High Court Objects To Engagement Of Private Lab For Conducting MRI, CT Scans In Punjab's Govt Hospital

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has objected to the engagement of a private path lab for conducting basic tests like MRI, CT scans for a government hospital.

A division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel remarked, "This Court fails to understand as to why a private Laboratory is required to be engaged, when the State is duty bound under its sovereign function of providing basic health care facilities (which includes purchase of CT scan and MRI machines), which in present times are necessities of modern time hospital amenities to be available at District as well as Sub Division level hospitals."

It has directed the State to file an additional affidavit, explaining why the services have been outsourced to Krishna Diagnostic Laboratory for a civil hospital in Punjab's Malerkotla.

The Court was hearing a PIL filed by Bhisham Kinger highlighting the acute shortage of medical officers and deficiency in services in the Malerkotla civil hospital.

In the last hearing, the Court had asked the Punjab Government as to why out of 39 sanctioned posts in the hospital only 2 medical officers are posted.

The State Chief Secretary yesterday told the Court that 19 Medical Officers (General) have since been posted. "However, joining letters of these Doctors have not been filed. Let the same be done before next date of hearing," noted the Court.

The matter is now listed on March 24, for further hearing.

Case Title: Bhisham Kinger v. State of Punjab and others

Mr. Bhisham Kinger – Petitioner in person.

Mr. Anurag Chopra, Addl. Advocate General, Punjab

Click here to read/download the order