The Delhi High Court bench of Justices Ravindra Bhatt and A K Chawla has ordered Delhi Government to constitute a committee to investigate why an HIV positive patient was denied treatment by two hospitals, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital and Babu Jagjeevan Ram Memorial Hospital.

The petitioner, an HIV patient had approached the court seeking directions to respondents which includes Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital and Babu Jagjeevan Ram Memorial Hospital to ensure reimbursement of expenses incurred on medical treatment including surgery on the left leg of the petitioner as well as appropriate strict legal action against the violators of the HIV & AIDS Act, 2017 after being denied treatment by the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital and Babu Jagjeevan Ram Memorial Hospital.

The bench said: “The committee should comprise of the Medical Superintendents of the respondent hospitals (Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital and Babu Jagjeevan Ram Memorial Hospital), Director General of Health Services, Delhi government, Principal Health Secretary, one representative from National Aids Control Organisation.”

The committee has to be formed within two weeks by the Principal Health Secretary from the date of the order and a report has to be given to the petitioner within 3 months thereafter, the bench ordered.

“Liberty has been given to petitioner to take proper recourse of law in case he is not satisfied with the report,” the bench stated.

—India Legal Bureau