- By Akansha Pandey
- Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:55 AM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
The Delhi government claims that free medicines and treatment are available in all government hospitals in the capital, but the reality on the ground is the opposite. Despite an increased budget, patients are not receiving all their medicines at the hospitals. Forget the OPD; even the attendants of admitted patients are having to buy medicines from outside. Medicine shortages, delays in tenders, and supply chain disruptions have crippled the Delhi government's health services. An investigation by Dainik Jagran, conducted from morning to noon at five major government hospitals in the capital, revealed this very truth: the claim of free medicines in government hospitals is contrary to the ground reality.
Meanwhile, on this matter, both the Director General of the Delhi Directorate of Health Services, Dr Vatsala Agarwal, and the Health Minister, Dr Pankaj Singh, have remained silent. Both were contacted via phone and WhatsApp for a comment, but no response was received.
The situation is such that patients have to buy two out of every four medicines from outside. Often, patients are forced to buy medicines for even common ailments like colds, coughs, and fevers from outside. This is why a multi-crore medicine business is flourishing and thriving around every government hospital in Delhi. It was reported that the situation is the same at Lok Nayak, GB Pant, GTB, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and Deep Chand Bandhu hospitals. The system is failing and patients are suffering, but the hospital management and the government seem unconcerned. These are not just allegations from patients and their relatives, but also a reality highlighted in the CAG report 'Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services - 2025'.
Loknayak (LNJP) Hospital, 9 am
Patients and their attendants stand at the counter with prescriptions to collect medicines. A voice from inside saying, "These two medicines are available, get the rest from outside," brings a look of despair to their faces.
This is because they have to buy the more expensive medicines from outside, which are never available at the hospital.
- Vimala Sharma, a diabetes patient, says the doctor prescribed two medicines to control her sugar levels, but she did not receive either of them. "The person at the counter told me to buy it from outside, as it's not available here."
- Shahid, who came with a complaint of ear pain, says he received the drops but not the tablets. "They said the stock has run out."
- A staff member at the counter explained that there are delays in the supply of medicines from the Central Procurement Agency. "What can we do?"
GB Pant Hospital, 9:30 am
This hospital is a major centre for cardiac patients, and the situation here is also alarming. For cardiac patients here, it's a case of 'a heart but no medicine'.
- Mohammed Fakhruddin, who is undergoing treatment for a heart condition, says, "Three medicines were prescribed, but I only received one. I had to buy the other two from outside for 900 rupees." He asks, "Has the provision for free medicine been reduced to just paper?"
- There are more than 150 pharmacies within a one-kilometre radius of GB Pant Hospital.
Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital,11 am
The situation at GTB, a major hospital in North-East Delhi, is no better.
- Dinesh Mandal, who came here for treatment, is facing a double ordeal. First, he had to buy four out of seven prescribed medicines from outside. Now, he also has to get an ultrasound done privately, which has been pending for three days.
- Mangeram, who came for treatment for stomach pain, said, "The doctor wrote four medicines on the prescription, but for two of them, I was told to buy them myself. What can I do?"
- Priya, a road accident victim, was standing outside the emergency department. Her brother explains, "We had to buy the injections ourselves before the operation, which cost 1,500 rupees."
Here too, there are more than a hundred pharmacies in the vicinity.
Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Hospital, 12 pm – Silence at the pharmacy
- Standing there, 70-year-old Kalyani Devi says, "The doctor prescribed three medicines. I couldn't get the blood pressure medicine, Amlodipine, so I bought it from outside for Rs 300. Now I am waiting here for the rest."
- A hospital staff member present admits that besides medicines, there is also a shortage of gloves, syringes, and bandages, with daily demand being double the supply. "This has been raised several times, but there has been no improvement."
Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital, Ashok Vihar, 1 pm
This hospital, once known for its excellent management, is now grappling with a medicine crisis.
Rukhsar explains, "My father has high blood pressure and diabetes. When we consulted the doctor here, he prescribed four medicines for 15 days. We didn't get a single one. It cost us Rs 1,900"
A staff member associated with the hospital management says that the hospital has only received 40 per cent of its required medicine stock. "What can we do? We are managing somehow."
Budget Increased, Yet The System Ails
- In 2025-26, the Delhi government has allocated a budget of 12,893 crore rupees for health services, which is higher than the previous year.
- Of this, approximately 4,000 crore rupees are allocated for medicines and tests, whereas experts estimate the requirement to be around 8,000 crore rupees.
- Every year, more than 60 million patients seek treatment at Delhi's government hospitals, yet the budget remains underutilised.
Where The Shortfall Lies
- In 2023-24, approximately 20 per cent of the health budget was not spent.
- A large portion of the budget was spent on building construction and administrative expenses, with limited allocation for medicines and tests.
- The supply chain and procurement system are weak, with delays in the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) process.
- There is an imbalance between the number of hospitals and the patient load, leading to a significant gap between demand and supply.
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