Put info on hospital beds online to help patients: HC

NEW DELHI: Shocked at the death of a newborn in a government hospital, the Delhi high court on Friday took suo motu notice of a TOI report published on Thursday.

A bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar also recommended putting all information on bed occupancy and other facilities online so that patients know where the nearest best medical assistance could be availed.

"Perhaps if this information was available to the family of the newborn in the newspaper report, the life of the child could have been saved," the bench observed.

It said that the TOI report "highlights difficulties faced by the patients for want of information regarding facilities and capacity of the hospitals and also the status about the utilisation of these facilities on any public platform," the court observed, adding that such information would 'obviate' distress to the public and 'ensure availability' of medical help at the earliest.

HC acted after advocate Ashok Aggarwal brought to its notice the news report that a newborn died as the family failed to get ventilator-fitted bed in four government hospitals. It issued notice to the Centre, the Delhi government and the three corporations, who run hospitals in Delhi.

"Given the availability of websites and internet connectivity, it would appear justified if all information in this regard especially, the position with regard to bed occupancy at a particular point of time is made available to the public," it said. The court asked the authorities concerned to examine the issue and file their report within four weeks and fixed the matter for further hearing on November 21.

The report stated the newborn girl died at the Jag Pravesh Chandra hospital in northeast Delhi because it had no ventilator support, while the three other government hospitals had refused admission saying no critical care beds were available.

As per a report, the baby, after a normal birth on September 20, was diagnosed with birth asphyxia which causes less oxygen to go to the brain and necessitates ventilator support.
Courtesy:TOI 23.9.17