Delhi High Court Seeks Delhi Govt’s Status Report: Medical Infrastructure In Delhi Inadequate Demand Far In Excess Of Supply

The Delhi High Court in the case Court On Its Own Motion v. Union Of India And Ors observed that the medical infrastructure in the national capital is inadequate and the number of hospital beds are insufficient.
The Division bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna in its orders on December 13, 2023 stated that the demand is far in excess of the supply.

The court in the case observed and has directed the Delhi Government for filing the status report which indicates as to how it plans to ensure that the medical infrastructure keeps pace with the city’s population.
In the present case, the bench was dealing with the suo motu Public Interest Litigation, PIL initiated in 2017 concerning the issue of availability of ICU beds and ventilator facility in the government hospitals here.

The counsel, Amicus Curiae, Advocate Ashok Aggarwal, handed over a newspaper report titled, turned away by three hospitals fourteen-year-old cancer patient dies which is being published by Hindustan Times on December 07.
The court stated that the report was in reference to a 14-year-old girl who succumbed to blood cancer at AIIMS on December 05. Thus, as per the report, it has been alleged by the minor family that three government hospitals in Delhi refused treatment citing lack of medicines, beds, or equipment.

The court in the case observed that it is apparent that medical infrastructure in the city of Delhi is inadequate and the number of hospital beds are insufficient and the demand is far in excess of the supply. Thus, the said report is taken on record.
The court while considering the facts and circumstances of the case observed and has directed that the hospitals managed by the Central Government to operate a Control Room for providing information about the availability of beds with ventilator facilities, by notifying the phone numbers of Control Room through public notice in the print media and web portal. Accordingly, the court listed the matter for further consideration on January 29, 2024.