State Should Provide Personal Protective Equipments To Health Workers : Andhra Pradesh HC [Read Order]

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday directed the Central and State Governments to ensure that the health workers have necessary personal protective equipments.

"...we are of the considered opinion that the State Government shall ensure to provide all necessary equipment like N-95 masks, sterile medical gloves, starch apparels, personal protection equipment and all other necessary things to all the Doctors, Nurses, Ward Boys and Paramedical Staff", ordered a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice J K Maheshwari and Justice M Satyanarayana Murthy.

"It is also observed that, on receiving the said personal protection equipment and accessories, the Doctors, Nurses and other Para Medical staff shall make proper use and ensure their due services to the citizens to cope up the present situation of national importance", the bench added.

The Court passed the order in a Public Interest Litigation petition filed by Dr Koilagandla Niranjan, Civil Assistant Surgeon, Primary Health Centre, Kurnool, seeking directions for ensuring supply of necessary personal protection equipments to health workers.

"...it is the duty of the State authorities and their functionaries to provide necessary medical facilities to the citizens with all the above said equipment and accessories, as and when required", the bench said, taking note of the national lockdown imposed in the country to break the transmission chain of COVID-19.

"The doctors and paramedical staff are also supposed to do the needful to save the citizens of the society and the nation", the bench said in conclusion.

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