HC asks Centre, Delhi govt to consider plea on city hospitals

The Delhi High Court today asked the Centre and the city government to consider a plea that claims that hospitals here lack basic facilities such as sufficient oxygen masks and ventilators for critically-ill patients.
"We direct that the instant petition be treated as a representation by the government of National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union of India... Responses be given within eight weeks," a bench headed by Justice Pradeep Nandrajog said.
The court said there are hospitals such as RML which are managed by the central government and there are others which are being run by the Delhi government and hence, separate representations be made to the respective governments.

It, however, gave the liberty to lawyer Sugriv Dubey to re-agitate the issue if he is aggrieved by the decision taken by the governments.
During the hearing, the bench said, "After the election, a new government of common men has come into power. Why don't you approach them? They are even passing the legislation after consulting the common people."
"Patients are sleeping in open. There are no doctors, no nurses to attend the poor patients. The life saving facilities such as oxygen masks/ventilators are not available for all the needy," the lawyer said.

The court disposed of the PIL saying, "Let the authorities take a call."

The PIL had sought a direction to the authorities for ensuring sufficient number of ventilators in hospitals and filling up the vacancies of doctors.
It had also sought a direction to Delhi government to take action against doctors for their negligence in treating the patients and also install CCTV in all hospitals for recording the movements of medical practitioners and nurses.
Dubey sought a direction to several hospitals, including AIIMS, Kalawati Saran Bal Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital, to ensure there is no shortage of oxygen mask/ventilator there.