TB hospital to give medicines to drug resistant patients

The assurance was given by Dr G.R. Khatri, deputy director general (DGHS), Dr J.N. Banvalikar, state TB control officer and Dr S. Patnaik, medical superintendent of the hospital. The Hospital authorities submitted that “MDR TB patients can get medicines which they want for the therapy at the hospital.”

However, the authorities also said that many of the patients claiming to be MDR might not be so. The court was told that they would also be given medicines once they obtain certificates declaring them Multi-Drug Resistant TB patients.

Acting Chief Justice Mahinder Narain and Justice Mahajan said that once a person was given certificates from certain laboratories in Delhi like the New Delhi T.B. Centre, Patel Chest Institute, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Lala Ram Swarup Institute of T.B. and Allied Disease Hospital that he was suffering from MDR TB then he should go to Rajan Babu TB hospital and obtain treatment as an in-patient. “As far as this court is concerned, it would be adequate if appropriate treatment is given whether they are acquired or primary MDR TB patients,” the Court observed. The matter would come up for further hearing on May 18.

The division bench also ruled on a proposal for a new sewage system in the same hospital. The court directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to submit drawings and layout plans of the required sewage system. Uttam Vasvani, the MCD executive engineer informed the court that he would produce text books with schematic drawings of the sewage system.

The court ordered that the sewage facility proposal be placed before it before the next date of hearing.