned that every hospital should provide a designated room and fix a day and time for issuing the certificate for different types of disabilities like locomotors and leprosy, hearing impairment, mental illness and blindness.
“The date and time for issuing the disability certificate should be pasted in the clipboard outside each department so that patients could know the details about when the certificate will be issued,” the order said. Not only is it difficult to obtain information about the certificate. People have also complained that most of the doctors charge fees of around Rs200 for issuing a disability certificate on time.
The officials of the Health Department also asked the Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs) of all districts to constitute boards in their respective district to look into such complaints. They have also been asked to send a report to the department within next month.
Sources in the Health Department said that from October 2010 only 2,500 people with disabilities had been issued and approximately 10,000 cases are still pending. Director of Health Service NV Kamat said the decision has been taken to streamline the process for issuing the certificate and patients do not have to run to get the disability certificate.