Copyright thehindu
The Kerala High Court has directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Family Welfare Department) to file an affidavit on how the State government proposed to address the shortfalls pointed by the State Council for Clinical Establishments about public hospitals in the State. The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. was considering a public interest litigation that sought adherence to safety norms at all public medical facilities, in the wake of the collapse of a portion of the Kottayam Medical College building earlier this year. Based on inspections done by Kerala State Legal Services Authority in government hospitals across Kerala, the issues had been categorised into four – infrastructure related, shortage of staff, shortage of medicines and equipment and the inadequacy of the premises. The court further noticed that the State Council for Clinical Establishments had stated that the Grievance Redressal Committee had categorized the issues under three heads – those needing immediate action, mid-term improvements and long-term improvements. Recording that the report has been placed before the State government, the court observed that a response of the State government is necessary on these aspects. It directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Family Welfare Department) to file an affidavit on how the Government proposed to proceed in light of the various shortfalls pointed out by the State Council in its report. The matter has been posted for hearing on November 21.
