Up RT-PCR Testing; Bring Dedicated Ambulances, ICUs: Sikkim High Court Urges State To Take Steps On A War Footing Against Covid19

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan has taken note of various shortcomings in the medical resources in Sikkim.

Firstly, it has expressed concern over non-availability of testing Labs, purportedly due to lack of trained manpower, including Microbiologists.

"In a state of the present pandemic, it has been noticed that RT-PCR test is of vital importance. We are, therefore, of the view that the State Government must take urgent and immediate steps to provide RT-PCR testing facilities, at least, in the four District Hospitals and for the said purpose, take up such steps to augment their resources including employing trained manpower and Microbiologists," it said.

Secondly, the Court noted that there is no Covid ICU at District Hospitals in Namchi, Mangan and Singtam (near Gangtok) (capital cities of 3/4 districts in the State).

"We are of the view that dedicated Covid-19 wards and ICU facilities should be provided in all the District Hospitals, including Singtam, with oxygen and ventilator support," the Court has ordered.

So far as supply of medical Oxygen in the State is concerned, the Court has asked the Government to come out with a specific time line for setting up of proposed PSA (Pressure Swing Absorption) Oxygen Generating Plant and the proposal for obtaining D –Type and B-Type Oxygen Cylinders.

Further, the Bench noted that the State has 63 ambulances however, there are no details regarding the facilities available in such ambulances.

"We are concerned about the non-availability of covid-19 dedicated and fully equipped ambulances with oxygen and paramedic support for the District Hospitals," it said.

The Court has granted a weeks' time to the State, to respond to the above issues in the form of an affidavit.

The matter is now listed for hearing on May 25.

Case Title: In Re: Covid 19 Management

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