Delhi High Court directs surprise audit of government hospitals over implementation of NextGen e-HMIS portal

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to conduct a surprise audit of 38 Delhi government hospitals to ascertain whether the NextGen e-Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) is being effectively implemented.

A bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora passed the order.

The NextGen e-HMIS portal created by National Informatics Centre (NIC) intends to provide information regarding availability of ICU beds and other emergency treatment services in hospitals.

Its objective is digitisation of healthcare services for quick and effective treatment and improved diagnosis.

“We are making it clear to all the hospitals that NIC team would now be doing a surprise (supplies) audit of all the hospitals in Delhi, 38 hospitals, to see whether NextGen [e-HMIS] has been implemented and wherever there is reference of ICU if they are taking care of it properly,” the Court stated.

The Court also directed the Delhi government to give live demonstration of the NextGen e-HMIS platform software and ‘ICU Beds Saarthi’. 

The directions were passed in a suo moto case of the Court in which matters related to Delhi hospitals and healthcare are routinely monitored.

The amicus curiae today informed the court that one Qamar Jahan was turned away from Lok Nayak Hospital due to unavailability of an ICU bed. However, the patient’s grand-daughter told the Court that the e-HMIS website showed availability of two ICU beds.

“This is an unfortunate situation. This shows that despite the ICU beds being available, the patient was not provided the same,” the Court observed.

The Court was also informed that despite repeated phone calls on the numbers provided on the website, there was no positive response.

“It is unclear how the HMIS systems is being used by the hospitals. It is also unclear as to why there is no uniformity in the implementation of HMIS. Clearly there is disparity in the manner in which HMIS is being implemented across the Delhi government hospitals.”

The Court observed that there needs to be consistency and uniformity in using e-HMIS. It should be ensured that the persons manning the telephone lines and present at the hospital do not turn away patients. 

Accordingly, the Court passed the following directions.

1. Arti Garg, joint director of NIC (which is developing the e-HMIS platform) shall conduct surprise audit on different dates till 31st July and shall place on record the audit report giving the details: (i) whether the ICU beds are properly reflected on website based on availability; (ii) whether the phone calls which are being received for ICU beds are being properly attended to; (iii) whether the NextGen e-HMIS is being uniformly implemented and if there are any gaps;

2. The Delhi government shall consider setting up a toll-free number for information regarding emergency services and ICU bed availability;

3. There should be a nodal person to give effect to medical reference made by another hospital and ensuring that the patient is not turned back.

The Court directed the Delhi Department of Health & Family Welfare to extend cooperation to NIC.

At the request of NIC, the Court directed the government to provide vehicles for conducting the audit. The cost of the audit and other expenses shall be borne by the Delhi government.

Further, an oncologist told the Court that expensive machinery of over ₹15 crores has been purchased by the hospital and not being used due to lack of training leading to long delays in treatment.

“This is a gross waste of public resource,” the Court remarked.

Therefore, it proceeded to direct government hospitals to conduct an audit and file a report regarding machinery purchased and lying unused.

The matter will be heard next on August 7.