The Delhi government has sought details of 7 officials from DGHS to verify the records of illegal old age homes

The Delhi government has directed the Directorate of Health Services (DGHS) to provide details of seven officials in connection with a vigilance probe into alleged illegal and illegal licensing of private nursing homes. In a letter to the Directorate of Health Services in Delhi, the Directorate of Vigilance has asked for detailed bio-data of the seven officials in the case, with specific recommendations detailing the role and responsibilities of each accused official, the health department said. Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has ordered a comprehensive Anti-Corruption Cell (ACP) probe into the registration and regulatory management of private nursing homes in the national capital following a fire at a neonatal hospital in May that killed six newborns. Investigating the many illegal old age homes operating in Delhi, Saxena said there are 1,190 old age homes and more than a quarter of them are running without proper registration. In May, Saxena, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj's OSD, Vivek Vihar, was accused of being involved in improper and illegal registrations of private nursing homes, including in a fire that killed six people. The ACP is probing the questionable role of officials of the Department of Health and Directorate of Health Services (DGHS) in the matter of registration and renewal of old age homes in the capital. An Anti-Corruption Branch (ACP) investigation has revealed that health department and DGHS officials failed to conduct routine inspections of nursing homes and hospitals. Application for renewal of license was pending for six to one year. A few days ago, the ACP submitted a report to the Directorate of Vigilance. It said many nursing homes were not even inspected from 2020-21. At the same time, out of 65 nursing homes inspected by ACP, about 13 health facilities were operating without licenses or with expired licenses. There are also 4 nursing homes which are not yet licensed. In addition to this, the investigation revealed that many nursing homes do not even have qualified doctors. It was alleged that the health department officials were cozying up to the managers and doctors of these old age homes.