Bombay High Court asks Maharashtra govt to publicise advisory on preventing Covid-19 among children

Bombay High Court. File Pic

The Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra government on Thursday to give wide publicity to its advisory on preventing Covid-19 infection among children.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni said the state government must consider broadcasting the dos and don'ts on regional news channels to ensure the message reaches a larger population, especially those in rural areas.

The directions came after Maharashtra Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni informed the court that the state had constituted a task force to tackle paediatric cases of Covid-19 and related ailments.

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A detailed video conference was recently held between district and health officials and 65,000 ASHA workers, during which various factors, such as identifying symptoms, prevention methods, use of oximeters, were discussed, Kumbhakoni said.

The court noted that the presentation made by the state in the meeting and its subsequent advisory was "nicely done" and therefore, must be given wider publicity.

"Why not broadcast this on Marathi TV and news channels? Give wide publicity to educate mothers, all stakeholders," the high court said.

The court was hearing a bunch of public interest litigations (PILs) on managing resources and containing the spread of Covid-19 infection in the state.

During previous hearings, the HC said given that experts had cautioned the country to brace for the third wave of the pandemic, in which children might be the most vulnerable, the authorities must take pre-emptive steps and also strengthen health infrastructure in the state.

The court will continue hearing the PILs on June 16.

Any protocol to protect doctors from harassment by patient's kin: Bombay HC asks Maharashtra govt

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Maharashtra government to tell if there existed a protocol to protect doctors, who are working round the clock to treat Covid-19 patients, from harassment at the hands of relatives of patients.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni asked the government to inform the court about the steps being taken to protect the doctors. It said it will pass appropriate orders on Friday.

During the hearing, the court was informed by advocate Rajesh Inamdar, counsel for one of the petitioners, that several doctors working in Covid-19 wards across the state had been increasingly receiving notices from the police following complaints by relatives of patients who were either unhappy with the treatment received, or in cases, where coronavirus patients had succumbed to the disease.

"Relatives of patients who die, go to the police with treatment chart and the Maharashtra government protocol on drug administration, because of which doctors, overworked, working in COVID wards, are receiving police notices. There should not be knee-jerk reactions in initiating criminal action against doctors," Inamdar said.

"If there is any difference between the two, if a certain drug is not prescribed, or if the exact sequence of drugs is not followed, they lodge a complaint," he said.

Inamdar was referring to the protocol issued last year by the Maharashtra government that keeps getting revised from time-to-time and deals with the drugs and line of treatment that must be provided to Covid-19 patients.

A doctor representing the Indian Medical Association (IMA), who was also present in the hearing via video conferencing, then told the high court that "doctors were being attacked unnecessarily".

The HC then said that doctors, already overworked due to the pandemic, must not have to face such harassment, or spend any time giving explanations to the police.

"Doctors are working 24x7, wearing PPE kits. Thereafter, they are having to explain to police. Is there any government protocol?" it said.

It asked the Maharashtra Advocate General to assist the court on reliefs the court could offer to such doctors.

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