The Uttarakhand High Court issued a directive on Wednesday for the state government to respond to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the Pithoragarh Base Hospital. The PIL, lodged by Rajesh Pandey, a resident of Pithoragarh, alleges severe shortcomings in the hospital’s facilities, particularly affecting pregnant women and critically ill patients.
Justices Manoj Tiwari and Pankaj Purohit, presiding over the division bench, have given the state three weeks to provide a detailed explanation regarding the alleged inadequacies at the hospital. The litigation emphasizes a critical shortage of medical staff, including a lack of sufficient doctors, and the paucity of basic medical facilities.
According to the complaint filed by Pandey, the inadequate facilities have forced the hospital to frequently refer pregnant women and other serious cases to higher care centers. Tragically, some of these patients, including expectant mothers, have had to endure childbirth in ambulances while en route to these facilities. Pandey’s submission to the court included distressing accounts of such instances, underscoring the urgent need for improved medical care and infrastructure at the base hospital.
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The PIL further sheds light on the struggles faced by economically disadvantaged individuals from remote areas, who rely on the Pithoragarh Base Hospital for essential healthcare. The lack of adequate services in their vicinity compels them to undertake arduous journeys to seek medical help, often exacerbating their health issues.
