Government flayed for not getting PET-CT Scan for GRH

Karthee of Madurai in a public interest litigation petition filed at the HC Bench had claimed that the GRH was the second highest referral hospital in the state. It has got all three departments of cancer, namely the medical oncology, surgical oncology and radiation oncology, and all the three were led by experts. But the hospital does not have a PET-CT scan facility. 

A division bench, comprising Justices A Selvam and N Kalaiarasan, in their order, on January 2, directed the State Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department to provide the PET-CT scanning machine at GRH and set one month as a deadline from the date of its order. But even after a lapse of two months, the facility was not setup at the hospital and hence a contempt petition was filed in the court. 

After hearing the arguments on Thursday, a Division Bench, comprising justices A Selvam and N Authinathan, said that it was a court order and must be honoured. The public prosecutor replied that it was a long-term project and Rs 15 crore was needed to set up the facility. The Judges while observing that the amount was not high said that the facility would be of great benefit to the patients. The PP replied that government would comply with the court’s order. 

When the Judges asked the PP whether the State Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department should be directed to appear in the Court in the contempt case, the PP said that the scheme may be announced in the budget and sought time. Accepting the argument, the Judges adjourned the case to March 24.