The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the states to ensure that priority is accorded to senior citizens in hospitals while hearing a plea filed by former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar, which sought the protection of the rights of the elderly.
The Division Bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Subhash Reddy passed this order. The petitioner submits that all state governments have not yet filed their response in pursuance to the order dated September 7, 2020 passed by this Court.
He submits that except Punjab and Odisha, no other state has given details of the steps taken by them. Ashwani Kumar submitted that all the state governments be directed to issue necessary MoP incorporating the directions issued by this Court regarding two Departments i.e. Health Department and Social Welfare Department. He says that incorporating the directions in the MoP shall serve greater public interest and purpose.
The bench has granted three weeks’ time to all the states to respond to the suggestion given by the petitioner in person.
The petitioner submits that in order dated August 4, 2020, this Court directed that priority with reference to admission be given to the elderly people in the Government hospital only whereas priority in admission to the elderly people should be given in all private hospitals as well since it is mostly private hospitals which cater most of the population in the country.
The Court has direct that the priority with reference to admission contemplated in order dated August 4, 2020 to the elderly people should also be given in the private hospitals.
The Court has fixed the matter after four weeks.