Chandigarh, 27 January: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the State government to provide a comprehensive report regarding the availability of Intensive Care Units across all district hospitals.
The order followed a disclosure that the district hospital in Malerkotla currently operates without any ICU facilities, a situation the court described as unexpected for a primary medical center.
Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, leading the bench, noted the gravity of the infrastructure gap during the proceedings.
“It was pointed out that there is no ICU in the district hospital at Malerkotla. It is not only a little surprising, but shocking,” the Bench observed.
The court has now mandated the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare to file a detailed affidavit covering the status of every district hospital in the state to ensure a clearer picture of the healthcare landscape.
The judicial scrutiny extended beyond emergency care to include essential diagnostic tools like CT scan and MRI machines. Current data indicates that while Punjab consists of 23 districts, MRI services are available in only six.
The court questioned the current reliance on outsourcing these services to private entities rather than maintaining state-owned equipment.
“This court fails to understand as to why a private laboratory is required to be engaged, when the State is duty bound under its sovereign function of providing basic health care facilities,” the Bench mentioned.
The court further noted that such modern amenities are necessities for hospitals at both district and sub-division levels, given the large populations they serve.
Concerns were also raised regarding the administrative handling of the case, with the court noting that previous responses had been filed by officials without sufficient seniority. The Bench directed that the upcoming comprehensive affidavit must be submitted by the Secretary to ensure proper accountability. The matter has been adjourned to allow the state time to compile the necessary data on public healthcare infrastructure.
