How Safdarjung Hospital is crumbling under its own weight

At Safdarjung Hospital , one of Delhi’s busiest public healthcare institutions, patients arrive with hope but leave with frustration.

A recent survey by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has revealed that one in three patients are dissatisfied with the services provided. Issues such as overcrowded wards, interminable waiting times, and a severe shortage of medical staff paint a grim picture of the hospital, leaving both patients and their families battling not just illness but also the system.

Overcrowding and lack of amenities

Patriot visited the hospital to understand the challenges faced by patients and their relatives.

During the visit, it was evident that two to three patients often share a single bed at the Safdarjung hospital, and waiting times for any kind of check-up stretch for hours. Relatives lamented having to sleep on the footpath during Delhi’s biting cold, as there is no space for attendees inside the hospital.

Ashish Mishra, a resident of Sangam Vihar, was among those braving the cold to visit his wife, who had recently delivered a baby boy. Sitting wrapped in a shawl, Mishra shared his ordeal.

“The hospital lacks beds, so two to three patients are sharing one. My wife has been sharing a bed with other women since we arrived. It’s quite disappointing, considering this is one of the city’s largest hospitals after AIIMS,” he said.

Recalling his wife’s labour experience, Mishra added, “Even during an emergency, we had to wait three hours to get her admitted. She was in immense pain, but no one came to help. Thankfully, both mother and baby are safe.”

Another attendee, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted spending over a month outside the gynaecological ward with just a blanket and mat. His newborn baby girl was admitted to the nursery.

“Since my wife’s pregnancy, her treatment has been under the hospital’s supervision. The lack of proper facilities is glaring. But we have no choice because we can’t afford private healthcare,” he said.

Privacy, hygiene, and overcrowding

Asha Singh, whose daughter was in the maternity ward, pointed out the lack of privacy for new mothers.

“The women here have to share beds and often don’t have proper screens for privacy. It’s hard for them to recover in such conditions,” she said.

Ravi Kumar, from Bihar, shared the challenges of waiting for his father’s treatment.

“My father has been admitted for two weeks. The doctors are doing their best, but the hospital is overwhelmed. I’ve been sleeping on the floor because there’s no facility for attendees. It’s disheartening,” he said.

Suman Devi, whose husband was undergoing emergency treatment, echoed similar frustrations.

“I’ve been here for five days with no proper place to rest. Every night, I sleep on the floor near the entrance. The doctors are so busy that it’s hard to get updates on my husband’s condition,” she said.

Rahul Verma, attending to his injured brother, described the overcrowding in stark detail.

“In the ward, there’s barely any space to move. Patients and families are everywhere. The hospital needs to expand its facilities,” he said.

Manju Sharma, whose son was in the paediatric ward, raised concerns about hygiene.

“The wards are so crowded that keeping them clean is nearly impossible. Overflowing dustbins and a lack of cleaning staff make this environment dangerous for the children,” she said.

Ramesh Gupta, who brought his elderly mother for treatment, highlighted the problem of waiting times.

“We waited nearly six hours before a doctor could see my 75-year-old mother. They need more staff to handle the patient load,” he said.

Despite its status as one of Delhi’s major hospitals, Safdarjung continues to face challenges in meeting the needs of its patients. The lack of adequate facilities, coupled with operational inefficiencies, paints a worrying picture for one of the capital’s busiest public healthcare institutions.

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Multiple attempts to contact the hospital administration for a response went unanswered.