The Delhi High Court in Its Own Motion versus. Union of India and Ors observed that the over-crowding of emergency wards in government hospitals in the city has to be circumvented by all means for making available the best medical assistance to all the critical patients who needs to be provided with medical care on an urgent basis.
The Division bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna in the case observed and took the cognizance of the necessity in order to upgrade and enhance the overall infrastructure facilities in the government hospitals, in particular the emergency wards.
The court stated that when the critical patients are brought to hospitals, the first few hours are considered to be as the golden hours, which can make the crucial difference between life and death.
Adding to it, the court stated that there being an emergent need to augment the space and the medical facilities available in the emergency wards, which includes the number of doctors and the medical equipment’s available in order to cater to the needs of the patients requiring critical care.
The court in the case observed that the emergency care system requires strengthening and enhancement with a view to provide quality healthcare to the needy in times of emergencies.
It has also been observed by the bench while directing the Union Government to undertake an exercise for improvement of infrastructure of the hospitals being controlled and run by it in the national capital.
It has also been directed by the GNCTD to take steps for improving the overall medical facilities in its hospitals, with particular emphasis upon upgradation of infrastructure in the emergency wards.
The court in the case observed and has directed the Union and Delhi Governments to file their affidavits in the matter within the period of 12 weeks.
In the present case, the court was hearing the suo motu public interest litigation, PIL initiated in the year 2017 concerning the issue of safety and security of medical specialists in public hospitals, violence being faced by them and the lack of sufficient experts to provide healthcare in the hospitals.
Therefore, the said court had taken the suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report published by the Times of India on 03.05.2017, titled as ‘AIIMS doctors to get self-defence training.’
The bench while considering the facts and circumstances in the case highlighted the various issues like the dearth of adequate security measures afforded to doctors and the incongruent growth of medical experts within hospitals compared to the escalating patient influx, which caused delays and exacerbated the likelihood of violence.
Accordingly, the court listed the matter for further consideration on March 13, 2024.