HC directive to govt on ramp facility in hospitals

Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu Government to formulate a final policy with regard to providing ramp facility in all hospital buildings and also indicate the time line for its implementation.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M M Sundresh directed that the policy should be put in public domain before July 12 next and posted the matter for further hearing on July 19.
It was passing orders on a PIL after perusing the report filed by the state Health and Family Welfare Department on meetings held with all other departments in this regard, as directed by the court earlier, and also suggestions filed by the petitioner Jawaharlal Shanmugam.

Citing some fire accidents in hospitals, the petitioner sought a direction to authorities to provide ramp facility as a mandatory rule from the top most floors to ground floor for easy evacuation of patients at times of untoward incidents.
Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan in the comprehensive report on the matter also said meetings were held thrice with the representatives of various bodies/departments including Medical Council of India, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, Welfare of the differently Abled Department, Indian Medical Association, Public Works Department and The Town and Country Planning.