HC dismisses plea on informal health service providers

The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea by a charitable trust to constitute an expert committee to examine the role of people providing informal health service to slum dwellers in the capital.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw rejected the PIL filed by Sankalp Charitable Trust saying that it was not in the domain of this court to advise the government on policy matters.
The court also imposed a cost of Rs 20,000 on the trust saying that the petition appeared to be motivated, rather than being in public interest.
"As far as the directions for appointment of an expert committee and for framing of a scheme are concerned, the same are purely governmental functions and it is not in the domain of this court to advise the government on policy matters," the court said.

"It is also not as if the government is oblivious; proposals have already been mooted for floating a medical qualification/course of a shorter duration for providing such healthcare services particularly in rural areas," it said.
Informal health service providers are those untrained persons who pretend to be physicians and dispense medical advice and treatment.

The court also dismissed an application, filed along with the petition, which had sought interim relief restraining Delhi Police from taking coercive measures against the locally available unskilled healthcare service providers during the pendency of the writ petition.
"The petitioner claims to be a charitable trust and does not claim to be involved in providing health services to the citizens of Delhi. We have thus wondered the intent of the petitioner in seeking the interim relief of restraining Delhi Police from taking action against unskilled healthcare service providers," the court said.

The petition had sought a direction to the Centre, Delhi government and Commissioner of Delhi Police to constitute an expert committee to examine the role of informal health service providers in giving primary health services to the slum dwellers, residents of unauthorised colonies and villagers in the capital.
It had also sought a direction to provide for mechanism for recognition of rights of informal health service providers to provide basic primary healthcare to people of Delhi.