For want of medical aid, people falling prey to Covid-19: HC

Nagpur: Expressing anguish over severe shortage of hospital beds leading to many deaths due to Covid-19, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Thursday warned all authorities to ensure that patients don’t need to run pillar to post for hospitalization.
“We must note with regret that for want of medical aid, the people are falling prey to coronavirus. We don’t want a situation where patients are required to travel from one hospital to another to secure a position in ICU, ventilated or oxygenated beds or due to non-availability of medical and paramedical staff services. It’s the government’s duty to make all such infrastructural and medical facilities available to save life of people who are affected or likely to be affected by coronavirus,” a division bench comprising justices Ravi Deshpande and Pushpa Ganediwala tersely stated.
“If any patient requires medical assistance and approaches any hospital or Dedicated Covid-19 Health Centre (DCHC), these establishments should immediately help them to reach a proper destination,” the judges directed.
Hearing a suo motu PIL based on a TOI report of August 24 exposing shortage of beds, the bench made it clear that it would be the duty of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) commissioner Radhakrishnan B and the task force to see that all hospitals and DCHCs provide information and contact numbers of establishments where such facilities can be easily available to patients. “We find that the NMC chief has shouldered such responsibility. We also expect the task force to spring into action to supervise infrastructural facilities and manpower in hospitals and DCHCs.”
Clarifying that there should be no prohibition for Covid-19 patients to have consultation with the doctor of their choice, the judges said the latter can visit and examine them in any hospital or DCHC and advise investigation and medication. “This will reduce the responsibilities of others,” they said before deferring the hearing till September 15.
Giving a clarion call to all doctors and paramedics to rise to the occasion due to pandemic, the judges said they expect them to discharge their obligation with promptitude and ensure “this court doesn’t receive any complaint in respect of ‘no response’ from any patient”.
“The judges and the lawyers have made themselves available 24X7 to serve causes in pandemic. There would be nothing wrong to expect the medical and paramedical staff to be available 24X7 in this situation. The question of payment to them can be considered by appropriate authorities. However, it shall not be a condition precedent to render their services.”
The court directed the collector, Indian Medical Association, and Hospital’s Association to provide a list of private doctors and paramedical staff to NMC by Friday. The NMC commissioner, in consultation with a task force constituted by the collector, will then assign them duties and responsibilities in various hospitals and DCHCs for treating patients within 24 hours.
“Even private doctors and paramedical staff are under obligation to provide treatment. The preservation of human life is of paramount importance. Once life is lost, it cannot be restored. Every doctor is under obligation to extend his services with due expertise for protecting life. They can’t refuse to render services during a pandemic where they are called,” the bench said.
WHAT HC SAID
* Ensure patients wouldn’t need to run from pillar to post for hospitalization
* Newspaper reports shows deaths are taking place every day in city
* Unavailability of ICU, ventilator, oxygenated beds no reason to deny admission
* Govt’s duty to make all such infrastructure & medical facilities available
* Services of Ayush doctors/PG students/students in super speciality can be utilized
* Doctors infected with Covid-19 advising patients in hospital from home