‘Improve dialysis facilities for Delhi’s HIV-positive patients’
By IANSSunday, July 11, 2010
NEW DELHI - The Delhi High court has directed the central government to chalk out a plan with the Delhi government to increase the number of city hospitals offering dialysis to HIV-positive patients.
“The number of hospitals which offer maintenance dialysis to HIV-positive patients are perhaps just three, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. This is a matter of concern, considering the number of such people who are in dire need of maintenance,” said Justice S. Muralidhar.
The court granted three weeks’ time to the central government and Delhi health department officials to convene a meeting with the medical superintendents of all major hospitals of the capital and work out an action plan.
Seeking a report by Aug 12, Muralidhar cited the affidavit filed by the Delhi government’s directorate of health services in which it admitted that only the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdarjung Hospital and Indraprastha Apollo, a private hospital, can provide dialysis to HIV-positive patients.
The affidavit said these hospitals can provide the facility to a limited number of patients.
The court order came July 9 while hearing a petition filed by a HIV-positive patient seeking direction to AIIMS and other government hospitals in the city after they failed to provide him dialysis.
