Madurai High Court seeks State response on staff, equipment crisis in government hospitals
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has sought a response from the Tamil Nadu government on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition demanding the filling of vacancies for doctors, nurses and other staff, and the provision of adequate medical equipment in government medical college hospitals across the southern and central districts under the Bench's jurisdiction.
A Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel issued the notice while hearing a petition filed by K. Muruganandam, a resident of Vallathirakottai in Pudukkottai district. The petitioner has prayed for a direction to the State to fill all sanctioned posts in these hospitals and to ensure that essential life-saving equipment is available and functional.
According to the petitioner, he filed Right to Information (RTI) applications seeking details of the sanctioned strength of doctors, nurses and other staff, as well as the availability of equipment such as ventilators and haemodialysis machines in the medical college hospitals. The responses received revealed significant staffing and equipment deficits, he said.
The petitioner referred to the landmark Supreme Court judgment in Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity vs. State of West Bengal, which recognised the State's constitutional obligation to provide adequate healthcare infrastructure, trained personnel and functional life-saving equipment. The judgment also directed that public hospitals should maintain minimum standards of service and address deficiencies promptly.
Mr. Muruganandam argued that the RTI replies disclosed widespread and chronic shortfalls in the government medical college hospitals. Substantial vacancies in the posts of doctors, nurses and ancillary staff, along with a significant number of non-functional ventilators and haemodialysis machines, demonstrated the government's failure to discharge its duty of providing essential public health services, he contended.
The petitioner also highlighted the practical consequences of these shortages. The vacancies in the posts of doctors, medical officers and supporting staff, combined with inadequate life-saving medical equipment, pose a major risk to patients who depend on these hospitals for treatment. The situation also increases the workload and mental pressure on the existing doctors, nurses and other staff, he said.
Furthermore, the inadequacy of life-saving equipment forces patients to approach private hospitals and private diagnostic laboratories for treatment, often at high costs, thereby undermining the public health system's ability to serve vulnerable sections of society.
The court has posted the matter for further hearing on October 6. The State government is expected to file its response, detailing the current status of vacancies and equipment availability, along with any steps taken to address the issues raised in the petition.
