Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Tuesday refused to pass an order on a writ petition that sought its directives to the respondents to take immediate action to the increase of the number of beds in Covid-19 designated hospitals, whether public or private.
The court said, the government has reportedly taken different measures, including setting up new hospitals, appointing doctors, and ensuring the supply of medical oxygen to treat Covid-19 patients.
The HC should not pass an order which is not possible for the government to execute, the bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim said.
The bench said this while hearing the writ petition filed by Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a leading rights organisation, seeking its directive to the government to increase the number of beds or seats at every hospital.
Lawyers ZI Khan Panna and Syeda Nasrin appeared for the Ain O Salish Kendra, while deputy attorney generals Samarendranath Biswas and Bipul Bagmar represented the state.
Ain O Salish Kendra filed the petition on August 1 this year as a public interest litigation.
The organization sought direction from the HC to include more private hospitals on requisition for treating covid-19 patients under the supervision of the government, and the private hospitals having capacity to treat covid-19 patients shall not refuse to admit and give treatment to those patients unable to get admission in the public hospitals across the country.
Health secretary, director general of the directorate general of health services (DGHS) and home secretary were made respondents in the petition.
“It is pertinent to mention that outside Dhaka, rarely a private hospital or clinic will be found who takes care of covid-19 patients though many of them have the capacity to do so. Now public hospitals are out of bed, ICU facility and proper accommodation due to excessive pressure of the patients,” read the writ petition.
“But the government is failing to regulate the private hospitals and clinics. The government can add more private hospitals and clinics on requisition for covid-19 patients and can also give special attention to the pregnant women who really need special arrangement during this situation. Under the circumstances, we are filling this writ petition,” also read the petition.
