The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it would issue orders to all states and Union Territories to file criminal cases under the NDMA Act against hospitals and nursing homes for not paying timely salaries to doctors and medical workers, reports say. The Union government also agreed to modify mandatory quarantine rule for all healthcare workers, who will now have to undergo a minimum seven-day quarantine period if treating Covid-19 patients.
The Centre has also assured the top court that suitable orders will soon be issued for alternative accommodation for doctors, health-care workers. A bench, comprising three judges, has sought a compliance report in 4 weeks, asking Union Health Secretary, and state Chief secretaries to issue guidelines as soon as possible.
Based on a PIL by Dr. Arushi Jain, the top court sought a Standard Operating Procedure to quarantine all doctors and healthcare workers since they’re facing problems in commuting from their residences to hospitals.
Earlier, in an affidavit, the Central government had submitted Covid-19 cases were rising in India, and they were making adequate arrangements in developing treatment capacity in near future. Large number of temporary and makeshift hospitals will have to be set up to accommodate more patients requiring admission, medical care and treatment. Post lockdown, rapid surge in coronavirus positive cases has worried many experts, sparking calls for better disease detection and more social distancing.