Assembly sets July 31 deadline on health audit action

The Delhi Assembly has directed all concerned departments to act on key findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) health audit and submit a detailed compliance report by July 31, 2026, in a push to enforce accountability in the public healthcare system.

The directive follows the adoption of the Public Accounts Committee’s First Report, which examined public health infrastructure and management of health services for the year ending March 31, 2022.

Officials said departments have been asked to submit an Action Taken Report indicating the status of implementation as of June 30, 2026. The move is aimed at ensuring that audit observations translate into measurable administrative action within a fixed timeline.

The Assembly Secretariat has also written to the Health Minister of the Delhi Government and the Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, seeking a time-bound response to the committee’s recommendations.

Speaker Vijender Gupta said strengthening public hospitals and expanding healthcare coverage are essential for building a resilient system.

He stressed that the focus must remain on improving infrastructure, extending services, and ensuring equitable access to quality care.

The report reviewed multiple aspects of the healthcare system, including infrastructure gaps, service delivery mechanisms, and overall management of health services. Departments have been directed to clearly outline progress made on each recommendation and specify timelines for pending work.

Officials said the requirement to submit a structured action taken report marks the beginning of a formal follow-up mechanism within the Assembly. The aim is to ensure that policy observations are backed by implementation on the ground.

Gupta said efficient delivery of health services is central to good governance and remains a key responsibility of the state.

He noted that improvements in healthcare must go beyond infrastructure and focus on outcomes that affect citizens directly. He highlighted the need to strengthen institutional systems by investing in infrastructure, ensuring the availability of trained medical professionals, and improving access to services across all sections of society.

The Speaker also underlined the importance of accountability in public health administration.