The Meghalaya High Court has stated that both the State and the country were unprepared for the Covid-19 pandemic and as such the resources meant for medical treatment of non-Covid patients were diverted to deal with the pandemic.
The division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh made the observation today while hearing the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Agnes Kharshiing.
In the PIL, Kharshiing mentioned about the spurt in neonatal deaths and death of women at the time of delivery during the lockdown period. The petition also speaks of the general lack of medical facilities for delivery and neonatal care.
The primary prayer in the petition is for the setting up of a high-level committee of medical experts from outside the State to investigate the deaths in respect of women and children in the State from April 2020 and also to identify the officials responsible for the deaths.
“Following the initial lockdown being declared in March 2020 during the first surge of the pandemic and even during the second surge of the pandemic in 2021, facilities for delivery and neonatal care suffered,” the High Court said.
The court was referring to the figures furnished by the State government which stated that death of women in the course of delivery went up from 59 in April to July 2019 to 63 in April to July 2020. The figures also stated that the number of deaths of infants for the same period in 2019 was 265 and it shot up to 390 during the corresponding period of 2020. Neonatal deaths numbered 425 between April and July 2019 and the figure rose to 486 between April and July 2020.
“Several other persons suffering from chronic ailments, including diseases pertaining to the heart, kidney and even cancer, suffered during the lockdown periods, in particular, as the focus of the State was on dealing with the pandemic. Indeed, unless there was an emergency, the instances of surgery were much less during the lockdown period. Such was the general situation not only in the State but across the country,” the High Court said.
“There is no doubt that the healthcare facilities in the State require considerable improvement and adequate attention in such regard may not have been given by the administration. It is also evident from the figures relied upon by the State that infant mortality in the State was at a high level and facilities for neonatal care were limited. Following the initial lockdown being declared in March 2020 during the first surge of the pandemic and even during the second surge of the pandemic in 2021, facilities for delivery and neonatal care suffered,” the court added.
Stating that both the State and the country were unprepared for the pandemic and resources meant for other areas of treatment were diverted to deal with the pandemic, the High Court said, “Ideally, both the State and the nation should have been geared to meet an emergency like the pandemic. Medical facilities across the country were found to be woefully short, including available beds and even supply of oxygen.”
“It is unfortunate that even after 75 years of independence, infant and child mortality rates both in the State and nationally are well above the desired level. It is also unfortunate that the rudimentary care that a woman needs at the time of delivery may not always be available in the State or accessible to many. It is hoped that these aspects are taken care of by the administration,” the court said.
The High Court while lauding Kharshiing for bringing a matter of eminent public interest to the notice of the court said, “Such public spirited individuals should be vigilant and they should be encouraged to raise queries for the administration to be kept on its toes, particularly when it comes to health-care and measures to alleviate the lot of the underprivileged in the State.”
While disposing of the PIL, the High Court also said that it will be open to Kharshiing and other persons to institute fresh proceedings after the lapse of a reasonable time, if the health-care facilities in the State do not improve.
