Allahabad HC lauds UP for improving Medical Infrastructure in 5 districts

The High Court has sought reports about the medical infrastructure in five more districts, namely, Bhadohi, Ghazipur, Ballia, Deoria, and Shamli by the next date of hearing.

"We have perused the report and do appreciate that some work has been done with regard to the improvement of medical infrastructure and hope that similar efforts will be made in respect of other districts as well" observed the High Court bench comprising of Justices Ajit Kumar and Siddhartha Varma during the hearing of the Suo-Motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Thursday.

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Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Allahabad High Court had directed the Uttar Pradesh government to explain how it was dealing with the surge in COVID-19 cases in rural and sub-urban areas, and smaller cities of the state.

In fact, the Court had also directed the State to appoint a three-member Pandemic Public Grievance Committee in every district to look into the grievance of individuals and to redress their respective grievances and further to look into all the viral news relating to the district concerned.

The Court had also directed the State to submit the details of the health infrastructure of five districts and the District Magistrates complied with the order. However, after perusing the details, the Court noted during a previous hearing, "we have no hesitation in observing that health infrastructure is absolutely insufficient in city areas to meet the requirement of city population and the rural areas the Community Health Centres are virtually lacking in respect of life-saving gadgets. In most of the districts, the Level-3 hospital facilities are not there." In this respect, the Court had pointed towards the details related to Bijnor district and mentioned that the details of the health infrastructure of the district paint quite a contradictory picture from what the State had claimed.

In the last hearing on Thursday, the Court took note of the report with regard to the enhancement of medical facilities in the hospital of districts, namely, Bahraich, Shravasti, Bijnor, Barabanki and Jaunpur.

Praising the work done on those districts, the Court observed, "We have perused the report and do appreciate that some work has been done with regard to the improvement of medical infrastructure and hope that similar efforts will be made in respect of other districts as well."

The Court also directed the State Government to give a report with regard to the improvement of medical infrastructures in five more districts, namely, Bhadohi, Ghazipur, Ballia, Deoria, and Shamli by the next date of hearing.

During the last hearing, the Court had also took note of the testing facilities in the rural areas and had expressed its dissatisfaction regarding the statistics of testing as mentioned in the case of Bijnor district.

"If this is the state of affairs of five districts, one can guess where we are leading people of this State to i.e. third wave of the pandemic," the Court expressed its concern in the order.

However, on Thursday, the Court expressed its satisfaction over the work being done for the capping of the fees for diagnostics.

The order mentioned, "In respect of RT-PCR tests the fee ranges between Rs. 500/- and 900/-. For Antigen tests, the fee has been fixed for Rs. 200/-. For True Nat private testing has been fixed for Rs. 1200/-. The C.T. Scan as per various slices has been fixed in the following manner:-

I. Rs. 2000/- up to 16 slices;

II. Rs. 2250/- for 16 to 64 slices; and

III. Rs. 2500/- for more than 64 slices."

Further, taking note of the earlier stand of the State Government to follow the guidelines of the Central Government with regard to vaccination of physically challenged persons, who find it difficult to approach the vaccination centers, the High Court bench asked the Central Government to come up with a stand regarding the matter within the next date of the hearing.

The case has been adjourned to be next heard on June 7, 2021.

To view the original court order, click on the link below.

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