COVID-19: HC seeks Delhi govt reply on helpline for nurses to complain lack of PPE kits, masks

Delhi High Court Monday sought AAP government's reply on suggestions for setting up a helpline for nurses to complain against private hospitals for failing to providing N-95 masks and PPE kits as also considering ex-gratia to those who die attending to COVID-19 patients.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan asked Delhi government to also respond to suggestion that private hospitals and nursing homes must file an undertaking before concerned authorities for providing PPE kits, N95 masks to nurses.

high court directed Delhi government, represented through vocate Anupam Srivastava, to file a precise reply to 6 points suggested by counsel for an NGO which has filed a PIL alleging that nurses in private hospitals and nursing homes were t being provided proper personal protection equipment (PPE) kits and masks to guard against COVID-19 infection.

Besides helpline, ex-gratia and undertaking, Delhi government will also respond to suggestions of extending benefit of Prhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Pack (PMGKP) of insurance protection to nurses working in private hospitals and nursing homes and that insurance premium be paid by authorities at least for limited period during COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Nurses must be provided with a quarantine facility and a dal officer be appointed so that nurses can ventilate ir grievances before and he can take up issues with government, vocate of NGO, Distress Manment Collective, Maj V George suggested.

As Delhi government’s counsel sought time to file reply to suggestions, court listed matter for July 17. Centre, represented by its standing counsel Anil Soni, told court that he will seek instruction on suggestion of extending benefit of PMGKP of insurance protection to nurses.

NGO has alleged that nurses in private hospitals and clinics were being given used PPE kits. It sought that all private sector nurses be covered under PMGKP of insurance protection and provided proper psycho-social support.

On se aspects, Delhi government h earlier said that it has issued an office order on April 7 which states that any person, including doctors, nurses, para-medical staff, sweeper or any or staff in government or private sector, expires while attending to COVID-19 patients his/ her family shall be provided Rs 1 crore as compensation.

It h also said that an office order was issued on June 17 tifying that psychiatric social counselling services are being me available to health care workers under a programme called 'samarthan'.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in its response, h said health care workers in government and private sectors are covered under PMGKP which provides comprehensive personal accident cover of Rs 50 lakh.

NGO, which claims to be a group of social workers, healthcare professionals, lawyers, retired bureaucrats and retired judges, has alleged that Centre and Delhi government have a "discriminatory approach" towards nurses in private hospitals and nursing homes as compared to those working in state-run facilities. It has also claimed that private manment which runs se nursing homes/hospitals "are maintaining nil or meagre inventory of requisite stock of safety equipments" and are t exercising basic precautions for safety and security of ir healthcare workers.

(Photo Credit: PTI)