Can diet food be provided to diabetic Covid patients: High Court

Vijay Arora

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Shimla, December 18

The High Court yesterday directed the government to find out the viability of providing diet food to those Covid patients, who are diabetic, old aged and children.

To provide immediate attention to the vulnerable patients, the court further directed the government to take a decision whether a patient requires a personal attendant or not and if the health authorities are of the opinion that a particular patient requires a personal attendant, a certificate or pass be issued to the attendant.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice L Narayana Swami and Justice Anoop Chitkara passed these orders on a petition taken up suo motu by the court as a PIL on a news item published in

The Tribune on November 10, 2020, under the headline “IGMC Covid ward packed to capacity after spurt in cases”.

It was brought to the notice of the court during the course of hearing that in Covid care centres, uniform food is provided to all patients in general, which may not be suitable to them. In respect of such patients, it would be appropriate for the government to take a decision to allow such patients to have home food or special food.

It was further informed to the court that most of the times, the patients, who have tested negative, fail to take proper care and sometimes may need check-up. Therefore, there is a need of post-Covid OPD centres for the follow-up of such patients.

On these submissions, the court asked the Advocate General to make submissions on these points on the next date of hearing and listed the matter for further hearing on December 22.

During the course of hearing, senior advocate BC Negi, amicus curie appointed by the court for its assistance in this matter, gave some suggestions to combat the threat of coronavirus.

Advocate General Ashok Sharma apprised the court about the steps taken by the government to deal with the pandemic.