Be ready for our surprise visit: Gujarat High Court

Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Ilesh Vora ask Civil to be ready for a ‘surprise visit’ by them ‘so all controversies are put to rest’; State govt asked to form inquiry panel to probe into allegations made by resident doctor

Gujarat High Court’s division bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Ilesh Vora has warned Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, asking it to be ready for a surprise visit by them to inspect the quality of care given to Covid-19 patients and the condition of the medical and paramedical staff. The warning came in even as Gujarat government rushed to HC on Monday (Eid holiday), seeking urgent hearing of an application moved by the state government to provide clarification on harsh remarks made in the court’s order issued on May 22.

HC has also asked the state government to form a committee to inquire into allegations raised in an anonymous letter written by a resident doctor, alleging mismanagement and complaining about pathetic condition of doctors and patients at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

The court also cautioned the state government that it will visit the hospital any time to crosscheck claims made by them. The court said, “The state government boasts that the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad is the biggest hospital in Asia, but it should now strive very hard to make it one of the best hospitals in the continent.

It is too early for this court to give any final certificate to Gujarat government regarding the Civil Hospital.” In the order passed on the suo motu petition, the bench had compared Civil Hospital to a dungeon and also asked the state government to reply as to how many times the health minister and chief secretary of the health department had made visits to the hospital.

Conditions at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, where 377 Covid-19 patients have died till Friday (May 22), is “pathetic” and the hospital is “as good as a dungeon, may be even worse”, the Gujarat High Court had observed in the order.

The court’s remarks were based on the anonymous letter by a resident doctor of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital addressed to the court and a chart by a medical officer outlining 22 issues faced by resident doctors and patients at the hospital. The chart was circulated on social media in the first week of May.

‘Observations by High Court have given rise to fear’ The state government had submitted in the application, “The observations of this Court founded on an anonymous letter and report of some person claiming to be a medical officer and resident doctor, apart from seriously demoralising the Covid 19 task force, has given rise to a lot of fear and anxiety in the patients, who are declining to get admitted in the Civil hospital.” The government also informed the court about steps being taken by them for the betterment of patients, doctors and other staff apart from state-of-the art infrastructure at the hospital. After hearing of the plea, the court noted, “Although the state government claims there is no substance in what has been stated by the resident doctor in the letter, we are of the view that it should not be overlooked or dismissed.”

Form inquiry panel: HC
The court then ordered an inquiry by a committee of independent members including two or three reputed doctors, who are not government officials or connected with Civil hospital. The court ordered the government to redress the problems being faced by the resident doctors and nurses.

Court can visit Civil hospital
“We sound a note of caution. The Superintendent of the Civil Hospital and other authorities of the health department of Gujarat shall keep themselves ready to find our presence one fine morning on a given day in the Civil Hospital. This would put an end to all the controversies with regard to the functioning of the Civil Hospital at Ahmedabad,” the court order stated.

Health minister duty-bound to discharge responsibilities
“We are glad to know that the Health Minister of the State is active and taking keen interest in the administration and functioning of Civil Hospital. It is otherwise also the bounden duty of the Health Minister to ensure public health. As a Health Minister of the State, he shoulders huge responsibilities. It is expected of the Health Minister to discharge his responsibilities for the citizens of the State of Gujarat in the best possible manner,” the court observed in the order.

Govt admits mismanagement
The state government had admitted in the civil application that the condition of Civil Hospital changed after the first week of May. “Significantly, the said anonymous letter of the Resident Doctor coupled with some report of the Medical Officer relates to the 1st week of May, 2020. The scenario since then has changed. A multitude of steps have been taken administratively, clinically etc which are required to be taken into consideration,” the application stated.

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