Nagpur High Court Petitioned Over GMCH Security and Service Failures
The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has been called upon to address severe operational deficiencies at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Nagpur. In a recent hearing, amicus curiae Anup Gilda presented urgent submissions highlighting critical issues including security lapses, staff shortages, and the non-operational status of advanced transplant services. He emphasized that immediate judicial directives are essential to safeguard the well-being of both medical professionals and patients at the facility.
Inadequate Security Measures and Committee Dysfunction
During proceedings before a division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode, Gilda pointed out that despite the Maharashtra government sanctioning the deployment of 301 security guards at GMCH following prior court orders, an on-site inspection revealed that the current security arrangements remain woefully insufficient. He stressed that additional personnel are urgently required to effectively manage security concerns across the entire hospital campus and premises.
The submissions were made in the context of a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the poor infrastructure at GMCH and Indira Gandhi GMCH. The court had previously established a "committee for GMCH security" through an order dated September 21, 2023, with the mandate to ensure proper security protocols. However, Gilda informed the bench that this committee has been dysfunctional for a significant period, failing to meet regularly or address critical issues. Consequently, he sought directives to reactivate the committee, ensuring it convenes frequently to deliberate on matters related to the security of doctors, patients, and their visiting relatives.
Critical Staff Shortages Impacting Hospital Operations
Further compounding the challenges, Gilda highlighted a severe shortage of Class-IV employees at GMCH, which is currently inadequate to meet the operational demands of doctors and patients. This deficit poses a significant risk of causing inconvenience and potential harm to patients and their families. To address this, the amicus curiae requested the court to direct the government and the GMCH Dean to fill the staffing gap, potentially by engaging external agencies to perform duties typically assigned to Class-IV staff, thereby ensuring smoother hospital functioning.
Stalled Advanced Medical Services and Transplant Delays
On the front of advanced medical care, Gilda noted that while the government has approved GMCH as a designated heart and liver transplant center, and competent authorities have granted permission to initiate transplant surgeries at the Super Specialty Hospital, these critical procedures have not commenced. The delay is attributed to the non-procurement of essential machinery and instruments necessary for such surgeries. Urging prompt action, Gilda called on the respondents to ensure that heart and liver transplant services are operationalized at the earliest opportunity, providing much-needed relief and succor to patients in dire need of these life-saving treatments.
The amicus curiae's comprehensive submissions underscore a pressing need for judicial intervention to rectify systemic failures at GMCH, aiming to enhance security, staffing, and medical services for the benefit of all stakeholders involved.
