NGT Urges Expansion of AIIMS Environmental Strategy to Delhi's Government Hospitals

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recommended the Centre adopt AIIMS Delhi's environmental management plan across other government hospitals in the capital to tackle air pollution effectively. A designated panel will study the issues and establish suitable SOPs for other hospitals.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recommended that the environmental management strategy implemented by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi be considered for expansion to additional government hospitals in the city.

This recommendation was part of NGT's ongoing efforts to address air pollution concerns related to the major healthcare facility. The tribunal has tasked the director of AIIMS with implementing necessary measures to curb air pollution within the hospital grounds. Additionally, a specialized panel led by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been formed to examine similar challenges faced by other government hospitals and to propose suitable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

In an order from May 21, which surfaced recently, NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and experts A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad recognized that the ministry has already formulated an environmental management plan. However, the tribunal observed that the plan currently primarily addresses AIIMS Delhi and suggested that extending it to other government hospitals could enhance its effectiveness, provided appropriate adjustments are made.