The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi government to conduct a live demonstration of its digital healthcare platforms, including the NextGen Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) and the Delhi ICU Beds Saarthi application as part of its ongoing review of public healthcare infrastructure in the national capital. A Division Bench comprising Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora issued the directions while hearing a batch of public interest litigations concerning healthcare services in Delhi. The court said it wanted to assess the actual functioning of the digital systems, their implementation across government hospitals and the reasons behind any shortcomings.
The judges asked the Delhi government to present a live demonstration of the NextGen e-Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) which is intended to digitize hospital operations including patient registration, medical records, appointments, diagnostics and administrative workflows. The court also sought a demonstration of the Delhi ICU Beds Saarthi application designed to provide real-time information on ICU bed availability across government hospitals and facilitate patient access to critical care.
Concern Over Delhi State Cancer Institute
Apart from reviewing the digital healthcare infrastructure, the High Court expressed serious concern over reports that expensive medical equipment at the Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI) remains unused or non-functional resulting in delays in treatment for cancer patients.
The concern arose after the court examined a report submitted by the Amicus Curiae which highlighted significant deficiencies at the institute. According to the report, several sophisticated medical machines are lying idle primarily because there are not enough trained personnel to operate them. The lack of skilled staff has prevented the equipment from being put to use despite substantial public investment in acquiring the machines.
The Bench observed that such a situation defeats the purpose of investing in advanced medical infrastructure and adversely affects patients awaiting timely diagnosis and treatment. It sought explanations from the authorities regarding the status of the equipment and the steps being taken to ensure it becomes operational.
Court Reviews Healthcare Infrastructure
The proceedings form part of the High Court’s continuing oversight of healthcare facilities in Delhi. The Bench is examining both physical and digital infrastructure to determine whether government hospitals are delivering efficient and accessible healthcare services to the public.
By seeking live demonstrations of the HMIS platform and the ICU Beds Saarthi app, the court aims to verify whether these digital initiatives are functioning as intended and are effectively improving patient care and hospital management. At the same time, the court’s scrutiny of the Delhi State Cancer Institute reflects its concern that critical healthcare resources should not remain underutilized due to administrative or staffing deficiencies.
The matter is expected to come up again after the Delhi government presents the demonstrations and submits further details on the implementation of the digital systems and the steps taken to make the unused medical equipment at the Delhi State Cancer Institute operational.
