Telangana HC directs state govt not to stop any ambulance carrying COVID patients

Hyderabad, May 14: Telangana High Court on Friday stayed the state government's order to allow ambulances with patients coming from neighbouring states only if they have prior tie-up with hospitals.

Hearing a Lunch Motion PIL seeking a direction to the government not to stop the ambulances at the borders, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy issued notices to the State government to respond in two weeks.

On May 11, Telangana Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar issued the memo that COVID-19 patients from other States coming to the city should have prior tie-up with hospitals for bed and they need approval from a control room so that police at the borders allow such ambulances.

The court said no authorisation from the control room would be required for the patients or their attendants to travel into Telangana State seeking hospitalisation.

The State police have turned back COVID-19 patients coming in ambulances at borders saying those patients do not have confirmed bed facility in any hospital.

State Director Public Health G Srinivasa Rao, in a press conference on Friday, said the government has no intention of sending away patients from other States, but was only concerned as the patients without beds were prone to life- risk.

The Telangana government has decided to impose lockdown for ten days beginning from May 12 from 10 AM to prevent the spread of COVId-19, with four hours relaxation in the morning daily.