All Delhi govt hospitals directed to be fully accessible for disabled

New Delhi: The State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities in Delhi has issued directions to make all the hospitals in Delhi accessible to persons with disabilities. 

Issuing directions to the District Magistrates and Directors/ Medical Superintendents of all hospitals of GNCT of Delhi in this regard, the Disability Commissioner has asked to submit the action taken report within 90 days.

The Disability Commission mentioned in the order dated 25.01.2024:

(i) All District Magistrates are directed to make sure that all hospitals under their District are made fully accessible for persons with disabilities and action taken report be submitted to this Court within 90 clays from the issue of this order.

"These orders be followed in Mission Mode," mentioned the order issued by the Commissioner.

Such directions were issued by the Disability Commissioner while considering the representation of Dr. Satendra Singh, Director Professor of Physiology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

Dr. Singh in his representation dated 24.01.2024 informed the Commissioner that despite the progressive legal mandate, the hospitals in the Delhi Government are not yet accessible to persons with disabilities (patients, faculty and staff with disabilities). Common examples include MAMC's auditorium not being accessible, reserved parking not being close to the entrance, and the library not being accessible etc.

He informed that the BSA Hospital's Physiology Department and the academic block do not have a lift despite the medical college being the newest one to be built. Dr. Singh, who is the nodal officer of GTB Hospital, further stated that the hospital has written multiple times to the Public Worls Department to share access audit but it has not been done.

Moreover, the new hospital building at GTBH and other hospitals which are under progress and should follow the accessibility standard right from the beginning of construction of the new building with the involvement of administrators or persons with disabilities, submitted Dr. Singh.

He further highlighted that even though the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released Accessibility Standards for Healthcare in 2022 the hospitals are slow to follow it in letter and spirit.

"Whereas, the Accessible India Campaign was initiated by the Hon’ble PM of India in 2015, and the Parliament enacted 15 June 2022 as the deadline to make all public places accessible. Whereas, despite the progressive legal mandate, the hospitals in Delhi Government are not yet accessible to persons with disabilities..." Dr. Singh Submitted.

To fulfill the legal mandate under Sections 40-44 of the RPwD Act 2016, Dr. Singh, who is also the advisory board member of SCPD Delhi has requested the Court of State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, NCT of Delhi to direct the concerned authorities to do the needful at the earliest

While considering the representation of the petitioner, the Commissioner pointed out to the Government authorities that the Court had taken a suo-motu regarding barrier-free entry and exits of hospitals and barrier-free accessibility for persons with disabilities. Accordingly, the Commissioner had passed an order on 30.06.2022.

"But it has been observed that the outcome is not satisfactory," noted the Commissioner, adding that the State Commissioner had also conducted inspections of MCD zones regarding accessibility and barrier-free movement for persons with disabilities in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, in continuation of another Suo Motu taken by SCPD.

Further, the Commission observed that as per the minutes and recommendations dated 14.06.2018 of the 16th National Review Meeting of the SCPDs to review the status of implementation of RPwD Act, 2016, held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, District Magistrates should be nominated/appointed/Declared as Additional Commissioner for PwDs. It was observed by the Commissioner that the issue is under process at the Social Welfare Department, GNCT of Delhi.

Therefore, taking into account the representation of the petitioner and the overall situation of accessibility in hospitals of GNCT of Delhi, the Disability Commissioner directed the District Magistrates to ensure that the hospitals under their District are made fully accessible for persons with disabilities. In this regard, the Commissioner asked the DMs to submit an action take report within 90 days.

Similarly, all the Directors/Medical Superintendents of the hospitals of GNCT of Delhi were also directed to make each and every department/lab/other rooms/drinking water/toilets etc. accessible for persons with disabilities and submit the action taken report within 90 days.

Directions have also been issued to the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department to direct all Executive Engineers of PwD that all out efforts be made with the concerned hospital authorities to make each and every place of the hospitals accessible for persons with disabilities.

To view the order, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/disability-commissioner-231311.pdf

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