Mechanized Cleaning in Government Hospitals Suspended Over Lack of Funds
Mechanized Cleaning in Government Hospitals Suspended Over Lack of Funds
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s plan to introduce mechanized cleaning in government hospitals has hit a roadblock due to a lack of funds. The public health department has ordered all hospital heads to stop mechanized cleaning until funds are allocated.
The state had planned a three-year mechanized cleaning project (2022-23 to 2024-25) for government hospitals and Primary Health Centres (PHCs). A Government Resolution (GR) on September 18, 2023, outlined this plan. On September 13, 2024, the director of health services awarded a contract to a Pune-based agency and issued a work order.
However, according to Hindustan Times, on February 18, Dr Sunita Golhait, joint director (hospitals), issued an order asking hospitals to stop services. The order stated that cleaning should have begun only after approval from the joint director of health services. However, some institutions had already started services without permission, which was termed a “serious matter.”
Mechanized cleaning had started in Aundh District Hospital, Regional Mental Hospital (Yerawada), Dr Bandorawalla Government Leprosy Hospital, and a government hospital in Baramati. Now, they must return to traditional cleaning methods.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has criticized the mechanized cleaning tender process. The contract, awarded on September 13, 2024, included round-the-clock cleaning for 547 districts, sub-district, rural, and trauma care hospitals, along with 1,984 PHCs.
As per the contract, the government agreed to pay ₹84 per sq ft (excluding GST) for indoor cleaning and 9.2% of this rate for outdoor cleaning.
