The Delhi government is preparing to roll out dedicated hepatitis treatment services across the city, but questions are emerging about whether hospitals have enough trained staff to run these centres smoothly.

Under the new initiative, the government has approved plans to set up Hepatitis Care and Treatment Centres in 10 major hospitals, including Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH) in Tahirpur. According to officials, the equipment for the hepatitis centre at RGSSH has already arrived, and installation work is underway.

Once operational, these centres are expected to significantly improve care for patients suffering from Hepatitis B and C, both of which continue to pose major public health challenges in the capital.

However, hospital employees and unions say that merely installing equipment is not enough. They warn that the government has not deployed the necessary manpower, which could hinder the functioning of the hepatitis centres.

In a letter to the Health Department, the hospital workers’ union said that while the infrastructure is being developed, serious staff shortages could delay the launch of full-fledged services. Adequate numbers of trained lab technicians, nurses, counsellors, and operational staff are essential for running these centres effectively, the letter notes.

Union president Shailendra Singh stressed that manpower must be prioritised:

“If we are creating advanced facilities for hepatitis care, we must also provide trained staff. Without this, the investment in infrastructure will not serve its purpose,” he said.

A similar situation occurred earlier with the radiotherapy centre, where installation was completed but services were delayed due to lack of staff. Employees fear the hepatitis centres may face the same fate if recruitment is not fast-tracked.

Despite the concerns, officials maintain that the hepatitis centre at RGSSH will kick off operations soon after installation and final checks.

Public health experts believe that if executed properly, these dedicated hepatitis centres will play a crucial role in early diagnosis, treatment access, and reducing the disease burden in Delhi.