The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Jabalpur bench has directed the Madhya Pradesh Government to bear the cost of treatment of children suffering from poisonous meningitis in Gwalior or in any other part of the state.
The bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav said, “Having taken note of the fact that the respondents have already formed High Level Committee, we direct that children suffering from poisonous meningitis in Gwalior or elsewhere in the State shall be attended and all possible treatment shall be provided to them on government expenses and the above referred Committee shall supervise the treatment of the children suffering from poisonous meningitis.”
This petition has been filed by Sangeeta Pachauri, an advocate practicing in the Gwalior Bench of the Court, with the prayer that the respondent/ State authorities may be directed to take immediate steps for proper and urgent treatment of large number of children infected with poisonous meningitis, which has three bacteria (Haemophilus influenza, Streptococcus pneumonia, Neisseria meningitidis) and is diagnosed by spinal tap or lumbar puncture, brain imaging with CT scan or MRI and Electroencephalograph (EEG) blood test brain biopsy.
The bench took note of the allegation in the petition that a large number of children infected with poisonous meningitis are being admitted to Gwalior Medical College and G.R. Group Medical College.
The bench noted further, “The situation is so pathetic that due to a large number of patients, 10-15 children are being accommodated on a single bed and without getting anyone of them tested for Covid. It is alleged that most of the ventilators in the hospital are out of order and some of the children have died of such deadly disease.”
Deputy Advocate General Swapnil Ganguly submitted that as per his instructions, the government after the order of this Court has formed a high-level committee on October 6 headed by Additional Director, Medical Health Services with three deputy directors. They have been tasked with visiting the hospital and submit a fact-finding report and arrangements have been made for the treatment of such children suffering from the aforesaid ailment in as many as five hospitals with a total number of 325 oxygen beds.
Nidhi Patankar, counsel appearing for respondent 4, submitted the administration has recently provided 30 additional beds for treatment of children suffering from aforesaid ailments and that the situation on the ground has improved tremendously and number of patients of poisonous meningitis has come down. The counsel prayed for one week’s time to file an affidavit and place the updated facts on record. The matter has been listed for hearing on October 21.
Read Order Below.
Madhya-Pradesh-HC-2