New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has ordered a comprehensive ACB probe into the registration and regulatory management of private nursing homes in the city following the death of six newborns in a fire at the neonatal hospital, Raj Niwa officials said on Tuesday.
In a note to the Chief Secretary, Saxena said it was "heartbreaking" that parents from the low-income group were "being cheated" by this nursing home running without valid registration.
After Saxena issued the order, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj hit back and said that the Lieutenant Governor has not uttered a word on the Health Secretary who has been "missing" since the fire incident. Bhardwaj said that he Have also written to the Union Home Secretary on the issue.
In his note, Saxena said the episode has exposed "sheer mismanagement, criminal negligence and collusion of health department officials" in approving and renewing the registration of nursing homes."I have taken a very strong stand in this matter. Although it is a devolved subject, but in the larger public interest, I have been forced to step in due to the lack of seriousness on the part of the officers entrusted with the responsibilities," he said. "In the matter related to the tragic fire and nursing homes... the AC (Anti-Corruption Branch) has been directed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the registration of nursing homes in the city to assess how many nursing homes are without valid registration. and whether those having valid registration are complying with the norms prescribed under the Delhi Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1953 and the rules made thereunder," according to the note.
According to a Delhi Police FIR, five oxygen cylinders exploded in a fire at a newborn hospital in East Delhi's Vivek Vihar area, which was running without a license and approval from the fire department.Six newborn babies died in the fire.
Raj Niwas officials said the probe will also find out whether the renewal of registration is done after 100 per cent inspection by the health department. "Is there any proper check list to ensure whether the facility meets the requisite safety norms?" and does it have the medical infrastructure and professionals provided for under the law?” Said in the note.
Saxena said there are 1,190 nursing homes, of which more than a quarter are running without valid registration.
"Furthermore, there are many nursing homes in the city that have never applied for registration but are still functioning. Even nursing homes that have valid registration do not meet the prescribed safety and regulatory standards. Not completing...,” he said.Saxena said the incident was a "sad reflection on the complete absence of ministerial oversight in the regulatory management of private health facilities in the city".
The Lieutenant Governor said he was "disappointed" that the Chief Minister and the Health Minister were "only paying lip service" and "avoiding responsibility".
"Administration cannot be run on social media or by suppressing such serious matters," he said. Saxena also said the ACB could determine "connivance and collusion of the concerned public servants of the health department".
“The Chief Secretary may advise all District Magistrates to verify their respective areas within two weeks to find out the actual number of functional nursing homes, which can be compared with the Health Department list.This will give you some information. Realizing the magnitude of the problem and the extent of violations prevalent in the city,'' he said.
Saxena pointed out that the city government had assured the Delhi High Court in April that it would adopt the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation Act, 2010) in "not more than four weeks" while drafting its law. Shockingly, even after almost two months have passed, the Health Minister has decided not to act on a matter of such public importance, even at the risk of inviting contempt of court. "
Hitting back, Bhardwaj said that immediately after the fire incident, he called the Health Secretary and sent a message but there was no response.He said he had also sent a note to the secretary's residence but it was not received. In a video posted on Twitter, the AAP leader said, "On Monday, I held a meeting and the health secretary was not present. I was surprised. That the Health Secretary has been missing for three days."
“L-G sir did not say anything on this. In case of any major incident like earthquake, terrorist attack or FIR, the health department has a very big role.How is it possible that he could disappear? Someone told me he had gone. But they did not inform me," Bhardwaj claimed.
Bhardwaj alleged that even when an officer is on leave, there is a link officer, but in this case that person is also not there. "The L-G did not say a word on this. We have repeatedly told the Health Secretary Complained to L-G about this, but no action was taken against him.What does it mean? Are they given protection for not following the instructions of the elected government?" he asked.
"Have they been told that they have no accountability towards the ministers?...If the officers are not listening to the ministers then how can they be made to work?" He said.
In a note to the Chief Secretary, Saxena said it was "heartbreaking" that parents from the low-income group were "being cheated" by this nursing home running without valid registration.
After Saxena issued the order, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj hit back and said that the Lieutenant Governor has not uttered a word on the Health Secretary who has been "missing" since the fire incident. Bhardwaj said that he Have also written to the Union Home Secretary on the issue.
In his note, Saxena said the episode has exposed "sheer mismanagement, criminal negligence and collusion of health department officials" in approving and renewing the registration of nursing homes."I have taken a very strong stand in this matter. Although it is a devolved subject, but in the larger public interest, I have been forced to step in due to the lack of seriousness on the part of the officers entrusted with the responsibilities," he said. "In the matter related to the tragic fire and nursing homes... the AC (Anti-Corruption Branch) has been directed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the registration of nursing homes in the city to assess how many nursing homes are without valid registration. and whether those having valid registration are complying with the norms prescribed under the Delhi Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1953 and the rules made thereunder," according to the note.
According to a Delhi Police FIR, five oxygen cylinders exploded in a fire at a newborn hospital in East Delhi's Vivek Vihar area, which was running without a license and approval from the fire department.Six newborn babies died in the fire.
Raj Niwas officials said the probe will also find out whether the renewal of registration is done after 100 per cent inspection by the health department. "Is there any proper check list to ensure whether the facility meets the requisite safety norms?" and does it have the medical infrastructure and professionals provided for under the law?” Said in the note.
Saxena said there are 1,190 nursing homes, of which more than a quarter are running without valid registration.
"Furthermore, there are many nursing homes in the city that have never applied for registration but are still functioning. Even nursing homes that have valid registration do not meet the prescribed safety and regulatory standards. Not completing...,” he said.Saxena said the incident was a "sad reflection on the complete absence of ministerial oversight in the regulatory management of private health facilities in the city".
The Lieutenant Governor said he was "disappointed" that the Chief Minister and the Health Minister were "only paying lip service" and "avoiding responsibility".
"Administration cannot be run on social media or by suppressing such serious matters," he said. Saxena also said the ACB could determine "connivance and collusion of the concerned public servants of the health department".
“The Chief Secretary may advise all District Magistrates to verify their respective areas within two weeks to find out the actual number of functional nursing homes, which can be compared with the Health Department list.This will give you some information. Realizing the magnitude of the problem and the extent of violations prevalent in the city,'' he said.
Saxena pointed out that the city government had assured the Delhi High Court in April that it would adopt the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation Act, 2010) in "not more than four weeks" while drafting its law. Shockingly, even after almost two months have passed, the Health Minister has decided not to act on a matter of such public importance, even at the risk of inviting contempt of court. "
Hitting back, Bhardwaj said that immediately after the fire incident, he called the Health Secretary and sent a message but there was no response.He said he had also sent a note to the secretary's residence but it was not received. In a video posted on Twitter, the AAP leader said, "On Monday, I held a meeting and the health secretary was not present. I was surprised. That the Health Secretary has been missing for three days."
“L-G sir did not say anything on this. In case of any major incident like earthquake, terrorist attack or FIR, the health department has a very big role.How is it possible that he could disappear? Someone told me he had gone. But they did not inform me," Bhardwaj claimed.
Bhardwaj alleged that even when an officer is on leave, there is a link officer, but in this case that person is also not there. "The L-G did not say a word on this. We have repeatedly told the Health Secretary Complained to L-G about this, but no action was taken against him.What does it mean? Are they given protection for not following the instructions of the elected government?" he asked.
"Have they been told that they have no accountability towards the ministers?...If the officers are not listening to the ministers then how can they be made to work?" He said.
