SC asks Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat & Bengal: How Covid-prepared are you?

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday tore into the Delhi government for the pathetic condition of public hospitals. The court cited low number of daily tests, improper treatment of Covid- 19 patients, undignified handling of dead patients’ bodies and denial of salaries to doctors to question the government’s claims of its preparedness to fight the pandemic.
The apex court observed that the situation was grim in Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal too, and issued notices to the chief secretaries of the four states, ordering them to give reports on hospitals, patient care and details of staff and infrastructure by Wednesday.
About Delhi, the bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay K Kaul and M R Shah said, “Look at the pathetic condition in the hospitals. Bodies are there in the ward where patients are getting treated. The undignified manner in which bodies are handled dumped... They are being treated worse than animals.”
The bench added, “We direct that chief secretaries of the states shall immediately take appropriate notice of the status of patients’ management in government hospitals in their respective states and take remedial action. Status reports with regard to government hospitals, patient care and details of staff, infrastructure etc should be brought before the court so that appropriate directions can be issued on the next date of hearing.”