HC picks flaws in treatment of Covid-19 patients
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 19 2021:
High Court of Manipur has directed the state government to take up necessary steps for monitoring treatment of patients in hospitals, be it government-run or private.
During hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the court which was conducted Wednesday through the virtual mode, a division bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Kh Nobin pointed out that there has been no mechanism so far for monitoring the treatment of Covid patients in hospitals of Manipur.
In response to the observation made by the court, Advocate General N Kumarjit assured that a Grievance Redressal Cell would be constituted in each and every hospital, wherein a member or representative of a local civil society organisation would be involved.
The Cell would then be in a position to address individual complaints, if any, against that hospital, he added.
The court further directed hospitals, including, treating Covid patients to demand requisite quantity of medical oxygen based on the number of patients admitted in the hospitals from the National Task Force.
Moreover, the said team should allocate the oxygen available to all the hospitals equitably.
Pointing out that the construction of oxygen plants at Churachandpur and Thoubal are still underway; N Kumarjit assured of finalising the date for commissioning of these plants and also the details of other plants which are in the pipeline for augmenting oxygen supply.
Further, the court accepted the request of ASG S Suresh seeking time to go through the replies submitted by other respondents.
The Union of India should take into account the contents of the reply filed by the RIMS with regard to oxygen supplies.
Also, the Union of India should address the various aspects raised by the other respondents in their replies, including adequate financial assistance to Manipur to meet the crisis occasioned by the second wave of this pandemic and the rising number of serious cases, requiring enhanced oxygen supplies, the court added.