Introduction:

The Delhi High Court expressed serious concerns regarding the deficient medical infrastructure in the national capital to handle critical care patients. In a suo motu PIL initiated in 2017, the court addressed the pressing issue of the insufficient availability of ICU beds and ventilators in government hospitals. The bench, led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, directed the Delhi Government to disclose its healthcare spending over the last five years.

Arguments:

Amicus Curiae, Advocate Ashok Aggarwal, brought attention to a recent incident where a critically injured man faced denial of medical treatment in four government hospitals. The court questioned the Delhi Government’s counsel on the unprecedented situation where no beds were available in these hospitals. Expressing worry about the budget allocation for healthcare, the court emphasized the need to ensure funds are not diverted and urged an increase in the healthcare budget to address the growing demand for critical care.

Court’s Directions:

The court directed the Delhi Government to disclose its healthcare spending and explore the feasibility of a real-time portal indicating bed availability in all city hospitals. The bench emphasized the need to prioritize critical care patients and expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of medical infrastructure.