COVID-19: SC asks Centre to respond to PIL seeking protective equipment for health workers

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 1

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to respond to a PIL seeking directions to the authorities to  ensure  availability  of WHO-approved appropriate  personal  protective  equipment for all doctors, nurses, ward boys and other medical/para-medical professionals actively attending  to and treating COVID-19 patients in India.

Without issuing a formal notice to the Government, a Bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah asked it to respond to the petition filed by Nagpur-based doctor Jerryl Banait who also asked for measures to provide security to  doctors  and other  para-medical professionals, including separate transportation facilities, separate accommodation/isolation  rooms  to  protect  exposure  of  their families,  and  food  facilities,  etc.

The court's direction came after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said a copy of the petition should be given to him and the matter be taken up next week.

The hearing took place via video conferencing with both judges and lawyers taking part in it sitting at their respective places with the help of an app.

Banait wanted personal protective equipment -- including  sterile medical/Nitrile  gloves,  starch  apparels,  medical  masks, goggles,  face  shield,  respirators -- for all health workers performing their duties under difficult conditions in  Metro  cities,  Tier 2  and  Tier  3  cities.

The petitioner urged the top court to issue a direction  to  the  Centre  to  take  immediate  steps  to effectively  implement  the  Guidelines  for  Infection  Prevention and  Control  in  Healthcare  Facilities  dated  January 25  issued by  the  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  (India)  through the  National  Centre  for  Disease  Control,  under  the Directorate  of  General  Health  Service.

She also wanted the government  to  take  immediate  steps  to effectively  implement  the  February 2, WHO Guidelines  on  the  Rational  Use  of Personal  Protective  Equipment  for  Coronavirus  Disease  2019 and Union Health Ministry's March 24 guidelines on the issue.

The government should take immediate measures for wide-scale  screening  and  testing  of  potential COVID-19  patients to prevent spread of the pandemic, the petitioner demanded.

The PIL also wanted guidelines regarding tests  through  private agencies/labs, those on pricing  and  manner  of  testing.

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