A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Sunday seeking direction to allocate enough beds at all government and private hospitals and to supply high-flow nasal cannula, oxygen and medical supplies to district hospitals for treatment of Covid-19 patients.
Supreme Court lawyers advocate ZU Khan Panna, Sayeda Nasrin and Md Shahinuzzaman on behalf of human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), submitted the petition.
The petition was filed against the Health Secretary and Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Reports published in national newspapers on the crisis of medical supplies to hospitals were also attached with the petition.
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Bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim is likely to hold a virtual hearing this week in this regard, court sources told UNB.
The writ petition said direction needs to be passed to increase the number of beds at hospitals and to transfer Covid patients to private hospitals when they fail to get seats in government ones as Covid situation is worsening in the country.
The petition also requested an interim order and rule on taking legal action against private hospitals for refusing to admit Covid-19 patients, prioritizing treatment of pregnant Covid patients and making the treatment cost bearable for the poor.
The petition also asked for taking necessary steps to ensure proper monitoring of the Covid patients as well as arranging hygienic and quality food for them.
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Earlier on July 11, ASK sent a legal notice to the government to take necessary steps within three days. After getting no reply from the authorities, the writ petition has been filed.
The health authorities in Bangladesh tallied another 231 Covid-19 deaths and 14,844 new cases on Sunday. The latest additions took the country’s death toll to 20,916 and total caseload to 1,264,328.
