Court Committee to make surprise visit to Safadarjung Hosptial

New Delhi, Aug 30 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today directed the Court Committee to make a surprise visit to the Centre-owned Safdarjung Hospital to verify the claims of the authorities about improvement in facilities for patients.

A division bench of Justices M K Sharma and Hima Kohli asked the committee comprising Counsel Meera Bhatia to verify the veracity of the facts stated in an affidavit filed by the Medical Superintendent of the hospital.

The Committee had submitted a report contrary to the facts stated in the affidavit that the facilities in the hospital had improved in the past few months.

There were reports in Hindustan Times on August 10-11, 2006, stating shortcomings in the hospital, said the court while asking the committee to file its report within three weeks.

Adjourning the matter till October 11, the Court asked the NDMC to remove all unauthorised constructions in and around the hospital premises.

Despite repeated directions, the authorities were not initiating action to improve the conditions in the departments, said the report.

Various departments of the government had failed in disposing of their responsibilities in running the 1500-bed Safdarjung hospital where more than 6000 patients go for treatment everyday, said the report.

There are not sufficient doctors, nurses and para-medical staff to attend to the patients in the central government hospital. The 47-acre sprawling campus was not being hygienically maintained by the CPWD, alleged a PIL seeking direction for improvement.

UNI PAT PA DB2047