The Delhi High Court Wednesday said that it wants to help the Delhi government “fix” the condition of its hospitals and suggested the constitution of a committee of doctors to examine the state of medical infrastructure in government hospitals and give solutions. The court was hearing a 2017 suo motu plea on a news report wherein a newborn died as an ICU bed was not made available to him in any government hospital in the Capital. More recently, on January 8, the HC had taken note of a report in The Indian Express about a man, injured after jumping out of a PCR van, who was denied admission at four government hospitals in Delhi and later died. Three of the four hospitals are under Delhi government. Delhi government's counsel Wednesday submitted a collated document including a chart showing the state of the medical equipment in its hospitals as well as vacancies and other issues. After noting that the CT scan machine at GTB Hospital was stated to be “functional but not working at full capacity”, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora orally said the information was “misleading” since, on ground, the patients were being denied admission due to non-availability of the machine. The bench said, “We want to help you in fixing things. This chart says that the CT scan machine is working when we know it is not working; then it will be very difficult to help. We are trying to ensure that the structural reform which is required is undertaken. But we aren't getting a clear picture of the correct facts. From here, everything looks hunky dory and at the ground level, the thing is people are being denied admission”. Advocate Ashok Aggarwal, the amicus curiae appointed in the matter, had previously said that on being taken to GTB hospital, the man was denied admission due to “non-availability of CT scan”, and at Lok Nayak Hospital, he was denied admission due to “non-availability of ICU or ventilator bed”. The Delhi government counsel further said that although “money is not a problem”, the real problem was the lack of manpower, adding that there is a need for radiologists in government hospitals as today there is a “78% vacancy of radiologists”. Thereafter, the bench orally said, “What we can do is set up a committee of doctors, who can examine Delhi government hospitals overall, and let the doctors come out with some solution. If you are agreeable, that is. The doctors will understand the problem much better. “You talk amongst yourselves; in case you reach a consensus, you tell us,” the bench further told the counsels appearing for the Delhi government and the Centre. The court also impleaded Delhi government’s services department, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) as parties in the matter and issued notice to them. Listing the matter on February 5, the HC asked the Principal Secretary, Health (GNCTD), to remain present in person for the hearing.
