'Need Concerted Action By All Stakeholders': Chhattisgarh High Court Takes Suo Moto Cognizance On COVID Medical Needs

A Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice PR Ramachandra Menon and Justice Parth Prateem Sahu has asked the State authorities about the plight of plight of patients, who were reportedly administered Oxygen support while they were lying on the hospital floor due to shortage of beds.

The Bench was hearing an urgent application, highlighting dearth of beds and oxygen support in the hospitals.

The Bench stated that even though no proper proceedings have been filed by the Petitioner, considering the extreme urgency of the issue projected, it is inclined to treat the application as a suo moto proceeding.

The Applicant has however been directed to file proper proceedings within one week from the date of lifting of the lockdown.

The applicant had complained that lack of beds and oxygen in hospitals is virtually driving the patients with serious conditions to run from pillar to post. It had also sought a direction to the Railway authorities to provide specialised medical coaches with infrastructure to help the Corona patients.

During the hearing, as the Central and State authorities tried to shift burden regarding setting up of makeshift railway coaches for Covid treatment, the Bench remarked,

"The attempt of the Court is never to find fault with anybody, be it the Central Government, State Government, Railways or any other Establishment. The need of the hour is to have a concerted action by all the stakeholders, rising to the occasion and in extending hands to the needy general public who fall prey to the pandemic."

It has directed the State Government to file a proper requisition through the Nodal Officer of the State to the Nodal Officer of the Railways forthwith, for allotment of the Special Medical Coaches based on the SOP issued by the Health Ministry last year.

State denies shortage of medical infrastructure

During the hearing, Advocate General SC Verma submitted that there is absolutely no lapse or dereliction on the part of the authorities of the State in providing necessary infrastructure and treating Covid-19 patients.

He pointed out that as on date, 67,07,690 tests have been conducted (RTPCR, TruNat and Rapid Antigen Test). Further, 6 medical colleges, 37 dedicated Covid Hospitals and 154 Covid Care Centers are operational. Furthermore, to ensure availability of Oxygen, 15 Oxygen Generation Plants have already been installed and setting up of 9 more Oxygen Generation Plants are under way.

Verma told the Bench that there are 198 Covid Hospitals in which a total number of 8322 Covid beds are available, out of which 3616 are Oxygenated beds. The AG insisted that there is no much scarcity of beds or Oxygen support as in many places, the beds are lying vacant.

Unconvinced, the Bench asked the Government to reconcile the above data with the plight of patients who were reportedly lying on Hospital floors due to acute shortage of beds.

The State has also been asked to make a submission with regard to availability of "mobile" RTPCR testing Laboratories.

The matter is now fixed for hearing tomorrow, at 2.30 PM.

"The tsunamic second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has made everybody scary of the situation which is spreading at lightning speed affecting even the young and healthy…The only silver lining in the cloud is that the scientists have become successful in formulating vaccine and as on date, a mass vaccination is going on in the country with two vaccines, while introduction of more vaccines is in the pipeline," the Bench expressed hope.

Case Title: Suo Moto PIL v. State of Chhattisgarh & Ors.

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