Apex Court’s bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud sought Government’s reply on PIL file by Dr. Jerryl Banait regarding availability of WHO standard protective gears for all the Health Workers not only in Metro Cities, but also in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
The petition addressing the issue says, “In the case, where the hospitals and health centres are not provided WHO standardized masks and gowns, medical staff mortality will exponentially increase and the situation will spiral out of control in the absence of sufficient medical assistance.”
The matter was heard through video conferencing by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice M.R. Shah in which Dr. Banait is seeking WHO graded protective gears including Hazmat suits, Personal Protective Equipments including sterile medical gloves, starch apparels, medical masks, goggles, face shields, respirators, N-95 Masks, shoe covers, head covers and gowns to all the Health Workers including Doctors, Nurses, Ward boys and other medical and para-medical professionals attending and treating patients suffering from COVID-19.
The petition also sought establishment of special screening centres in smaller towns and other cities and take immediate steps to ensure effective implementation of the Guidelines for infection prevention and Control in Healthcare Facilities issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Today in this matter Solicitor General Mr. Tushar Mehta informed the court that we had a similar matter yesterday and are looking into the matter, kindly don’t issue notice, we will do the needful.
Justice Chandrachud asked Mr. Sunil Fernandes appearing for the Petitioner, to serve a copy of the petition to the center. Whereas, the court ordered the center to file reply on the issue by next week.
-India Legal Bureau