Ensure Jan Aushadhi Kendras Are Opened Inside Each Hospital Within Four Weeks: High Court To Delhi Govt

The Delhi High Court has recently directed the Delhi Government to ensure that Jan Aushadhi Kendras are opened inside each hospital in the national capital within four weeks.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora observed that the convenience of having a Jan Aushadhi Kendra in each hospital for the patients and their caregivers requires no reiteration.

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.

In February, Dr.S.K.Sarin Committee was constituted to give recommendations and suggestions for ramping up medical infrastructure and optimization of existing resources in various hospitals, either owned by the Delhi Government or the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

In the recent order passed on November 13, the Bench said that the Delhi Government ought not to delay implementation of PM- Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) on pilot basis and subsequently scaling it up to all the hospitals here.

“It should be the ultimate goal of every hospital to have these services in-house. Accordingly, GNCTD is directed to implement PM-ABHIM Scheme on pilot basis within four (4) weeks,” the Court directed.

While listing the matter for hearing on December 12, the Court asked the Delhi Government to file a fresh status report.

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.

The bench had 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.

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

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 1256

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