Sanjay Gandhi Hospital To Get Trauma Centre

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday laid the foundation stone for a 362-bed trauma centre at the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital and said that the government would be saving ₹290 crore due to its “efficient functioning”.

Expected to be ready in 18 months, the trauma centre will have ICU beds, emergency beds and six operation theatres, the government said.

Speaking at the inauguration, Mr. Kejriwal said: “Ordinarily, large government hospitals across the country are constructed at a cost of ₹1 crore per bed. This hospital should have cost ₹362 crore but the Delhi government is constructing it in just ₹71 crore. This has been possible because Delhi has been an honest and efficient government that saves people’s tax money and is, therefore, able to provide the best services to all people.”

Denmark standards

The Chief Minister claimed that Delhi’s healthcare model was matching the healthcare standards of Denmark which has universal healthcare coverage for all in all the hospitals.

“Despite the massive expansion of public healthcare infrastructure in Delhi, some hospitals do see overcrowding. This is because people from across the country are coming here to access our hospitals. Today, someone from Bihar can take a ₹500 ticket to the Capital, get free treatment in our hospitals and return happily. It is a matter of great pride and happiness for us that the people of the entire country has confidence in Delhi government hospitals,” the Chief Minster said.

Mr. Kejriwal claimed that no other city or nation in the entire world has constructed primary healthcare centres, dispensaries or clinics in such vast numbers. “We have constructed around 700-800 mohalla clinics in the last five years to provide free healthcare facilities along with free medications to the people. We are also constructing polyclinics providing day-care facilities to the patients and consisting of healthcare specialists,” said Mr. Kejriwal. – The Hindu