New Delhi: The Delhi High court has directed the central government to chalk out a plan with the Delhi government to increase the number of city hospitals offering dialysis to HIV-positive patients.
"The number of hospitals which offer maintenance dialysis to HIV-positive patients are perhaps just three, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. This is a matter of concern, considering the number of such people who are in dire need of maintenance," said Justice S. Muralidhar.
The court granted three weeks` time to the central government and Delhi health department officials to convene a meeting with the medical superintendents of all major hospitals of the capital and work out an action plan.
Seeking a report by Aug 12, Muralidhar cited the affidavit filed by the Delhi government`s directorate of health services in which it admitted that only the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdarjung Hospital and Indraprastha Apollo, a private hospital, can provide dialysis to HIV-positive patients.
The affidavit said these hospitals can provide the facility to a limited number of patients.
The court order came July 9 while hearing a petition filed by a HIV-positive patient seeking direction to AIIMS and other government hospitals in the city after they failed to provide him dialysis.
IANS