Garhwal Post Bureau
Nainital, 9 Dec: The Uttarakhand High Court yesterday heard a Public Interest Litigation concerning the allegedly deteriorating condition of health services in government hospitals across the state. During the hearing, the Director General Health informed the Court that action is underway at the government level to convert the Bhowali Sanatorium Hospital into a Multi-Speciality Hospital in compliance with earlier directions of the Court. He stated that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) had been prepared and that a financial proposal of Rs 250 crores has been forwarded to the Government. After hearing the submissions, the division bench directed the State Government to submit a progress report within one week. The Court also sought clarification on the proposed bed capacity of the hospital, to which the Director General replied that a proposal for a 200-bed facility had been sent.
Updating the Court on hospital infrastructure, the Director General stated that the financial proposal includes an allocation of Rs 160 crores for the hospital building and Rs 90 crores for residential accommodation for staff. He added that the survey conducted by the concerned company had deemed the land suitable for the project. The Court further enquired about the status of BD Pandey and Ramsay Hospitals and their existing bed capacities. The Director General stated that BD Pandey Hospital has 200 sanctioned beds, of which only 120 are operational, while Ramsay Hospital has 10 beds. The Court instructed him to expedite the process so that construction of the proposed hospital can begin at the earliest.
The PIL, filed by the State Legal Services Authority, has alleged that patients in government hospitals across Uttarakhand are not receiving basic amenities or adequate treatment facilities. It states that patients are frequently referred to higher centres due to staff shortages and non-functional machinery, and that many hospitals do not meet Indian Health Standard benchmarks. The petition urges the High Court to intervene to ensure improved facilities in government hospitals so that patients from remote areas may receive better healthcare services.
