The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of an incident where an elderly patient with a serious leg injury was allegedly forced to drag himself across the premises of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) after failing to receive assistance. A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode initiated a public interest litigation (PIL) on the matter.
Incident Details
According to reports, the elderly patient, who had suffered a severe leg injury, was not provided a wheelchair or an attendant. With no other option, he was seen moving through the hospital by crawling on the ground. The report highlighted that while the hospital has an adequate number of wheelchairs and stretchers, there is a severe shortage of attendants to operate them and assist patients.
GMCH's Role and Challenges
GMCH serves as a lifeline for economically weaker patients not only from the Vidarbha region but also from neighbouring states such as Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh. The hospital caters to more than 2,000 outpatients daily, while nearly 500 patients visit its emergency department every day. Despite the heavy patient load, the institution faces a shortage of support staff. Of the 394 sanctioned attendant posts, 82 remain vacant, while several available attendants have been assigned to other duties, further affecting patient services.
Court's Intervention
Taking note of the seriousness of the issue, the high court appointed advocate Isha Thakre as amicus curiae and directed her to file a detailed petition within two weeks. The matter is expected to bring the spotlight on staffing shortages and patient welfare measures at the hospital. The court's intervention aims to ensure that such incidents do not recur and that patient care is prioritised.
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