New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday suggested the AAP government set up a mechanism similar to the helpline so that health workers can complain about not providing N-95 masks and PPE kits against private hospitals or nursing homes without revealing identity. A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan made this suggestion during the hearing of a PIL filed by an NGO. The petition alleged that nurses in private hospitals and nursing homes were not being provided with proper personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and masks to protect against coronavirus. The court said that after receiving the complaint on the helpline, the Delhi government can inspect the concerned hospital or nursing home and meet the PPE kit and mask requirements.
The court also asked the NGO ‘Distress Management Collective’ to suggest how the issues raised in its PIL can be resolved. The next hearing in the case will be on July 6. The Delhi government has said that it is taking action against private hospitals and nursing homes that violate the Kovid-19 guidelines. The Center told the court that it is providing all assistance to the states and the real work has to be done by the states. The center was represented by its permanent lawyer Anil Soni. The Center has stated in its affidavit that it has provided PPE kits and N-95 masks to the states and union territories as per requirement.
