Supreme Court orders priority treatment of elders at private hospitals during pandemic

Supreme Court orders priority treatment of elders at private hospitals during pandemic

The Apex Court was told that except Odisha and Punjab, no other state had given details about the steps taken in pursuance of its earlier directions

The Supreme Court has directed that elderly people must be given priority in admission and treatment at private hospitals besides at government medical institutions amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and R.S. Reddy on 4 March 2021 modified its earlier order of 4 August 2020, by which it had directed government hospitals to give priority in admission and treatment of elderly people looking at their vulnerability to Coronavirus.

The bench took note of the submission of senior advocate Ashwani Kumar, petitioner in-person, that except Odisha and Punjab no other state had so far given details about the steps taken in pursuance of the Top Court's earlier directions on his plea.

The SC has granted three weeks to all the states to respond to the fresh suggestions made by Ashwani Kumar regarding according top priority to the elderly in treatment at all hospitals in the country during the pandemic.

Kumar told the Court that the states need to issue fresh Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in pursuance to the SC directions.

He said the Top Court may issue directions to the health and social welfare departments of all states in this regard.

The order was passed on the plea filed by Kumar, a former Union minister and senior advocate, who has sought directions with regard to elderly people saying they need more care and protection amid the pandemic.

The Apex Court had in August 2020 directed that all eligible old age persons should be regularly paid pension and states should provide them necessary medicines, masks, sanitisers and other essential goods in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The bench observed that looking at their vulnerability to Coronavirus, elderly persons should be given priority in admission in the government hospital and in the event of any complaint made by them, the hospital administration shall take immediate steps to remedy their grievances.