Read Time: 04 minutes

Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to undertake steps to improve the infrastructure in hospitals run by it in the national capital.

The court was hearing pleas concerning the safety of medical professionals and the state of healthcare institutions.

The Center's counsel told the court that it has taken all precautions and steps for its four hospitals here, including AIIMS.

"There is always a chance of improvement," the bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna said.

“Union of India is directed to undertake an exercise with regard to the improvement of infrastructure in its own hospitals”, it added.

The court also asked the Delhi government to file an action-taken report on whether the recommendations of a committee constituted by it, aiming to enhance operational standards, sanitary conditions, and treatment methodologies in government hospitals, were being implemented.

"This court directs GNCTD to file an action taken report clearly stating whether recommendations of the expert committee report are feasible and have been implemented”, the bench ordered.

Notably, in 2017, the high court took cognizance of a news report on increasing violent attacks on government doctors by their relatives and asked the Centre and the Delhi government to apprise it about the steps taken.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal, the amicus curiae, submitted that the genesis of the issue of threats to medical professionals was the shortage of doctors and lack of infrastructural support in hospitals.

The amicus also stated that during the pendency of the proceedings, the Delhi government has enacted a law for the protection of the doctors, but it has made it worse by diluting the provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

Taking note of the concerns, the court suggested directing a meeting of all the stakeholders, including officials of the Delhi government and the Centre, to deal with all the issues concerning the hospital and its administration.

Accordingly, the court posted the matter for further hearing on March 13, 2024.

Case Title: Court in its own motion v. Union of India & Ors.