Medical infrastructure inadequate, Delhi HC directs Govt to submit report in four weeks

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court, during the hearing of a suo motu public interest litigation, expressed its concerns regarding the healthcare facilities in various government hospitals in the capital. The court noted that the medical infrastructure in the national capital is inadequate and there is a shortage of hospital beds.

The division bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna, has directed the Delhi government to provide a status report outlining their plan for ensuring a sufficient medical infrastructure to cater to the increasing population of the city.

In an order issued on December 13, the court said "Learned counsel for GNCTD is directed to file a status report within four weeks. The status report will indicate as to how the GNCTD plans to ensure that the medical infrastructure keeps pace with the city’s population."

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This directive was issued in response to a suo motu PIL initiated in 2017 concerning the issue of the availability of ICU beds and ventilator facilities in government hospitals in the city.

During the proceedings, amicus curiae advocate Ashok Aggarwal presented a newspaper report titled “Turned Away by three hospitals fourteen-year-old cancer patient dies.” The report was published by Hindustan Times on December 07.

Medical Dialogues team had also reported the incident where a 14-year-old girl suffering from blood cancer passed away at AIIMS on December 5 after being denied treatment at several Delhi hospitals.

According to AAP leader Dilip Pandey, the girl was referred from the Delhi government's Cancer Institute. Her relatives jostled around AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital but couldn't get a bed. As per the report, the minor's family alleged that three government hospitals in Delhi refused treatment citing lack of medicines, beds or equipment.

However, AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital had denied these allegations and termed them as "baseless".

“Upon a reading of this report, it is apparent that medical infrastructure in the city of Delhi is inadequate and the number of hospital beds is insufficient. The demand is far in excess of the supply. The said report is taken on record,” the court observed.

The matter will now be heard on January 29, 2024.

To view the official order, click on the link below:

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