Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has instructed government-run healthcare facilities to avoid the practice of directly referring patients to major hospitals, according to an official statement on Wednesday. He conducted a surprise inspection at GTB, Jag Pravesh Chandra and Aruna Asaf Ali hospitals on Tuesday night. The minister instructed the hospital administrations to avoid the practice of referring patients directly to big hospitals for treatment and examination.

"Instead of referring patients directly to big hospitals, under the Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK), the hospital administration should try to provide treatment facilities in small hospitals at their own level to avoid overcrowding. Small hospitals in Delhi can also send patients to private labs for MRI, CT scan, radionuclide scan and other tests. This facility is available free of cost under the DAK," he said. During the inspection, the health minister instructed that immediate relief should be provided to patients in medico-legal cases as soon as the legal process is completed.

He also directed the hospital administration to remove the clutter and provide affordable and quality healthcare to the patients and improve cleanliness. Along with this, instructions were given to provide affordable and quality health facilities to the patients, according to the statement. Bharadwaj visited various wards of these hospitals. He met patients undergoing treatment, enquired about their health and checked arrangements.?

He was unhappy over the absence of several senior doctors in these hospitals and instructed that appropriate action be taken against them, according to the statement. During the inspection, it was found that bed sheets were not changed in many wards. He said that there is a possibility of infection in patients due to dirty bed sheets. The hospital administration was directed to change the bed sheets on priority. The minister enquired about the availability of X-ray machines and other equipment in these hospitals. He instructed the administration to ensure immediate fixing of non-functional.