RB News World Latest News
Related Articles
The Delhi government has directed the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to provide details of seven officials in connection with the vigilance probe into alleged irregular and illegal licensing of private nursing homes. In a letter to the Delhi Directorate General of Health Services, the health department said that the vigilance directorate has sought detailed biodata of the seven officials in the case, along with specific recommendations stating the role and responsibilities of each accused official.
After the death of six newborns in a fire at a newborn hospital in May, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had ordered a comprehensive Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) probe into the registration and regulatory management of private nursing homes in the national capital.
Many illegal nursing homes operating in Delhi
While directing the probe, Saxena had said that there are 1,190 nursing homes, of which more than a quarter are operating without valid registration. In May, Saxena suspended Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj’s OSD RN Das for allegedly being involved in irregular and illegal registration of private nursing homes, including the case of Vivek Vihar where six newborns died in a fire.
ACB is investigating the matter
The role of officials of the Health Department and Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has been found suspicious in the case of registration and renewal of nursing homes in the capital. The investigation of the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has revealed that the officials of the Health Department and DGHS failed to conduct regular inspection of nursing homes and hospitals. The application for renewal of license was kept pending for six to one year.
A few days ago, the ACB submitted a report to the Directorate of Vigilance. In which it was said that many nursing homes were not even inspected since the year 2020-21. At the same time, out of the 65 nursing homes inspected by the ACB, about 13 health departments were running without license or with expired license. There were 4 nursing homes which had never applied for a license. Along with this, the investigation also revealed that many nursing homes did not have qualified doctors. The report said that the health department officials were in collusion with the operators and doctors of these nursing homes.
