B.Karthee, S/O.P.Baskaran v. The Principal Secretary
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 08.09.2017
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.SASIDHARAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN W.P.(MD)No.15467 of 2017 B.Karthee .. Petitioner Vs.
1.The Principal Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Health and Family Welfare Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director, Directorate of Tamil Nadu Government Medical College, Kilpakkam, Chennai 600 010.
3.The Dean, Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai District - 625 020.
.. Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to increase bed strength with adequate ventilators in all Intensive Care Units in Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital, including Intensive Medical Care Unit (IMCU), Intensive Coronary Care Unit (ICCU), Intensive Respiratory Care (IRCU), Toxicology Ward, the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Drainage, Eclampsia ICU, inborn ICU, Cardiothoracic ICU, Casualty Ortho ICU, Emergency ICU, Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital and appoint adequate staff and infrastructure in order to ensure qualitative medical treatment to the poor patients within the time stipulated by this Court. For petitioner : Mr.R.Rajaselvan For R.Alagumani For respondents : Mr.T.S.Mohamed Mohideen Additional Government Pleader
O R D E R
*********** [Order of the Court was made by K.K.SASIDHARAN, J.] The petitioner filed this Writ Petition to direct the respondents to increase the bed strength and provide adequate ventilators in all Intensive Care Units in Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital, including Intensive Medical Care Unit (IMCU), Intensive Coronary Care Unit (ICCU), Intensive Respiratory Care (IRCU), Toxicology Ward, the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), Surgical
Intensive Care Unit (SICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Drainage, Eclampsia ICU, inborn ICU, Cardiothoracic ICU, Casualty Ortho ICU, Emergency ICU, Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital and appoint adequate staff and infrastructure, taking into account the larger public interest.
2. It is the grievance of the petitioner that there are no sufficient beds insofar as the Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital is concerned. Since sufficient beds are not available to accommodate the patients, who are in need of treatment by admission, they are put to difficulties. The position note filed by the Dean, Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital and Trauma Care Centre, Madurai, indicates that there is sufficient bed strength, life saving ventilators and staff posted manning the Intensive Care Unit. The Emergency Care Unit details are as follows:- Ward Sanctio n bed Life saving Ventilato rs Posting Staff Nurse's (3 Shift) (Intensive Respiratory Care Unit) (Intensive Coronary Care Unit) 114 (Intensive Cardiac Cath Lab) 113A (Toxicology) 115 (Intensive Medical Care Unit) 214A (Cardio Thoracic Surgery) (Surgical Intensive Care Unit) MICU (Maternal Intensive Care Unit) SNCU (Sick Neonatal Care Unit) NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit) Trauma Care Centre (Intensive Care Unit) Total
3. The learned Additional Government Pleader, on instructions, submitted that the construction of another Emergency Care Unit, just opposite to the Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital is in full swing and after completion of the construction, a new
Intensive Care Unit Ward would also be opened. According to the learned Additional Government Pleader, appropriate steps would be taken for providing additional beds, taking into account the number of patients, who are using Intensive Care Unit facility.
4. The petitioner has taken up a public cause in the larger interest of the common man. The State is expected to provide necessary medical facilities to the citizens, taking into account Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Right to life would also include the right to have a healthy life and the same is to be provided by the Government. The Government cannot be heard to say that the financial constraints would not permit sanctioning more beds or sufficient posts for manning the hospital.
5. We hope that the Government would sanction more funds so as to enable the hospital to increase the bed strength, which in turn would benefit the public at large.
6. The Writ Petition is disposed of, with the above observation. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS-I) /True Copy/ Sub Assistant Registrar To:
1.The Principal Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Health and Family Welfare Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director, Directorate of Tamil Nadu Government Medical College, Kilpakkam, Chennai 600 010.
3.The Dean, Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai District - 625 020.
+1cc to THE SPECIAL GOVERNMENT PLEADER in SR. No. 78018 +1cc to Mr.R.ALAGUMANI Advocate in SR. No. 77805 NB JS/SKN.RSK/SAR.2/3.10.2017/3P-6C ORDER MADE IN W.P.(MD)No.15467 of 2017 08.09.2017