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Synopsis

The Allahabad High Court has recently directed the Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, to submit an affidavit detailing whether the Central Government plans to establish an AIIMS-like institute in Prayagraj.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by Sahaj-Sarathi Foundation and another entity, highlighting the inadequacies in medical facilities and infrastructure in Prayagraj.

The PIL emphasized that Prayagraj, home to the High Court and the Commissionerate of four districts, hosts numerous central and state establishments, including Allahabad University, various tribunals, and research institutes. It also noted that the city's population, as per the 2011 Census, was 5,954,390 and has likely increased since then. Given its size, Prayagraj attracts citizens from nearby districts.

Despite having a Medical College and the state-run T.B. Sapru Hospital, the plea described the quality of medical services in Prayagraj as 'pathetic'. A supplementary affidavit further highlighted the subpar conditions of the hospital buildings and services.

The plea argued that although the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana was launched in 2003 to correct regional imbalances in healthcare services, Prayagraj still lacks reliable tertiary health care. It contended that Prayagraj meets most parameters for quality medical education and thus warrants an AIIMS-like institute to address its urgent need for specialized medical services.

The division bench of Justices Manoj Kumar Gupta and Manish Kumar Nigam found the matter requiring consideration and sought responses from the respondent authorities. It posted the matter for next hearing on August 1, 2024.

The bench said, "We may observe that this is not an adversarial litigation and while directing the first respondent to file his affidavit, we hope and trust that the actual conditions prevailing in the city with regard to availability of medical services be considered in an objective manner and the decision of the Government be informed to the Court."

Case Title: Sahaj-Sarathi Foundation And Another v. Union Of India And 7 Others