Data becomes meaningless if patients cannot access ventilators: Allahabad HC

Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday raised serious concerns over the shortage of ventilators in hospitals, stating that data on ventilator availability becomes meaningless if patients cannot access them during emergencies.

During a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), a division bench of Justices Rajan Roy and Manjive Shukla questioned whether any hospital could state on affidavit that a ventilator would be provided promptly whenever required. 

The court observed that if such assurance cannot be given, the data submitted on ventilator availability becomes meaningless.

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The bench stressed that priority must be on ensuring adequate availability of ventilators so that no life is lost due to their shortage.

According to the PTI report, it expressed dissatisfaction with the figures placed before it, noting that there was an apparent absence of a mechanism to assess actual demand and determine the number of ventilators required for life-saving treatment.

The court further directed the state government to clarify the proportion of the state budget allocated to healthcare and to provide details regarding the status of medical infrastructure.

It also directed the state to revisit its approach and not remain satisfied with merely meeting the minimum norms prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC), such as maintaining ventilators equivalent to 10-15 per cent of hospital beds.

During the hearing, the bench also sought information from the state on whether any regulatory framework exists to govern private hospitals and clinics, particularly with regard to the fees charged for treatment and monitoring of services.

Notices have been issued to the NMC and the central government, making them parties to the case. The matter has been posted for further hearing on May 25.

The court further observed that super-speciality healthcare facilities should not remain confined to Lucknow but be expanded to other districts.

It also raised concerns over the low salaries of government doctors, noting that this leads to migration towards private hospitals, thereby affecting public healthcare services.

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