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Delhi HC seeks info of patients admitted, discharged at hospitals since April 1 to review 'malpractice' allegations
The sought information should be sent to court by Tuesday, it ordered.
The Delhi high court on Saturday sought information on a number of patients admitted, discharged, undergoing treatment at Delhi hospitals since April 1 to review allegations related to 'malpractices' and accusations of beds not being vacated. The sought information should be sent to court by Tuesday, the court said. It will be considered by the court on May 6. The court also asked the Delhi government to submit data of patients who remained hospitalised for 10 days or more and the kind of bed they occupied over the days of their hospitalisation.
The high court was hearing multiple pleas filed by several hospitals regarding the oxygen crisis and other Covid-19- related issues that the national Capital is grappling with. A division bench of justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli was hearing the pleas in a special hearing on a holiday due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation in Delhi
The court also directed the Delhi government to update its portal with the numbers of patients discharged and admitted on daily basis.
The Delhi High Court also directed the Centre to ensure that Delhi
receives its allocated 490 MT oxygen supply today by "whatever means." The court warned of 'Contempt action' in case the centre fails to follow the orders.
"Water has gone above the head. Now we mean business. You (Centre) will arrange everything now," the court said. "Enough is enough and you will make an arrangement," it also said.
Multiple hospitals told the High Court that their supplier Linde Air is not providing the oxygen after which it asked central government counsel Amit Mahajan to forthwith take up the matter with the officers of the central government on supply of oxygen from Linde and others.
Noting that the allocation to Delhi has been in force from April 20, the court said that not for a single day Delhi has received the allocated supply. In response, additional solicitor general Chetan Sharma said that everybody is stretched.
"You (Centre) made an allocation. You fulfill it. You comply it," the Court said.
During the hearing, the court questioned the Centre as to why four cryogenic tankers, which were meant for Delhi to treat Covid-19 patients and held up by the Rajasthan government, have not been released yet despite the court's earlier orders.
A bench ordered to let necessary steps be taken to fulfil the assurance given by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on April 26 that these tankers will be released.
It asked the Centre to place compliance of its order on May 3.
Delhi is reeling under the devastating impact of the fourth wave of Covid-19 which has pushed the already burdened healthcare system to its knees. Many people in the city are running from pillar to post to get basic things like beds, oxygen and ventilators.
As of Friday evening, the national capital has a caseload of 1,149,333 cases.
