A PIL has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking directions to the centre to immediately frame SOPs or guidelines for the compliance of the order passed by Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of Jerryl Banait Vs Union of India vide order dated 08.04.2020.
The PIL has been filed by an NGO, Justice for All raising issue of failure of the respondents in resolving the subdued issue of escalating deficit of Frontline Healthcare workers/professionals at the time of pandemic when the entire globe is only dependent on them for their survival for combating the COVID-19 because of increasing daily incidences of their being testing positive and moving to Hospitals or quarantine centers for their treatment thereby making the situation graver.
The petition has alleged that there is no arrangement to ensure the basic social distancing prescribed by the respondents to be abided by the attendants of the COVID and Non-COVID Patients, No screening of patients and staff at the prominent points of entry in hospitals so that infected persons should be segregated.
“Purchase of substandard/tom PPEs without specifications and standards from the local manufacturers without any certification of quality as per the guidelines issued by MoHWfor the rational use of PPE for the frontline workers by the hospital administration” the petition states.
It has also been alleged that there is a lack of guidelines for Golden Hour treatment of CORONA SUSPECTS (In-patients and out-patients) which needs the same priority as CORONA POSITIVE patients as there is gap of 24-72 hrs in taking samples and getting the report.
However, the petitioner has sought the following directions:
· Immediate framing of SOPs or guidelines by the respondents for the compliance of the order passed by Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of Jerryl Banait Vs Union of India;
· To create a mechanism for the manufacturers and vendors supplying PPEs, duly approved and certified by the team of Doctors including a Senior and a Junior, the actual users, on duty as Frontline workers in accordance with the quality as per the guidelines issued by MoHW for the rational use of PPE for the frontline workers by the hospital administration;
· To issue guidelines to take the precautions measures for the COVID SUSPECTS (In-patients & Out-patients) at par with the COVID POSITIVES to reduce the risk for further infection; etc.
The petition has further sought several other appropriate directions from the court.
-India Legal Bureau