The Allahabad High Court on Monday directed State Government to furnish report on the availability of healthcare facilities in 11 Government Run hospitals in Prayagraj city and also number of qualified Doctors and Nurses (apart from interns) working in those hospitals so as to manage the situation has arisen owing to the Coronavirus.
The list of 11 hospitals in the Prayagraj city which were mentioned in the order includes S.R.N. Hospital, Prathamik Chikitsalaya Kendra, Duffrin Hospital, Colvin Hospital/ M.L.N. Hospital, Kamla Nehra Hospital, S.N. Children Hospital, Sardar Patel Memorial, T.B. Sapru Hospital, T.B. Hospital, Rajkeeya Medical Care Unit, Phaphamau, Government Hospital, Prayagraj.
The bench of Chief Justice Govind Mathur along with his companion Judge, Justice Siddhartha Varma was hearing a suo petition it registered as In- Re Inhuman Conditions At Quarantine Centres, upon receiving a e-mail by an advocate of the High Court, Gaurav K. Gaur, highlighting the pathetic conditions at the quarantine centres.
The bench also directed the State Government to inform whether the facilities like, Intensive Coronary Care Units, Intensive Care Units, Dialysis Units, Ventilators and Mobile X-ray Machines are available with the hospitals run by the government in the Prayagraj City.
Apart From that the Court has also directed, “The State to inform the number of qualified Doctors and Nurses (apart from interns) working in these hospitals. In addition, With regard to each hospital details shall also be furnished as to how the premises are sanitized and cleaned”.
Earlier the Court on May 7 had taken cognizance of the matter after Advocate Gaurav K. Gaur informed the court that an engineer Virendra Singh recently succumbed to Corona Virus infection. He had informed his wife telephonically that the quarantine centre where he and his family members were lodged did not maintain adequate hygiene. The Court had issued notice to the State Government.
On May 11, the Court has been informed by the State Government that despite medications Virendra Singh passed away.
On this the Court noted, “the Video which had been floated by the wife of the deceased also showed certain slackness on the part of the administration so far as the maintenance of the quarantine centres were concerned.”
Before passing the above order the Court observed, “the instructions as have been received by the E-mail show that there were sufficient steps taken by the State to improve the quarantine centres. The treatment which was administered to Sri VK Singh also was appropriate. However, as we are not aware about the preparedness of the State with regard to medication it intends to administer to people who might be further getting affected by the Novel COVID-19 Virus, we are continuing with the instant Public Interest Litigation.”
The matter would now be heard on May 14.
-India Legal Bureau