The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to prepare a comprehensive plan to strengthen critical care, paediatric services and other essential healthcare facilities across 45 government medical colleges in the state.
The directions were issued by a division bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla at the court’s Lucknow bench while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition and connected matters concerning gaps in medical infrastructure.
Court Calls for Comprehensive Critical Care Facilities
The court observed that infrastructure improvements should not be restricted to neonatal and paediatric intensive care units (NICUs and PICUs). It directed the state administration to develop a broader strategy addressing the requirements of patients across different age groups.
The proposed plan must include adequate availability of general and specialised ventilators, along with other critical care facilities required for effective patient management.
To develop the strategy, the court asked the government to seek expert inputs from leading medical institutions, including King George’s Medical University (KGMU) and Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow.
Government Informs Court About e-Sarathi Referral Pilot
During the hearing, government counsel informed the bench about the implementation of e-Sarathi, a digital patient referral system currently being tested in five districts of Uttar Pradesh.
The pilot covers Auraiya, Etawah, Firozabad, Kannauj and Mainpuri, with the medical college at Saifai serving as the designated referral centre.
According to the government’s submission, the system is intended to facilitate patient referrals between healthcare institutions. Its expansion to other districts will be considered after evaluating the pilot’s performance and making necessary modifications.
State Asked to Address Compensation in Sultanpur Infant Death Case
The High Court also sought a response from the state government regarding compensation for the parents of an infant who died at the Government Autonomous Medical College in Sultanpur.
The infant reportedly died after timely access to oxygen support, ventilator facilities and specialist medical care was not available.
The bench directed the authorities to examine the issue of compensation in light of the findings of an internal inquiry conducted into the incident.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on December 10.
The court’s directions require the state government to examine critical care capacity, equipment availability and patient referral arrangements across government medical colleges as part of a wider healthcare infrastructure improvement plan.
