Announced third time,health PPP projects still stuck

Not only has there been little movement on the projects,the Delhi Health department is yet to comply with the Central Information Commission’s (CIC) February order,directing it to upload its PPP dealings of the last two years online and provide daily updates on the movement of the projects.

Two superspecialty hospitals in Tahirpur and Janakpuri,radio-diagnostic machines and dialysis units in government hospitals are the PPP projects that have been in progress since 2008. Three more,announced last year,have already been scrapped — including the fleet of 150 ambulances that was to be launched in partnership with the Fortis group last year.

After a four-year delay,the PPP plan of the Dwarka hospital has also been scrapped. The PPP model for neonatal care,allowing parents to take their newborns for treatment to private hospitals,has also been dropped.

Senior officials in Health department hold former Health Minister Kiran Walia responsible for the delays.

“Not one PPP project was cleared during her entire tenure. The new Health minister has convened several meetings on the PPP projects. We definitely expect swifter movement now,” said a senior official.

Health Secretary Rajendra Kumar acknowledged that “no final decision has been taken on any PPP yet”. About non-compliance with the CIC directive,Kumar said: “As there is no final decision,it might mislead people.”