Bengaluru Urban The Worst COVID-19 District In Country: Karnataka HC

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay OKa and Justice Aravind Kumar on going through the report submitted by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Committee noted "Unfortunately, it appears that there is no effort made by the Monitoring Committee appointed which is known as Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Committee to monitor the functioning of the Private COVID-19 hospitals in the city. Perhaps, maximum private COVID-19 hospitals must be in the city of Bengaluru. There is nothing placed on record to show that BBMP Committee has inspected any of the private hospitals."

The court further said "It must be noted here that in terms of the number of active COVID-19 cases, the State of Karnataka is at the second place in the entire country. Moreover, as repeatedly noted by us in our earlier orders, the positive cases in the State are rising everyday. Bengaluru Urban District, perhaps, is one of the worst affected Districts in the entire country in terms of the number of COVID-19 infections."

The Supreme Court had directed the state governments to set up expert committees to monitor the functioning of Covid-19 Hospitals. The bench on going through the reports submitted by the District Committees noted "A perusal of the reports of some of the District Committees annexed to the memo shows that barring a few exceptions, a very casual exercise appears to have been undertaken for the inspection of COVID-19 hospitals."

It added "The object of directing regular inspection of COVID-19 hospitals in the State is not to find fault with the doctors and medical/paramedical staff who have been working relentlessly in COVID-19 hospitals for the last six months. In fact, the services rendered by all of them must be appreciated. The object is to ensure that the hospitals are best equipped so that the doctors and other staff who are relentlessly working will be able to discharge their duties in a better manner. The second reason why we have directed constant monitoring of the availability of facilities, food, etc. in COVID-19 hospitals is that once a person infected with COVID-19 is admitted to such hospitals, his contact with his family members becomes minimum. Therefore, even if such a person is suffering due to lack of amenities in COVID Hospitals, he is not in a position to make a complaint or a grievance."

The bench directed the State Government to consider providing a helpline for the benefit of such patients and their relatives who can get in touch with the concerned authorities, if the patient is not being given proper treatment or the COVID-19 hospital lacks proper facilities. The BBMP Level Committee to submit a detailed report about its functioning.

It reiterated that the State should set up a mechanism which will constantly monitor the conditions of COVID-19 hospitals in the State.

Oxygen Cylinders Supply

The bench has directed the state government to inform the court in what manner it is implementing the order of Government of India dated 25th September 2020 issued by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (Department of Pharmaceuticals), in regards to regulating the price of the oxygen supplied to the hospitals.

The government had informed the court that the daily requirement of medical oxygen for COVID-19 patients is approximately 235.56 metric tons per day and the actual availability of oxygen is 374 metric tons per day.

To which court said "The issue is of proper and equitable distribution and supply of oxygen. Merely stating that adequate supply of oxygen is available in the city of Bengaluru is not sufficient. The question is whether the hospitals in the State which are treating COVID-19 patients are receiving adequate supply of oxygen. The response of the State shall be filed within a period of one week from today."

It added "The State will have to also point out the steps taken to ensure that adequate oxygen supply is made available to the hospitals in the rural and remote areas in the State."