NEW DELHI: In a bid to improve cleanliness and strengthen infection-control practices, the Delhi government has introduced a seven-colour bedsheet rotation system across all its hospitals.
The initiative, announced on Wednesday, is being implemented under the Centre’s Kayakalp framework, which promotes sanitation and hygiene in public health facilities.
Under the new system, government hospitals will use a different colour of bedsheet for each day of the week — white on Monday, pink on Tuesday, green on Wednesday, purple on Thursday, blue on Friday, light grey on Saturday and peach on Sunday. Officials said the colour-coding will help patients and their attendants visually assess the freshness of the linen while ensuring a more structured linen management cycle for hospital staff.
The Health Department has also directed hospitals to maintain adequate stocks of each colour to ensure that bedsheets are changed regularly and no ward faces shortages. The procurement of the new sets, officials added, is being standardised to ensure uniform quality across hospitals.
According to the government, the measure directly aligns with the Kayakalp guidelines, which emphasise strict linen-handling protocols to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). These include the segregation of soiled linen, separate transportation channels, and mandatory hot-water washing with detergent.
By assigning a fixed colour to each day, officials believe adherence to these requirements will be simplified, reducing the chances of lapses in hygiene.
Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said the step was aimed at improving both safety and patient experience in public hospitals.
“Our priority is to ensure every patient feels safe and cared for. The seven-colour bedsheet system is a small but significant step toward building greater trust, transparency, and hygiene in our hospitals,” he said, adding that the practice is expected to lower HAI rates and create a more reassuring environment for patients.