New Delhi | Special Correspondent: Arun Sharma

In a significant move aimed at strengthening public healthcare infrastructure in East Delhi, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has proposed the establishment of a 100-bed state-of-the-art Critical Care Unit (CCU) at Swami Dayanand Hospital under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The initiative is expected to substantially enhance the hospital’s capacity to treat critically ill patients and reduce referrals to tertiary care facilities.


According to officials, the civic body has sought an allocation of ₹117 crore from the Delhi government for the project. The proposal includes the construction of a new hospital block, procurement of advanced medical equipment, and the provision of allied healthcare services. An additional ₹24 crore has been earmarked for the recruitment of doctors, nurses and other healthcare personnel required to operate the expanded facility.


Swami Dayanand Hospital, one of the largest district hospitals under the MCD, serves as a major referral centre for East Delhi and adjoining areas of Uttar Pradesh. The hospital handles 3,000–3,200 OPD patients daily, around 2,800 inpatient admissions per month, and nearly 10,000 emergency cases every month. Officials noted that a substantial proportion of these patients require advanced critical care support.


MCD Additional Commissioner (Health) Pankaj Naresh Aggarwal said the proposed CCU would significantly augment secondary-level critical care capacity in the region. “The new facility will ensure timely management of critically ill patients, improve overall treatment outcomes and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for economically weaker sections,” he said.


Officials confirmed that adequate land is available within the hospital campus for construction. Architectural drawings and area statements have already been prepared and vetted by the planning department. The proposed unit will include ICU and HDU beds, isolation wards, emergency services, a dialysis unit, maternal and child health services, operation theatres, point-of-care diagnostics, and essential support infrastructure such as medical gas pipelines, oxygen supply systems and negative-pressure installations.


The recurring operational cost, covering contractual staff, consumables, utilities and maintenance, is estimated at ₹24 crore per annum, with a 10 per cent annual escalation in line with pay commission norms and dearness allowance revisions.


The proposal has received in-principle approval and has been forwarded to the Delhi government’s health department. Officials said the project aligns with the objectives of the PM–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), which seeks to strengthen district-level healthcare facilities, improve emergency preparedness and bridge critical care gaps exposed during the pandemic.


Health experts believe that once implemented, the CCU will prove to be a game-changer for East Delhi, ensuring accessible, affordable and advanced critical care services for lakhs of residents in the region.