Only 6 CT Scan Machines Available In 19 Delhi Govt Hospitals: High Court Constitutes Committee For Ramping Up Medical Infrastructure

The Delhi High Court has constituted a six-member committee to give recommendations and suggestions for ramping up medical infrastructure and optimization of existing resources in various hospitals in the national capital, either owned by the Delhi Government or the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

“With only six CT Scan machines being available in nineteen Delhi Government hospitals (which cater to a population in excess of three crores), the infrastructure needs to be ramped up manifold,” a division bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora said.

Dr. S.K. Sarin, Chancellor of ILBS has been appointed as the Chairman of the Committee. Other members are as follows:

- Dr. Nikhil Tandon, Professor & Head of the Dept. of Endocrinology and Metabolism, AIIMS

- Dr. D.K. Sharma, MS, Dr. R.P. Eye Centre, AIIMS

- Dr. Suresh Kumar, Director, LNJP Hospital

- Dr. Piyush Gupta, Prof. of Paediatrics & Principal, University College of Medical Sciences

- Dr. Deepak K. Tempe, Senior Professor, Anaes./Vice Chancellor, ILBS

The committee has been directed to suggest ways and means to devise a mechanism for establishment of a control room that will enable the provision of real time information concerning the availability of ICU beds in the hospitals and their timely availability for patients in need.

It has also been asked to suggest ways and means to ensure availability of infrastructure, medicines and adequate manpower in the Hospitals for operating or managing high end medical equipment and critical care units in the Hospitals.

The court has also sought suggestions from the committee on the mechanism to immediately fill the vacant posts of specialists (teaching/non-teaching), medical officers and paramedics on contract basis, till regular incumbents join through UPSC or DSSSB.

The bench observed that it is apparent that the infrastructure, be it in the form of machines, medicines or manpower, is woefully inadequate at Delhi hospitals and the authorities in whom the power is vested to run and administer and manage the hospitals are not on the same page.

“After all in cases of emergencies like serious accident victims or strokes or heart attacks, there is no time to shift the patients to private clinics for scans. Without critical infrastructure being available at Delhi Government hospitals, the 'golden hour' of saving a life may be lost,” the court said.

It added that the provision of quality medical services is crucial for the health and well being of any city and to ensure robust public health system is an obligation of the State under Article 47 read with Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

“This Court is of the view that huge investments along with structural reforms in the functioning of Government hospitals, without entering into a blame game, are the need of the hour to overcome years of neglect and apathy which can only be done if there is a consensus on measures to be adopted both in the short and long term,” the bench observed.

The court said that the committee would also make concrete suggestion on how best to augment manpower and infrastructure even if the same has to be done only on an ad-hoc basis so that the requirements of the hospital are adequately met.

“However, as the 'Farishtey Scheme' is sub-judice before the Supreme Court, this Court directs that the Committee shall not examine the same,” it added.

The bench was dealing with a suo motu PIL initiated in 2017 concerning the issue of the availability of ICU beds and ventilator facilities in the government hospitals here.

Earlier, the court had directed the Delhi Government to disclose the amount it has been spending on augmenting the health sector in the last five years. It had also asked the city government to file a status report indicating as to how it plans to ensure that the medical infrastructure keeps pace with the city's population.

Recently, an application was filed by Amicus Curiae, Advocate Ashok Aggarwal, highlighting a recent incident wherein a man, who was seriously injured after jumping from a moving PCR van, died after being refused medical treatment at four government hospitals (two Delhi Government and two Central Government hospitals).

The bench had then expressed concern over the lack of medical infrastructure to treat critical care patients and asked the Delhi Government why the infrastructure is not keeping pace with the demand.

It had also directed the Delhi Government to explore the feasibility of setting up a central portal indicating on a real-time basis the number and nature of beds available in all hospitals in the city.

Previously, the court had directed the hospitals managed by the Central Government to operate a Control Room for providing information about the availability of beds with ventilator facilities, by notifying the phone numbers of the Control Room through public notice in the print media and web portal.

Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 176

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