Giving a clarion call to all stakeholders to trust medical experts and extend helping hand to administration in tackling coronavirus pandemic, Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday passed slew of directions to streamline supply of Remdesivir, creating additional hospital beds and put in place mechanism to help the needy. This includes creation of a Cetralised portal for distribution of Remdesivir, creating additional facilities to manufacture oxygen, efforts to use underutilised hospital beds of Railway Hospital, possibility to revive Nagpur Nagarik Sahkari Rugnalaya and better co-ordination between agencies.

 

 

A division bench consisting of Justice Z A Haq and Justice Amit Borkar while hearing suo-motu PIL during a special sitting, applauded the authorities for doing excellent work and refused to create additional layers of supervisory mechanism. Responding positively to the suggestion of the High Court to jack up capacity of existing oxygen plants, the State Government in principle, accepted the proposal regarding setting up of oxygen plant or factory at Nagpur. Senior Counsel M G Bhangde informed that the Government will also consider to set up such plants also at other places in Maharashtra, and for that purpose, the Chief Secretary, has convened an official meeting on April 15. About the certain violent incidents against doctors and medical establishments, the Commissioner of Police has issued a circular on Monday evening itself prescribing stern action against rowdy behaviour by political outfits or activists and to maintain regular patrolling near medical establishments.

 

The High Court appreciated creation of centralized portal to be operated by the District Collector to regulate supply of Remdesivir. The portal will contain name of patient with details of Aadhar card and details of hospital and number of doses given to the patients. Hospitals have been asked to upload details of Remdesivir administered on the central portal without delay. Even the patient not admitted in a dedicated Covid Hospital but requiring Remdesivir, can be given the dose in the OPD of the same hospital. Similar relaxation has been ordered for patients requiring Remdesivir in a Non-Dedicated Hospital, subject to prescription by a qualified doctor and these details shall be uploaded on the centralized portal.

 

The High Court reposing faith in medical experts refused to prescribe stringent guidelines observing that “we must trust our doctors.” Expressing little displeasure over performance of NMC in creating additional beds and support system, the High Court entrusted the task of examining feasibility of creating additional beds at Mankapur stadium and revival of Nagpur Nagarik Sahkari Rugnalaya to District Collector with a direction to submit report on April 20. There is lax co-ordination between NMC officers and those of State Government, the High Court observed while noting that work done by officers of the State Government is far better and they are more dedicated also.

 

The HC permitted the Collector, to take assistance of any officer of Nagpur Municipal Corporation or State Government and made it binding on such officers to co operate with the Collector, Nagpur and make available records or documents required by him. About filling medical and para medical staff for NMC hospitals, the HC pulled up civic body for not being able to recruit people in last six months and sought further details about efforts made on this front and lamented that 200 beds created by NMC are non functional for paucity of staff. Amicus Curiae raised the issue of underutilisation of Railway Hospitals highlighted by ‘The Hitavada’ and wondered as to why these beds with infrastructure having oxygen supply and ventilators are not being put to any use. The High Court directed Assistant solicitor General of India to discuss the matter with the concerned railway authorities and ask them to interact with the Collector, Nagpur so that the facility which is not being properly utilized can be utilized to its optimum for the needy patients. Adv Shreerang Bhandarkar (Amicus Curiae), Adv Sudhir Puranik (NMC), ASGI Ulhas Aurangabadkar and Adv Sushma Jha (Union), Senior Advocate M G Bhangde, In-charge GP Ketaki Joshi and Addl GP Deepak Thakre (State), Adv Bhanudas Kulkarni (IMA), Adv M Anil Kumar (Intervenor) appeared in the matter.