The Delhi High Court recently highlighted the need to address the overcrowding issues in government hospital emergency wards. This step is crucial to ensure that critical patients requiring urgent medical care receive optimal assistance without hindrance

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna acknowledged the imperative need to improve and expand infrastructure facilities within government hospitals, with a specific focus on enhancing emergency ward capabilities

The court emphasized the urgent requirement to increase both space and medical resources within the emergency wards. This includes expanding the number of doctors and enhancing the availability of medical equipment to adequately address the needs of patients in critical condition.

The court highlighted the imperative to elevate the emergency care system, aiming to deliver high-quality healthcare to those in need during critical emergencies

The bench remarked on this while instructing the Union Government to initiate measures aimed at enhancing the infrastructure of hospitals under its control in the national capital.

The court instructed both the Union and Delhi Governments to submit their affidavits regarding the issue within 12 weeks, setting the next hearing for March 13, 2024. The case stemmed from a suo motu PIL initiated in 2017, addressing concerns over the safety of medical specialists, incidents of violence against them in public hospitals, and the inadequacy of experts to deliver healthcare services in these facilities

The bench had underscored several concerns, including the lack of adequate security measures for doctors and the disproportionate growth of medical expertise within hospitals in contrast to the increasing number of patients. This imbalance led to delays and heightened the risk of violence in healthcare settings

Case Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION V/s UNION OF INDIA & ORS