"Specify Preparedness To Combat Mucormycosis/Black Fungus & Policy To Procure Injections/Medicines": Gujarat High Court Asks Govt

The Bench of Justice Bela Trivedi and Justice Bhargav D Trivedi also directed the Central Government to place on record the information of the general public at large, about the vaccination policy adopted by the Central Government.

Significantly, the Court also took serious note of the new challenge being faced by the State with regard to the rapid increase in the cases of flesh-eating Black Fungal infection called 'Mucormycosis'.

"The shortage of injections being administered for the said disease and the cost of its treatment are also the issues that deserve to be seriously and immediately considered by the State," added the High Court.

The Court also noted that there was nothing on record to suggest the future course of action to be followed by the State and the Central Government for the procurement of sufficient quota of 'Remdesivir' injections.

The Central also did not place on record the policy decision with regard to the allocation of the 'Remdesivir' injections to the States.

In this backdrop, the Court called upon the State Government to provide the details of the following on oath, on the next date of hearing:

• How far the Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and the Community Health Centers (CHCs) which constitute the backbone of the State's rural health infrastructure are equipped with the facilities to treat the COVID­19 patients?
• What is the mechanism for providing the RT­PCR test kits, necessary medicines, 'Remdesivir' Injection, Oxygen supply, etc., to such PHCs and CHCs and other healthcare centers in the Districts and the Talukas?
• Whether the Doctors and trained nursing staff are available to carry out the RT­PCR tests, administer the 'Remdesivir' injections and the oxygen etc.? If the answer is in negative, what is the course of action planned in that regard?
• How many dedicated COVID hospitals, dedicated COVID Health Centers and COVID Care Centers have been set up at the District and Taluka level? The details of each District and Taluka be specifically provided.
• How many persons have been fully vaccinated and how many have been partially vaccinated in each of the categories i.e., above 60 years, between 45­60 years and between 18­44 years?
• What is the estimated requirement of the vaccines for vaccinating all categories of people fully and what is the road­map for achieving the said estimate?
• Whether any special provision has been made for vaccinating the inmates of and the staff members working at the special homes like old age homes, mental/lunatic asylums, Nari Samrakshan Gruh, juvenile homes, remand homes, correction homes, orphanages, etc.?

Further, the Court also asked about the preparedness of the Government in the Health Department to combat the Mucormycosis disease.

The Court has also enquired about the policy framed with regard to the procurement and the distribution of the injections and the medicines used for the treatment of the Mucormycosis patients in the private hospitals.