Gujarat High Court: Look into ventilator shortage in Civil Hospital

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday expressed its concern on the shortage of ventilators in Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, and directed the state government to look into the issue. The direction came from the division bench of Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav in a suo-motu public interest litigation (PIL) initiated by the high court administration.

During the hearing, amicus curiae in the case, GM Joshi, informed the court that the hospital does not meet the minimum standards as prescribed by National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers. He also submitted that the 2000-beded hospital does not have ventilators for even 10 per cent of the beds, which has been prescribed by the Delhi High Court in its interim order in a suo-motu case in 2017 after children deaths were reported due to shortage of ventilators. He added, the interim order by Delhi High Court provides that ventilators should be there in least 10 per cent beds of a hospital.

He added, Civil Hospital has just 169 ventilators which is grossly insufficient. Therefore, the hospital needs to keep some ventilators as reserve, which can be used in case of emergencies. The court adjourned the further hearing of the matter till June 20.