HC asks govt to list steps taken to increase beds in NICUs

The Bombay High Court today asked Maharashtra government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to list what steps they have taken to increase beds in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) of hospitals run by them in the city.
A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and A A Sayed also asked the authorities to place on record the number of deliveries and admission of children in NICU wards in state and civic-run hospitals in 2014, 2015 and till May 2016.
The affidavit will have to be filed within four weeks.
The bench gave these directions while hearing a suo-moto public interest litigation filed after a newspaper report highlighted that due to shortage of NICU wards, babies suffering from severe ailments were being kept in thermocol boxes or there was a huge waiting list for admission.

The court also asked the state government what decision it has taken towards implementing norms laid down by the Centre on NICU facilities and doctors.
In 2013, the BMC had informed the court that it is yet to send a representation to the Medical Council of India (MCI) for increasing the number of resident doctors in the postgraduate course of neonatal speciality.
The court has adjourned the matter for further hearing on July 15.