Madras high court dismissed a plea which sought a direction to the authorities to ensure round-the-clock medical services at Othakadai primary health centre (PHC) in Madurai.
The judges observed that the govt pleader forwarded the availability of anti-rabies vaccine every day from September 1 to 22 and it is seen that every day, sufficient numbers of vaccines are always available.
The doctors and the staff strength have also been given and they are also working in said PHC. The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by S Aarthi. The petitioner sought adequate medical staff and uninterrupted availability of essential emergency medicines, anti-rabies vaccine and medicines required for snake bites and other poisonous bites, and to provide appropriate emergency medical services to the public. The petitioner further sought a direction to take necessary measures for improvement of the infrastructure and accessibility of the PHC. A division bench of Justice C V Karthikeyan and Justice R Sakthivel observed that it was contended by the petitioner that she was bitten by a stray dog and she went over to the PHC for the anti-rabies vaccine. She was asked to come a little later and had immediately given a representation and had more immediately filed the present petition. “We do not appreciate such a stand taken by the petitioner. This is an issue which the petitioner could have resolved with the authorities themselves and it does not require a court’s order to be issued to ensure that facilities are available in the PHC. The facilities are always available,” the judges observed. The infrastructure facility at the PHC has also been forwarded to the court.