Delhi HC Orders ICU Helpline Boost and Urgent Hospital Hiring
Delhi High Court directs the government to add 10 ICU helpline lines and urgently fill thousands of vacant medical posts to improve healthcare.
The Delhi High Court has stepped in to overhaul the functioning of government hospitals in the capital, directing the Delhi Government to strengthen ICU helpline services and urgently fill thousands of vacant medical and administrative positions. The orders come as part of the court's ongoing monitoring of 38 government hospitals across the city.
Expanding the Lifeline: More ICU Bed Enquiries
A Division Bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora highlighted a critical gap in how patients and their families access information about ICU beds. The court noted that the existing CATS toll-free number (102) was struggling to handle the volume of desperate callers.
Data from September and October 2026 revealed a worrying trend: the helpline was receiving between 2,000 and 2,300 calls, with a significant number of these calls being dropped. To combat this, the court has ordered the Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) to:
- Add 10 new helpdesk lines to the 102 toll-free number, increasing the total capacity from 30 to 40 lines.
- Ensure adequate manpower is deployed for 24x7 operations.
- Upload a comprehensive list of Referral Coordinators, including their mobile and landline numbers, on the government website for easy public access.
The Secretary of Health and Family Welfare has been given four weeks to implement these changes and submit a status report. Additionally, the Head of Operations of CATS must periodically verify the availability of the three identified round-the-clock Referral Coordinators.
Addressing the Leadership Vacuum
The High Court expressed serious concern over hospitals operating without permanent leadership. It was revealed that the Guru Nanak Eye Centre and Dr N.C. Joshi Memorial Hospital are currently functioning without a Medical Director (MD) or Medical Superintendent (MS).
To resolve this, the Chief Secretary of Delhi has been directed to convene a meeting of the National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) to ensure these appointments are finalized by November 30, 2026. The court also criticized the practice of doctors holding "additional charge" in seven society-run hospitals, calling it inefficient and insisting on full-time administrators by November 25.
Filling Thousands of Vacancies
Beyond leadership, the court flagged a massive shortage of frontline medical and support staff. A status report submitted to the court revealed a staggering number of vacancies:
- 645 General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs)
- 804 Paramedical staff
- 406 Non-teaching staff
Urgent Recruitment Mandates
To tackle this crisis, the court has ordered the Delhi Government to send requisitions for GDMOs and non-teaching staff to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) within two weeks. In a significant move, the Court requested the UPSC to treat this as an exceptional case and begin recruitment immediately, rather than waiting for the standard annual cycle in early 2027.
While permanent hiring is underway, the court provided immediate stop-gap measures:
- Medical Superintendents and Directors must engage contractual employees for vacant roles following existing guidelines.
- The Dean of Maulana Azad Medical College and the concerned Board must complete contractual recruitment for the three categories within two months.
- Paramedical vacancies must be filled via contractual appointments within two months, with the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) required to provide a status update.