New Delhi : HL August 07, 2026
The Delhi High Court has expressed serious concern over the large-scale non-utilisation of costly medical equipment in government hospitals, observing that machines worth crores of rupees are lying unused despite substantial public investment.
A Division Bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Manmeet P.S. Arora was hearing a suo motu matter concerning critical-care facilities, including ICU beds with ventilator support, in Delhi government hospitals. The court examined reports submitted by hospitals following its earlier directions to identify machinery that had been purchased but was not being used.
Advocate Ashok Agrawal, appointed as Amicus Curiae in the matter, has been assisting the Delhi High Court in examining issues relating to healthcare facilities and the functioning of government hospitals. His role is significant in bringing relevant information and concerns regarding public healthcare infrastructure before the court and assisting the Bench in assessing whether government hospitals have adequate facilities for patients.
Equipment Worth ₹50–60 Crore Lying Unused
The court was informed that the Delhi State Cancer Institute has medical equipment worth approximately ₹50–60 crore lying unused. The court expressed particular concern over the situation at the cancer institute, where expensive imported equipment reportedly remains idle.
According to the report placed before the court, the non-utilisation of equipment has been attributed to factors including shortage of technical manpower, lack of accessories and non-availability of principal equipment required to operate certain machines.
The Bench questioned why the authorities had allowed such expensive equipment to remain unused after significant public expenditure and why the necessary manpower had not been arranged.
400 Ventilators and 910 Oxygen Concentrators at GTB Hospital
The situation at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital (GTB) also came under sharp scrutiny.
The court was informed that 400 ventilators and 910 oxygen concentrators were lying unused in the hospital. A significant portion of these machines had reportedly been donated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report further indicated that the hospital’s ECG machine was non-functional, with no alternative ECG machine reflected in the report.
The Bench described the situation as particularly concerning given the critical nature of such equipment and its potential importance for emergency and intensive-care services.
High Court Wants Equipment Put to Use, Not Merely an Inquiry
Importantly, the court indicated that its immediate objective was not simply to order an inquiry into the issue but to ensure that the unused equipment is made functional and available for patient care.
The court directed the Delhi government’s Health Secretary to convene a meeting with the medical superintendents of government hospitals and the Secretary (Services).
Manpower and Accessories to Be Addressed
The authorities have been asked to examine the situation hospital-wise and identify practical solutions, including:
Providing adequate technical and medical manpower.
Procuring missing accessories required to operate equipment.
Arranging principal equipment where necessary.
Reallocating unused machines to hospitals where they are urgently required.
Reviewing the functioning of existing equipment across government hospitals.
The court’s directions seek to ensure that equipment purchased with public money does not remain locked away or non-functional because of administrative or operational gaps.
Earlier Audit Order by Delhi High Court
The latest proceedings follow an earlier July 3 order, under which the High Court directed Delhi government hospitals to conduct an audit of machinery and equipment that had been purchased but remained unused.
The direction came after the court was informed about a PET cyclotron reportedly purchased for ₹15.42 crore at the Delhi State Cancer Institute that had remained non-operational for several years because of a lack of trained manpower. The court had described such non-utilisation as a serious waste of public resources.
The proceedings form part of a suo motu case initiated by the High Court in 2017 concerning critical-care facilities in Delhi government hospitals.
Next Hearing on September 18
The Health Secretary’s comprehensive report following the August 17 meeting is expected to provide details of the corrective measures proposed for different hospitals.
The matter is scheduled to be taken up next on September 18, when the court is expected to examine the progress made in addressing the deficiencies identified in the reports.
