The High Court observed that the death of a patient being deprived of treatment at a hospital is tantamount to a criminal offence. The court also said that no patient infected with Covid-19 or not can be denied treatment at any public or private hospitals across the country.
The High Court also directed the government to take appropriate legal action against those who are negligent in providing treatment to patients at hospitals.
In response to three separate writ petitions, the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order on Monday.
It asked the government to strictly enforce the directives issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on May 11 and 24 for ensuring treatment of patients at all the public and private hospitals.
The High Court directed the authorities concerned to inform the people through the media how many beds of hospitals are vacant, when and how many beds will be vacant so that patients can easily get beds at the hospitals.
The court also asked the health secretary and director general of DGHS to submit a report after complying with the directives to the court in 15 days.
Earlier on 13 June 2020, four Supreme Court lawyers— AM Jamiul Hoque, Md Nazmul Huda, Md Mehdi Hassan and AKM Ehsanur Rahman — collectively submitted the petition as Public Interest Litigation to the HC.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Additional Secretary (Hospital), Deputy Secretary among others were made defendants of this writ.
