The Delhi High Court has instructed the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government to ensure the implementation of recommendations put forth by a seven-member committee appointed by the court. This committee was tasked with streamlining the process of accessing free medical treatment under various government schemes at hospitals in the national capital.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora directed the Chief Secretary to conduct monthly meetings until all the recommendations are fully implemented.
The court mandated that an action taken report be filed by October 15, with the matter scheduled for compliance review on October 22.
One of the key recommendations proposed by the committee is the upgrading of the website for every government hospital in Delhi to a dynamic platform, providing real-time updates on available medicines, implants, and devices in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) or selected vendors.
Additionally, the committee advised that all public hospitals install an Electronic Display System to inform visitors and patients about the current list of drugs, implants, and devices available on the respective department’s website, which should be updated regularly.
Furthermore, the committee suggested appointing a Nodal Officer in all Central or Delhi government hospitals, MCD hospitals, and autonomous hospitals (including AIIMS) to facilitate financial assistance schemes efficiently.
The committee also proposed the implementation or enhancement of a single-window mechanism in all hospitals for the convenience of patients.
In response to a plea for free hip and knee replacement surgery, the court was informed by the petitioner’s counsel that, as per the recommendations, the matter should be considered resolved.
Accordingly, the court accepted the committee’s recommendations and directed the Chief Secretary of GNCTD to oversee their implementation.
Last year, a bench of the court appointed a committee to provide recommendations for addressing and rectifying deficiencies in the current system for accessing financial assistance.
The court noted that the Committee should propose specific methodologies through which patients from economically weaker sections of society can continue to receive treatment or medication benefits until financial assistance is fully disbursed.
Petitioner’s Counsel: Mr. Ashok Agarwal, Mr. Kumar Utkarsh, and Mr. Manoj Kumar, Advocates
Respondents’ Counsel:
Mr. Satya Ranajan Swain, Panel Counsel, AIIMS, along with Mr. Kautilya Birat, Advocate for AIIMS
Mr. Tushar Sannu, Mr. Karan Singh, and Mr. Manoviraj Singh, Advocates for GNCTD
Ms. Monika Arora, CGSC, along with Mr. Subhrodeep Saha, Advocate for the Union of India
Mr. T. Singhdev, Ms. Anum Hussain, Mr. Tanishq, Mr. Abhijit Chakravarty, Mr. Bhanu Gulati, and Mr. Aabhaas Sukhramani, Advocates representing the Amicus Curiae
