Mumbai, May 16 () The Bombay High Court hasdirected the Maharashtra government and Brihanmumbai MunicipalCorporation (BMC) to consider suggestions made by somepetitioners for ensuring treatment to non-COVID-19 patients.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and A A Sayedon Friday said the authorities would accept such suggestionsonly if they were "realistic" and "within medical protocols".
The court was hearing petitions filed by a lawyer andfew social activists, which stated that people suffering fromseveral chronic or serious ailments were being turned awayfrom clinics and hospitals.
The petitioners also highlighted issues such as lackof adequate facilities and medical infrastructure in state,civic-run, and private hospitals amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the previous hearings, senior advocate GayatriSingh, the counsel for one of the petitioners, had said thatthe state and municipal authorities did not have a detailedaction plan for patients suffering from ailments other thanCOVID-19.
Singh and other petitioners had suggested that theauthorities must come up with a helpline for non-COVID-19patients to assist them with ambulance, mobile medical aid,list of hospitals and clinics providing treatment.
The petitioners also said mobile clinics andparamedical services can be provided at different locations tohelp patients who did not require hospitalisation, but were inneed of preliminary check-ups, dialysis etc.
Opposing these petitions, BMC counsel Anil Sakhre onFriday said the civic and state authorities had made adequatearrangements for the treatment of non-COVID-19 patients.
The bench, however, said some of the suggestions madeby the petitioners were of value and since "every possibleoption needed to be explored" to counter the problems arisingout of the pandemic, the authorities must considerimplementing these suggestions.
The court has now directed the petitioners to consultexperts and private institutions and submit a list ofrealistic suggestions for the authorities.
The state and the BMC can consider these suggestionsand inform the court of the same on May 22, the bench said. AYAARU ARU
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