The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently disposed of a 22-year-old PIL filed by the Indian Medical Association in the welfare of the medical colleges and hospitals pointing out various deficiencies in them.
Various directions have been issued by the Court on various dates. The facilities and infrastructure in the Medical Colleges and Hospitals at Jabalpur was specifically advertised to and one of the suggestions made was to upgrade the same on the pattern of the PGI, Chandigarh.
As a consequence whereof and after various discussions, the Government has filed the action taken report on 16.11.2021. The said report includes the facilities of surgery, medicine, pediatrics, super specialty etc in the hospitals at Jabalpur. They have also indicated about the existing Medical College at the Regional Spinal Injury Center which has 80 beds. There are super specialties such as neurology, neurosurgery, neuro-radiology and cardiology etc.
Since 1983, there already exists a Cancer Hospital which provides the required treatment. It has 70 beds with the sanctioned strength of 152, however, 92 persons are already working. Medical facilities are being provided to the common man not only for basic facilities but also in super specialties.
On considering the same, by the order dated 24.11.2021, the Government Advocate was directed to furnish material to indicate that all the hospitals as stated in the action taken report are actually functional with the number of doctors, nurses, paramedical and all relevant staff and other facilities being provided thereon.
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On Monday, the information was filed in Court pursuant to the said order. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav considered the same. The report indicates the amount of doctors, paramedical and other facilities available in the Hospital.
Having considered the same, the Bench is of the prima facie view that the action taken report as well as subsequent affidavits filed by the State would answer the cause of public interest as sought to be espoused in the petition.
Therefore, the Bench does not find any reason to pursue this matter further. “However, in case of any shortfall of any medical facilities to the public at large, the petitioners would always be entitled to move this Court by reopening this petition. Petition is disposed of accordingly,” the order reads.