COVID-19 "No Popular Government Can Afford To Negate The Basic Human Right To Health": MP High Court Issues Slew Of Directions

Referring to various Supreme Court judgments which have interpreted Article 21 of the Constitution of India so as to expand the meaning of the right to life to also include the right to health, the Madhya Pradesh High Court today issued a slew of directions to the State Government. The Bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Atul Sreedharan remarked that, "The right to health can be secured to the citizens only if the State provides adequate measures for their treatment, healthcare and takes their care by protecting them from calamities like Coronavirus." Importantly, the Court also remarked, "Article 38, Article 39(e), Article 41 and Article 47 in Part-IV of the Constitution of India as well as the fundamental right guaranteed vide Article 21 of the Constitution of India deal with potent and substantive contents of the right to life which in its broad sweep also includes right to good health." The Court was hearing suo motu Writ Petition, along with other Writ Petitions, which was registered on the basis of a letter (dated 08.06.2020) sent by Dr. Ashwani Kumar, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, New Delhi to the Chief Justice of India. The said letter dated 08.06.2020 had highlighted a tragic and condemnable sight of an elderly Covid-19 patient, who was chained to a bed in a private hospital at Bhopal. After that, the Court had passed a number of orders to ensure that the Covid-19 patients in the State are provided timely treatment inasmuch as they are not subjected to harassment and exploitation State's preparation to deal with COVID-19 At the outset, the Court took into account the various steps taken by the State Government, namely, procuring Oxygen to meet the expected demand of 651 Metric Ton by 30th April, 2021, obtaining injections of Remdesivir, increasing the bed capacity in Government Hospitals, set up Covid Command and Control Centres in of the 52 districts etc. The Court appreciated the work undertaken by the State Government within the past month or so and the Court also observed that its preparation for the future was quite impressive. However, the Court added that the state's efforts should also reflect on the ground and the benefit thereof should reach the common man and so, the Court opined that it needs to work hard towards that aim and goal. Further, the Court observed that the need of the hour is to have best of cooperation and coordination with the Hospitals and Nursing Homes in the private sector and seek their support for timely treatment of the Covid-19 patients so as to save their lives. For this, the Court advised the State Government to invoke the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 and Disaster Management Act, 2005 to the extent necessary. Importantly, the Court said, "The right of the citizen to adequate healthcare emanates from the dignity and sanctity of the human life which belongs to all of them. Health, besides being a fundamental right, is a basic human right, which no popular government can afford to negate. Health has its own prerequisites of social justice and equality and that it should be accessible to all." The Court further observed, "It includes the ability to obtain all kind of healthcare services including prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases, management of health disorders, diseases and illness as also the management of other health impacting conditions. Such health care should not only be accessible but also be conveniently affordable to all the citizens. The core obligation of the State in securing the right to life to all its citizens is non-negotiable." Significantly, the Court also highlighted as to how the newspapers of the State during last week have been replete with the reports of incidents where either the patients are allegedly not being admitted or are being allegedly exploited by exorbitant charges by the private hospitals. Thus, the Court noted that despite being cognizant of its jurisdictional limitations, it could, in an extraordinary situation like the present one, cannot just play a silent spectator. Consequently, in order to play the role of a catalyst by reminding the State of its duties, for reassuring the people to continue to have faith in the system so as to revive their confidence, the Court issued the following directions (list not exhaustive): - The State Government shall ensure continuous and the regular supply of Oxygen and Remdesivir not only to all the Government Hospitals, City Hospitals, District Hospitals but also to the Private Hospitals/Nursing Homes, which may give Indent of their requirement of Oxygen as well as Remdesivir in advanceThe State Government shall, if it has already not done so, consider immediately reactivating 262 hospitals Covid Care Centres (CCC), 62 Dedicated Covid Health Centre (DCHC) and 16 Dedicated Covid Hospital (DCH) as per the details furnished to this...

COVID-19 "No Popular Government Can Afford To Negate The Basic Human Right To Health": MP High Court Issues Slew Of Directions

Sparsh Upadhyay

Tags