Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Friday reviewed the institutional progress and development of the Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC) in Najafgarh, Delhi, under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
During the review, the minister was briefed on the institution’s progress in hospital and patient care services, diagnostic facilities, human resources, academic infrastructure, quality assurance and community-based healthcare delivery.
Addressing officials and healthcare personnel, Nadda appreciated the efforts made by RHTC Najafgarh to strengthen its infrastructure and healthcare services. He said the institution was progressing in the right direction and commended its team for implementing various development initiatives.
He also acknowledged the contributions of Safdarjung Hospital and the Health Ministry in supporting the centre’s growth, expressing confidence that continued cooperation among stakeholders would help develop RHTC into an important centre for patient care, medical education and community healthcare.
Strengthening hospital and patient care services
RHTC Najafgarh recorded significant patient footfall between August and October 2026, attending to 94,927 patients in its Outpatient Department (OPD) across 10 specialities and providing emergency services to 35,985 patients. The hospital also recorded 198 inpatient admissions during the period.
The institution performed 691 surgeries, including 101 major and 590 minor procedures. Its Anti-Rabies Centre and Snake Bite Treatment facility also provided services to a substantial number of patients.
The centre has functional labour rooms, a pharmacy with an updated formulary of more than 350 medicines, and dedicated Ayurvedic and dental clinics, expanding the range of healthcare services available to patients.
Diagnostic and support infrastructure expanded
The review highlighted improvements in diagnostic and support infrastructure. The institution’s laboratory has received accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).
The ultrasound facility became operational on October 24, 2026, and has conducted 148 scans. The physiotherapy and audiometry units are also functional, with 252 audiometry tests performed between August and October 2026.
Other infrastructure facilities, including the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD), Effluent Treatment Plant, Sewage Treatment Plant and Medical Gas Pipeline System, have been completed.
The institution plans to operationalise its Blood Storage Unit and mortuary by January 2027, while CT scan and X-ray facilities are scheduled to become functional in the first quarter of 2027.
Focus on academic infrastructure and quality standards
RHTC has also strengthened its nursing education and training facilities. Its renovated Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) Training School has an annual intake capacity of 44 students for the two-year course. The institution also has an ANM hostel with accommodation for 60 students.
Under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS), the centre has undertaken quality improvement initiatives across its three Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs).
Of the 129 identified action points, 105 have been completed, while work on the remaining 24 is underway. State-level evaluation and certification are targeted for December 2026, followed by national-level evaluation from February 2027 onwards.
The institution has also completed several regulatory and compliance-related activities, including biomedical waste management certification from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), e-waste management and compliance with the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.
Energy, fire, structural and safety audits have been completed, while the water audit is currently in progress.
Future expansion and development roadmap
The review also covered RHTC’s short-, medium- and long-term development plans.
In the short term, the institution aims to operationalise specialised clinics for thalassemia, de-addiction, adolescent health, venereal diseases, rheumatology and non-communicable diseases by December 2026.
The medium-term roadmap includes establishing teaching departments in Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, with a target of making them operational by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
Long-term plans include setting up a BSc Nursing College and an Allied Health Sciences College, developing residential hostel facilities and expanding medical education infrastructure.
The process of upgrading RHTC into a 230-bedded hospital is already underway. The proposed expansion is expected to enhance its capacity for patient care, medical education and institutional training.
The review also examined operational requirements, including the availability of specialists, senior residents and other healthcare personnel, along with infrastructure and administrative needs essential for the institution’s further development.
About RHTC Najafgarh
Established in 1937, the Rural Health Training Centre, Najafgarh, has a longstanding record of providing healthcare, education and community-based services.
The institution delivers primary healthcare through three Urban Primary Health Centres at Najafgarh, Ujwa and Palam, along with their respective sub-centres. These facilities cater to rural and peri-urban populations, with a focus on maternal and child health, immunisation, family welfare and disease control programmes.
The centres also serve as practical training facilities for medical, nursing and paramedical students.
The ongoing development initiatives are aimed at strengthening accessible and quality healthcare services while positioning RHTC Najafgarh as an integrated institution combining patient care, medical education, skill development and community health services.
-PIB
