Allahabad HC directs UP Govt to prepare healthcare upgrade plan for 45 medical colleges
Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to prepare a healthcare improvement plan for 45 government medical colleges, focusing on neonatal and paediatric care.
The court has also sought the state government’s stand on paying compensation to the family of a newborn who allegedly died in Sultanpur after being denied timely critical treatment at a government medical college.
The court directed the state to seek measures to strengthen essential treatment facilities, including general and specialised ventilators, neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and paediatric intensive care units (PICUs). It also directed the government to consult medical experts and institutions such as the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences and King George’s Medical University while preparing the plan.
A Division Bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla issued the directions while hearing a public interest litigation and related petitions. The proposed roadmap is intended to address gaps in critical care services across government medical colleges and improve access to timely treatment for newborns, children and other patients.
The court’s directions also followed allegations concerning the death of a newborn at the Government Autonomous Medical College in Sultanpur. The infant allegedly did not receive ventilator support, oxygen and specialist medical attention in time. The court asked the state government to explain why compensation should not be paid to the family, taking into account the findings of the inquiry into the incident.
During the hearing, the state government informed the court that the e-Sarathi digital referral platform had been launched as a pilot project in five districts – Etawah, Auraiya, Kannauj, Mainpuri and Firozabad. Under the initiative, the medical college at Saifai has been designated as a referral hospital, PTI reported.
The government said the platform would be extended to other districts after assessing the pilot project’s success and incorporating necessary modifications.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on December 10.
