High Court Asks Delhi Govt To Consider How Citizens Will Know About Availability Of Beds, Doctors In Emergency Through HMIS Software

The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi Government to consider how the citizens here will know about the availability of beds and doctors in emergency situations through Health Management Information System (HMIS) software.A division bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora was dealing with a suo moto PIL initiated in 2017 in the wake of rising incidents of violence against doctors.The Court said that one of the fundamental reasons as to why the suo moto action was initiated was due to lack of ICU beds and immediate information to the citizens for availing such ICU beds, OPD services and IPD services.“The State Government may, therefore, consider as to the manner in which through HMIS software either through a web based application or through a handheld device based application, this information shall be made available to the citizens of Delhi who, in case of emergency and otherwise, whenever they need medical care, can know as to the availability of beds, doctors and expertise so that they can approach the relevant hospital for obtaining the requisite medical care,” the Court said.It added that the step is very critical in the case of ICU patients where patients are made to move from hospital to hospital, looking for an ICU bed. “The Health Secretary, GNCTD has assured the Court that with the HMIS software implemented, this issue shall be flagged and some solution shall be placed on record in this regard. The reports provided by Dr. S.K. Sarin Committee, including the interim report and the final report shall be considered before suggesting any solutions,” it said. The Delhi Government's Health Secretary informed the Court that various recommendations made in Dr. S.K. Sarin Committee report have been considered at the time of development of HMIS software.On this, the Court directed the Director of AIIMS to convene a meeting of all the relevant officials and to present a status report before the Court by the next date of hearing.Further, the Bench directed the Health Secretary to file a status report indicating the total number of modules to be implemented in the HMIS software, actual implemented modules and their status in all the hospitals and the remaining modules to be implemented with a specific timeline.It said that the report must specifically answer the question as to whether whenever a patient in Delhi calls the concerned helpline number and the type of medical emergency is noted down, whether the HMIS software will enable such a patient to be taken to the hospital where the bed and necessary expert staff is available.“The said report shall be prepared keeping in mind that the intent and purpose of the HMIS software, as was contemplated in the Dr. S.K. Sarin Committee report was to make the hospitals accessible, especially in the case of critical care and emergency, so that patients do not have to run from pillar to post, and are able to be transported to the hospital where there is space and expertise for accommodation and proper treatment,” the Court said. The Bench also asked the UPSC to continue the process for recruitment of radiologists and to submit necessary dossiers to the Delhi Government before the next date of hearing.The matter will now be heard on October 31.Earlier, the Court had said that appointment of nursing and para-medical staff is “absolutely crucial for the health management in hospitals in Delhi” and ordered the government to undertake the process of recruitment without any impediment.It had said that as and when the results are declared, after completing the necessary formalities, the appointment shall be done on a post-to-post basis without waiting for the recruitment in the other post.The High Court had earlier noted that since the time hospitals were constructed and commenced operations, patient load increased grossly. However, there was no evidence of any change in the numbers of medical experts put in place by those in authority to man these hospitals and provide patient care. As a result, violence against doctors was on the rise.Over the course of years, the Court issued various directions to ensure proper functioning of these government hospitals, including AIIMS.Case title: Court On Its Own Motion v. Union Of India & OrsCitation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 1076Click here to read order

High Court Asks Delhi Govt To Consider How Citizens Will Know About Availability Of Beds, Doctors In Emergency Through HMIS Software

Nupur Thapliyal

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