Maharashtra: High Court bats for 'impeccable' civic, public hospitals

MUMBAI: Hospitals must be impeccable, observed Bombay high court on Wednesday while batting for giving top priority to disposal of bio-medical wastes and hygiene at civic and government hospitals in Mumbai and all over Maharashtra.
"We want special attention to be given to these aspects. That is a priority now," said a bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni while hearing a PIL for special masks for those with speech and hearing impairment and the related issue of disposal of masks.
The judges drew the attention of BMC to the unhygienic state of its hospitals saying there must be some system in place as a large number of people visit them. " And we would request you to take up the issue with higher-ups. See to it that there is cleanliness. Each hospital must have a committee to look into hygiene," Justice Kulkarni told senior advocate Anil Sakhare for BMC.
Justice Kulkarni recalled hearing a PIL in respect of Malegaon Civil Hospital in which a committee was set up including the local MLA, corporator, and the municipal commissioner.
"In 15-20 days it was looking like a private hospital. If there is a will, anything can happen," said Justice Kulkarni.
He appreciated the keen interest taken by the local MP who was also a Union minister. "The sitting minister himself said, 'I will be accountable'. He did a fantastic job. This is how issues have to be taken up. All elected representatives must reach out to their districts," Justice Kulkarni added.
The judges said not just municipal corporations but all hospitals and clinics in the state must maintain cleanliness. They also emphasised that it is not enough that only the reception areas of hospitals look good. "It should not be that the ground floors are good and you go to the first floor and there is a mess," said Justice Kulkarni.
The judges said the disposal of bio-medical waste and hygiene are inter-connected. They pointed out that many hospitals are without waste bins and patients are found in corridors sleeping and eating food.
"This is what I have seen personally. It must be impeccable. Cleanliness and sanitation must be a top priority," Justice Kulkarni said.