CM Rekha Gupta Says Delhi Is Strengthening Healthcare Facilities and Expanding Medical Education Seats

Summary:
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government is expanding healthcare infrastructure, increasing medical education capacity and recruiting doctors and nurses to strengthen the city’s healthcare workforce. Key initiatives include raising Ayushman Bharat coverage to Rs 10 lakh, establishing 415 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, upgrading hospitals, expanding medical seats and introducing digital healthcare services across government facilities. The government has also approved more than 4,000 healthcare positions and introduced free newborn diagnostic tests, cancer screenings and HPV vaccinations. Gupta made the announcement while inaugurating a new IVF centre at Sant Parmanand Hospital, which will provide treatments such as IVF and ICSI along with specialised fertility care and counselling. 

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Tuesday that the government was working to enhance healthcare facilities, expand the number of medical seats and strengthen the medical workforce through the recruitment of doctors and nurses across the national capital.

Addressing the inauguration of a newly established IVF centre at Sant Parmanand Hospital, Gupta said the government was prioritising preventive healthcare through the development of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs near residential neighbourhoods. She also highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in positioning Delhi as a major medical hub.

The chief minister stated that the Delhi government had raised the annual health insurance coverage under Ayushman Bharat to Rs 10 lakh by contributing an additional Rs 5 lakh over the Centre’s existing Rs 5 lakh coverage.

So far, more than 8.94 lakh Ayushman cards have received approval, while over 3.09 lakh senior citizens above the age of 70 have been registered under the Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme.

She further noted that the scheme also covers more than 5.28 lakh recipients of widow and disability pensions, along with their family members.

According to Gupta, Delhi has established 415 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and 29 Jan Aushadhi Kendras. In addition, five initiatives involving an investment of Rs 503.49 crore are underway to strengthen hospital infrastructure.

She said GB Pant Hospital had been equipped with advanced medical technology and facilities, including a Neuro ICU. Furthermore, 300 dialysis machines have been deployed across 16 government-run hospitals.

The government is also expanding medical education capacity, with MBBS seats set to increase from 595 to 820 and postgraduate seats rising from 553 to 762. Gupta added that a medical college is under development at Indira Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka, with an allocated investment of Rs 805.99 crore.

To address staffing requirements in the healthcare sector, the government has recruited over 1,200 nurses and 954 senior resident doctors. More than 4,000 additional positions have also received approval, she said.

Emphasising the government’s digital healthcare initiatives, Gupta revealed that over one crore ABHA IDs had been generated in Delhi, while the Digital Health Management System was operational across 38 government hospitals.

She also highlighted several public health initiatives, including 56 categories of complimentary diagnostic tests for newborns, 10,000 free cancer screening examinations and free HPV vaccinations for girls between nine and 14 years of age.

The newly launched IVF facility at Sant Parmanand Hospital will offer reproductive healthcare treatments, including in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The centre will be supported by specialised fertility physicians and embryologists who will guide patients through diagnostic assessments, treatment procedures and counselling.