High Court Asks Maharashtra Government to Ensure Non COVID-19 patients get proper medical care

The Bombay High Court, on Thursday, said that it is imperative that the Union government and the authorities in Maharashtra find an "effective solution" to ensure 'non-COVID- 19' patients are not denied medical treatment amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Justice K R Sriram made the observation on Thursday while hearing three different petitions highlighting the plight of people suffering from several chronic or serious ailments. The pleas said that non-COVID patients with serious ailments are being turned away from clinics and hospitals.

The petitions also drew attention on issues such as lack of adequate facilities and medical infrastructure in the state, municipal-run, and private hospitals in times when the focus was on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Justice Sriram said that the authorities must take a serious note of the issues and directed the state government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to file a reply to the pleas by April 29.

"I would expect the concerned to take these petitions very seriously and come (up) with an effective solution in their affidavits. Other respondents may also give their suggestions to the Corporation/State Government/Central Government," Justice Sriram said.

The pleas, filed by two advocates and a city activist, stated that as per news reports and their own findings, various non-COVID patients were being denied admission or treatment either due to medical staff afraid of the spread of coronavirus at their hospitals or clinics, or due to lack of doctors, technicians, medical staff, hospital beds, protective kits.

The petitioners urged the high court to issue appropriate directions to ensure hospitals did not refuse admission of patients suffering from ailments other than COVID-19. The court said that the petitioners could give their suggestions to the authorities and assist them in finding a way to resolve the issue.

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