Andhra Pradesh High Court, Amravati: A Division Bench of J.K. Maheshwari, CJ and M. Satyanarayana Murthy, J. asked the State Government to ensure provision of all required equipments to Doctors, Nurses, Ward Boys and Paramedical staff to combat COVID-19.
The present petition has been filed to sought direction from Central and State Governments with regard to supply of precautionary equipments like N-95 masks, sterile medical gloves, starch apparels to all the Doctors, Nurses, Ward Boys and staff concerned within 24 hours, amidst the pandemic caused due to COVID-19, and maintain a register with regard to usage of those items.
B. Krishna Mohan, ASG submitted that State Government has already taken the necessary measures and if any other additional measures are required then the same would will be fulfilled by the State Government.
It has also been pointed out that the Doctors and the Paramedical staff who are in the field and providing primary medical aid to the citizens must also be kept in isolation to prevent spreading of COVID-19.
Court on perusal of the above, stated that State Government shall ensure to provide all necessary equipment like N-95 masks, sterile medical gloves, starch apparels, personal protection equipment and all other necessary things to all the Doctors, Nurses, Ward Boys and Paramedical staff.
Further the Court added that,
“In view of the appeal so made by the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the instructions so issued by the Central Government, Ministry of Home Affairs, dated 24.03.2020, it is the duty of the State authorities and their functionaries to provide necessary medical facilities to the citizens with all the above-said equipment and accessories, as and when required. The Doctors and the Paramedical staff are also supposed to do the needful to save the citizens of the society and the nation.”
The petition was disposed of with above directions. [Dr Koilagandla Niranjan v. Union of India, 2020 SCC OnLine AP 65, decided on 26-03-2020]
