New Delhi: In a strong show of opposition, the National Medical Forum and Delhi Hospital Forum have voiced serious concerns over the government’s directive mandating the installation of individual Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in all hospitals across the national capital.
The medical community, represented by Dr. Prem Agarwal—Chairman of both the National Medical Forum and Delhi Hospital Forum—has urged authorities to withdraw what they term an “unnecessary and burdensome” requirement.
Dr. Agarwal, who also heads Sanjeevan Hospital, stated that the existing sewage disposal mechanisms in Delhi’s private hospitals are both effective and compliant with existing pollution control standards.
“According to the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2016, the centralized STP systems currently in place in private hospitals have proven to be safe and adequate. These systems are already recycling water efficiently and meeting all prescribed safety norms,” he said during a media briefing.
He raised significant concerns over the safety and financial implications of the directive. “Forcing individual hospitals to install separate STPs will not only create technical challenges but will also pose serious risks to the safety of doctors, healthcare staff, and patients.
In addition, it places a considerable financial and logistical burden on hospital administrations, particularly smaller facilities that may lack the necessary infrastructure and funds,” Dr. Agarwal added.
The medical forums fear that mandatory installation of on-site STPs could disrupt emergency services and affect the overall efficiency of healthcare delivery.
Many hospitals, especially those functioning in densely populated or older areas of Delhi, have limited space and would struggle to accommodate the machinery and infrastructure required for an on-site STP.
The forum also questioned the rationale behind this policy shift, especially when the centralized sewage treatment system is functioning adequately.
“Hospitals already connected to the central sewage network should not be penalized or burdened with redundant systems,” Dr. Agarwal emphasized.
“Instead of imposing new requirements, the government should focus on enhancing and upgrading the existing city-wide sewage infrastructure to improve overall efficiency.”
The demand for immediate intervention has been formally raised with Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. The forum has requested that he instruct relevant administrative bodies to exempt hospitals already integrated into the central sewage network from installing independent STPs.
The medical community argues that a blanket policy for STP implementation disregards the on-ground realities of hospital operations and infrastructure.
Dr. Agarwal also expressed concerns that such a directive could lead to increased patient costs as hospitals may be forced to pass on the financial burden of installing and maintaining STPs.
“Hospitals are already struggling with rising operational costs. Adding this expensive and redundant requirement will only worsen the situation for healthcare providers and patients alike,” he warned.
The National Medical Forum and Delhi Hospital Forum have pledged to continue their opposition to the directive until a more practical and sustainable solution is proposed.
They also plan to engage with other stakeholders in the healthcare and civic infrastructure sectors to build consensus against what they describe as “a policy without merit or necessity.”
The healthcare community is now awaiting a response from the Lieutenant Governor’s office. In the meantime, the forums are urging all concerned hospitals to raise their voices against the mandatory STP installation and seek exemptions where central sewage systems are already operational.
As the debate intensifies, the issue highlights a larger concern about policy-making without adequate consultation with affected sectors.
With Delhi’s healthcare infrastructure already under pressure, the medical fraternity insists that any new regulations should be pragmatic, scientifically justified, and developed through collaborative dialogue.
