Bombay HC seeks patient footfall, staff details from Govt Hospitals across Vidarbha
Bombay High Court
Nagpur: The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has directed the authorities to submit detailed information on patient footfall and the availability of attendants, nurses, and support staff in government hospitals across 10 districts of Vidarbha, expanding its scrutiny of patient care facilities in the region.
The direction was issued during the hearing of a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) initiated after reports highlighted a shortage of attendants for moving stretchers and wheelchairs at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur. According to the Daily, the reports pointed out that seriously ill, disabled and vulnerable patients were being left without adequate assistance due to the lack of support staff.
A division bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode broadened the scope of the proceedings beyond Nagpur, observing that the issue warranted examination across govt hospitals in the region.
The court had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of reports regarding deficiencies in patient assistance services and appointed Isha Thakre as amicus curiae to assist in the proceedings.
During the recent hearing, the bench directed that govt hospitals in all Vidarbha districts, except Wardha, be impleaded as respondents. The hospitals include GMCH and Indira Gandhi Govt Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), popularly known as Mayo Hospital, in the city, along with govt hospitals in the remaining nine districts of the region, reports TOI.
The High Court has asked authorities to provide details of the average daily patient footfall at each hospital, along with the number of attendants, nurses and other support personnel deployed for patient care.
The bench stated that the information would help assess whether the existing manpower was sufficient to handle the patient load and determine the quality of services being provided in government hospitals.
The matter has been scheduled for further hearing after three weeks, following which the court is expected to review the data submitted by the authorities and consider further directions.
