COVID-"Inform About Steps Taken To Convert Primary Health Centres Into ICU Hospitals With Oxygen Facilities: Himachal Pradesh HC Directs State

Observing that the situation may go out of control of the Government if RTPCR testing is not conducted in war footing, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed State Government to inform about the steps taken it to convert primary health centres into ICU Hospitals with oxygen facilities and also directed it to accelerate its work in combating covid 19 pandemic.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice L Narayana Swamy and Justice Anoop Chitkara observed thus:

"If the RTPCR tests are not conducted in war footing i.e. more than twenty to thirty thousands per day then the fatalities will proportionately go higher and by the time the RTPCR test is conducted, the incubation period will exceed and that may go out of control of the Government."

The observation came after the Court was apprised by Senior Additional Advocate General for the State that RTPCR tests have been conducted at an average of fourteen thousand per day in the State. It was also submitted that the Centre has directed the State Government to convert Primary Health Centres into 30 bedded ICU hospitals with oxygen facilities.

Hearing this, the Court observed thus:

"In fact, on the basis of submissions made by learned Senior Additional Advocate General, what we feel is that the Government has again to accelerate its work in combating the COVID-19."

Accordingly, the Court directed the State Government to make submission as to what steps the State Government has taken to convert these PHCs into ICU hospitals with oxygen facilities.

The Court was also apprised by counsel appearing for the intervener that in two districts namely Kullu and Lahul & Spiti, ICU beds were not available despite the availability of hospitals.

"Accordingly, we direct the State Government to make submission as to whether ICU beds are provided to the COVID patients in both aforesaid areas." Court directed.

The Court will now hear the case on June 1.

During the previous course of hearing, the Court had noted that there was acute medical crisis in the State of Himachal Pradesh due to sudden surge and spread of COVID-19, which has engulfed not only the urban areas but has also reached the villages. In view of this, the Court had issued slew of directions to the respondent authorities.

The Court had directed to increase the number of authorized laboratories/clinics/hospitals which can carry on the testing for a larger percentage of the population. Along with this, the Court also directed the State to ensure that the majority of the beds are equipped with Oxygen tank and sufficient numbers of the bed are equipped with ventilators. Additionally, State was directed to publish the names and locations of the testing centres, and the names and locations of Hospitals/Dedicated COVID-19 Health Care Centres in the media bulletin on a daily basis.

"Acute Medical Crisis In Himachal Pradesh, COVID Has affected Urban As Well As Rural Areas": HP High Court Issues Directions

Title: Court on its own motion CWPIL No.3 of 2020

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