Delhi HC constitutes expert committee to deal with Delhis health facilities

NEW DELHI: On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court constituted an expert committee to assess Delhis health infrastructure and suggest ways to improve the facilities at the hospitals run by Central and Delhi government as well as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. 

In a comprehensive order, a Division Bench consisting of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora said that it is evident that Delhi's government hospitals severely lack infrastructure in terms of the 3Ms medicines, machines and manpower. 

"We deem it expedient to appoint a committee of experts to make recommendations. (The committee would) suggest ways for optimising the existing resources in hospitals in Delhi owned and run by the Centre, Delhi government and MCD," the court stated.

Upon release of the detailed order, the identities of the individuals designated to the expert committee will be revealed. 

The Court was considering two Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petitions regarding the issue of medical infrastructure in Delhi.

"The court is of the opinion that huge investment as well as structural reforms in functioning of government hospitals without entering into blame game is the need of the hour," the bench stated. 

And, so the Court has asked the expert committee to come up with ways to augment manpower and infrastructure in state-run hospitals, and to submit its first report to the court in four weeks.

Reportedly, the committee has been asked look at the following aspects: 

Consider the issue of health infrastructure in detail and suggest ways and means for optimisation of the health infrastructure;
Devise mechanism for establishing a control room to enable for real time information regarding ICU and other beds in the hospital;
Suggest ways and means to ensure uninterrupted supply of medicines, equipment and manpower for managing those equipment in various government hospitals;
Suggest ways and means to reduce stress on referral hospital by strengthening the peripheral hospital;
Come up with a mechanism to immediately fill the vacant posts of specialists (teaching/non-teaching), medical officers and paramedics on contract basis, till regular incumbents join;
To make other recommendations as the committee thinks fit and proper.

Amicus curiae Senior Advocate Ashok Agrawal recently brought an application in the matter, bringing the event involving a man who died after jumping out of a moving police vehicle due to four government hospitals refusing to treat him. 

The expert committee will submit monthly reports to the High Court, the Court clarified. It will also prioritize the issue of critical healthcare and take into account recommendations from the Health Minister, the Health Secretary, and Amicus Curiae. 

The committee is requested to prepare an interim report in four weeks and place the same on record, the Court ordered.
The matter will be heard next on April 1.