Soni Satti
Supreme Court directed that elderly people be given priority in admission and treatment at private hospitals besides at government medical institutions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The order was passed on the plea filed by former Union minister and senior advocate Ashwani Kumar, who has sought directions concerning elderly people saying they need more care and protection amid the pandemic.
A bench of justices Ashok Bhushan and R S Reddy took note of submission of senior advocate Ashwani Kumar, petitioner in-person that except Odisha and Punjab no other state has given details about the steps taken in pursuance of the earlier directions issued by the top court on his plea.
The top court granted three weeks to all the states to respond to the fresh suggestions made by Kumar to provide relief to the elderly people.
During the hearing, Kumar said
‘the states need to issue fresh Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in pursuance to the directions issued by the court.’
He said the court may issue directions to the health and social welfare departments of all states in this regard.
The apex court had said that
‘looking at their vulnerability to coronavirus, elderly people should be given priority in admission in government hospitals and in the event of any complaint made by them, the hospital administration shall take immediate steps to remedy their grievances.’
