HC suggests assessment of health care quality in Delhi hospitals

The Delhi High Court today suggested an assessment of the health care quality and working conditions of medical professionals at the hospitals run by the Centre, AAP government and local authorities in the national capital in order to ascertain the reasons behind the frequent attacks on doctors by patients and their kin.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar suggested that initially AIIMS as well as one hospital each of the Delhi government and the local bodies can be surveyed by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH), a body under the Quality Council of India (QCI), to assess the quality of health care and working conditions there.

The court asked advocate Vikas Chopra, appearing for NABH and QCI, to ask an official from the organisation to be present on April 10 to assist the bench in issuing appropriate directions.

NABH is a constituent board of QCI and was set up to establish and operate an accreditation programme for health care organizations.

QCI, set up as a public private partnership, is an independent body that works towards assuring quality standards across all spheres of economic and social activities.

The bench had earlier decided to look into the aspects of health care quality and working conditions of medical professionals in hospitals in Delhi while hearing a PIL initiated by it after perusing a news report on the rise in violent attacks on doctors.

The court, through the plea, has been issuing periodic directions for ensuring safety and security of doctors and other medical staff.