After Allahabad HC's Order To Explain Restrictions On Opening Of OPDs For Non-Covid Patients, UP Govt Dilutes Restrictions; Issues Social Distancing Guidelines [Read Notification]

The development is significant in the backdrop of a PIL pending before the Allahabad High Court against a Government notification dated March 31, 2020, restricting opening of OPD.

The said PIL had been filed by the All India People Front through Advocate Pranjal Shukla, stating that the impugned notification deprived the non-Covid patients from getting proper treatment. To illustrate, the plea emphasized on the tragic death of a 30-year-old pregnant woman in Noida, who was denied admission by as many as eight hospitals, due to non-availability of beds for non-Covid patients.

After hearing the plea on Monday, a division bench of Justice Pankaj Mittal and Justice Yashwant Verma had asked the Government to explain how OPD of private hospitals could be closed.

The court observed that people are dying because they are unable to get proper treatment due to closure of OPDs and had therefore directed the AAG to seek instructions on the matter.

As per latest notification issued by the UP Government, all types of OPDs may be re-opened in the Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres and in the private clinics in the State.

The Government further said that re-opening of the OPDs may lead to crowding at hospitals, and it has therefore issued guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The same may be read in the notification attached below.

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