New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed the city government to appoint nodal officers in all its hospitals to facilitate urgent medical treatment to the poor.
"In every hospital under the control of the Delhi government, there will be nodal officers who would ensure that medical personnel are available round-the-clock to attend to the complaints. The nodal officer will immediately attend to
the complaint and if necessary, refer the person for specialised treatment to any other government hospital," said Justice S Muralidhar in a recent ruling.
"The nodal officer will also coordinate with other civic agencies and arrange, where necessary, accommodation for a homeless person in need of shelter after treatment in any of the night shelters run by the government. Inmates of night
shelters should be able to access the public health system for immediate treatment," the court said.
It also directed the Delhi government`s health secretary to issue relevant instructions to the medical superintendents of all the hospitals and in-charges of the night shelters within a period of two weeks.
The secretary was also directed to upload his directions on the government website and publicise it adequately.
"They will be given visibility through display boards in all the government hospitals under the control of the GNCTD and civic agencies and the night shelters under the control of the GNCTD and civic agencies," the court said.
The direction came on a petition by civil society group Sudinalay, working for the welfare of the poor. It sought a direction to the government for treatment of a homeless person Naresh, who was completely bed-ridden and suffering from
neurological disorders.
On January 14, the court had directed the Delhi government to provide emergency medical treatment to Naresh, who had died later.
PTI
