Kriti Agrawal
The Patna High Court said, “Any hospital’s refusal to admit covid patients due to a lack of oxygen is a serious matter that is likely to be fatal.”
To avoid this, a Division Bench comprised of Justices SC Singh and Mohit Kumar Shah directed that a dedicated “Covid-complaint” email be set up at the High Court.
The Bench directed that if any Dedicated covid Hospital (private) has a grievance that it is not receiving supply of oxygen as per its requirement due to reasons attributable to the State administration, such hospital shall be free to notify the learned Registrar General of the High Court on the email ID via the hospital’s registered/official email ID.
The order was issued during the hearing of Suo motu case concerning allegedly inadequate healthcare facilities in the state to meet the challenges faced by the second wave of the covid-19 pandemic.
In previous orders, the Court repeatedly stated that the State Government of Bihar must prepare and release a detailed action plan for effectively coping with the State’s worsening Covid-crisis.
On Friday, the Bench observed that, despite repeated requests, the State Government has not produced any software or other easily accessible information system disclosing all relevant materials useful for persons requiring covid testing/treatment/availability of beds (facility wise)/vaccination, and other related useful information. Furthermore, no grievance redressal process is in place in this regard.
The bench ordered, “We direct the Principal Secretary, Health Department, Government of Bihar to ensure that by Monday (26.04.2021) an effective grievance redressal mechanism in relation to covid testing/ treatment/ availability of beds (facility wise)/ vaccination is put in place in a manner which is convenient and easily accessible to all.”