Justice B Colabawalla issued the direction after BMCcounsel Anil Sakhre told the high court that the civic bodyhad directed all private hospitals, clinics, dispensaries toremain open and provide treatment to non-COVID-19 patients.
The court was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by alawyer and social activists highlighting the plight of peoplesuffering from several chronic or serious ailments beingturned away from clinics and hospitals, and issues such aslack of adequate facilities and medical infrastructure in thestate, municipal-run, and private hospitals in current times.
Senior advocate Gayatri Singh, counsel for one of thepetitioners, told the high court that while the BMC had issuedthe above directions, it was imperative that the authoritiesensured implementation on the ground considering that thereexisted a shortage of PPE kits, health staff, and medicalinfrastructure.
She pointed out that the state and municipalauthorities did not have a detailed action plan for non-COVID-19 patients and several people had died of lack oftreatment already.
She added that the authorities must also come up witha helpline for non-coronavirus patients to assist them withambulance, mobile medical aid, list of hospitals and clinicsproviding treatment.
The petitioners also suggested that the authoritiescould make arrangements for mobile clinics, and paramedicalservices at different locations to help non COVID patients whodid not necessarily require hospitalisation but were in needof preliminary check-ups, dialysis, or other such aid.
At this, Justice Colabawalla said that the BMC and thestate had to ensure implementation of their directions toprovide medical aid to non-COVID-19 patients.
He said that the authorities must make public allinformation on the hospitals and clinics that will remain openfor other patients, and those that are meant exclusively forCOVID-19 patients.
He directed Sakhre and the state's counsel, advocatePoornima Kantharia to file their respective affidavits withintwo weeks, advocate Singh said. AYANP NP