Amidst rising number of Covid-19 cases in Delhi, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to ensure that Delhi gets enough oxygen by midnight of May 3. The order comes a day after when five hospitals sent distress messages highlight the shortage of stock and also after 12 people died at a private hospital due to shortage of oxygen.
According to reports, Delhi received the most amount of medical oxygen in a day with 454 MT, which came after Delhi HC's order asking threatened to take contempt proceedings against Union government officials.
According to the latest Supreme Court order, Delhi should be supplied with 700 MT of liquid medical oxygen by May 3 midnight. The Supreme Court has also instructed the Centre government to introduce a national policy on admission to hospitals within two weeks in the wake of rising Covid-19. In addition, the court further added that no patient shall be denied hospitalisation or essential drugs in any state following lack of local residential proof.
The court ruled that till the implementation of the national policy, 'no patient shall be denied hospitalisation or essential drugs in any state/UT for lack of local residential proof of that state/UT or even in the absence of identity proof.’
The bench also stressed that within next four days emergency stocks shall be created and it should be checked carefully on a daily basis in addition to the existing allocation of medical oxygen supply to the states. The Apex Court even directed the Centre to cross check its initiatives and protocols in connection with the Covid-19 cases.
The matter was adjourned for further hearing to May 10. The verdict comes in the wake of a suo moto case filed for ensuring essential supplies and services in the wake of pandemic.
