Attack on doctors: Delhi HC orders evaluation of 3 major hospitals on infra, doctor-patient ratio, facilities, safety

Above: An inside view of one of the govt hospitals in Delhi/Photo: Anil Shakya

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday (March 10) directed National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) to evaluate the three hospitals — AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital and LNJP hospital on the parameters suggested by it which was readily accepted by the Senior Director, NABH.

The bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Harishankar gave the directions on a suo moto cognizance of increasing incidents of violence against doctors in government hospitals.

The parameters which were set by the bench were:

• With regard to the available infrastructure in the hospitals and what steps should be taken to improve them.
• NABH shall state the adequacy of the doctor patient ratio.
• Facilities available to doctors.
• Essential measures for the welfare of doctors.
• Safety and security measures in place and required to be developed for the doctors.

The bench further instructed: “It shall be open for the NABH to decide which departments they have to analyse, such as Radiology, Emergency, Gynaecology and Paediatrics etc. Evaluation shall be completed within a period of three weeks and reports shall be placed before the next date of hearing. Evaluation and assessment should be undertaken by qualified doctors.”

While assessing the financial resources required doing the evaluation, the bench asked the Senior Director how much money she needed to conduct the evaluation.

To which the Senior Director replied: “Rs 10 lakh.”

The bench directed Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to provide Rs 2 lakh while directing Delhi government also to shell out Rs 2 lakh to NABH within one week.

At the end of the proceedings, the bench commented: “You get CCTV installed then you will see who is failing in attendance,” and listed the matter for the next hearing to April 25.

—India Legal Bureau