The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court on May, 31st,2021, slammed the government in the issue concerning the faulty ventilators purchased through PM Cares Fund. Centre, on the issue of the faulty ventilators, stated that the doctors and nurses are not properly trained to handle the machine. 

The Assistant Solicitor General submitted to the court that 150 ventilators were never supplied through PM Cares Fund. Producing an affidavit before the court the ASG submitted to him by the undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), argued that the ventilators were manufactured by Jyoti CNC Automation Limited, Rajkot and were tested by applying world class testing parameters and were manufactured following the due procedure prescribed by the Dean of Government Medical College and Hospital(GMCH).

The ASG additionally submitted that the ventilators were in working condition without any material fault.

The bench comprising Justices RV Ghuge and BU Debadwar lashed out at the Centre for their ‘blame-game’ and stated that the Union Health Ministry seems more concerned with defending the manufacturers of faulty ventilators than the lives of the patients.

The bench remarked the government to refrain from engaging in the blame-game and the ministry should exhibit sensitivity towards the patients and the take care of the health of its citizens.

Taking note of the Affidavit submitted by manufacturer, Jyoti CNC, contending the claim of Government Medical College and Hospital and blaming the Hospital’s inadequate infrastructure and incompetence to follow procedure in operating the machines, the court directed the MoHFW to apprise the court if Jyoti CNC had enquired about the infrastructure at GMCH and imparted training to the technicians upon supplying the 150 ventilators.

The matter came to the notice of the court after it was informed that out of the 150 ventilators received in Government Medical College and Hospital from PM Cares Fund, 113 ventilators were found defective, when put to use.