NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has asked all states and union territories to prepare a “realistic and practical” action plan to implement necessary guidelines as minimum standards for intensive care units.
The Supreme Court was informed that “Guidelines for the Organization and Delivery of Intensive Care Services” have been prepared, on which there is consensus and which are practical, enforceable and necessary as minimum standards for an ICU.
A bench of Justices Ehsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan said copies of the guidelines should be shared with all states and union territories.
“Going forward, as immediate action, let all the Additional Secretaries/Secretaries…heading the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of the states and Union Territories, convene a meeting of all experts involved in this exercise to prepare an action plan for implementation of the guidelines. This plan shall be realistic and practical,” the bench said in its April 20 order.
The Supreme Court was hearing a matter relating to healthcare services, including guidelines for the treatment of patients in the intensive care unit or critical care unit.
The court said that five basic issues must be identified and prioritized in the first place.
“The challenge… is to identify what should be treated as absolutely essential and mandatory; based on this, an initial list of five basic requirements will be prepared, in order of priority, with regard to both manpower and equipment/logistics,” the report said.
He said that a methodology for implementation on the ground and, more importantly, a mechanism to ensure compliance and monitor implementation should also be formulated.
“We expect that the exercise will commence immediately and the first meeting will be held within one week from today. We direct that the meeting be attended in person by the Principal Secretary/Additional Secretary concerned… who heads the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of the United States,” the bench said.
She said that the report prepared as per the deliberations should be sent by the concerned states and union territories to the Health Minister, Government of India, who in turn will distribute it to all the states and union territories.
The authority then said that a meeting should be held for all concerned parties where a final, agreed-upon joint draft would be prepared and circulated.
“A final report/outline/recommendation will be prepared which will be placed before this court on the next date,” he added, adding that the entire process should be completed within three weeks.
“Let the Ministry of Health, Government of India, formally issue the guidelines before us today, to the states and Union Territories concerned by way of consultation. A copy of the same will also be uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Health, Government of India,” the bench said, while posting the matter for further hearing on May 18.
During the hearing, it was suggested that for future requirements, nursing staff should be trained to handle such situations as they stay with the patient round the clock, unlike doctors who may visit the patient periodically.
“We fully support this proposal, which is not only practical but imperative. Accordingly, the Indian Nursing Council and the All India Medical Council are involved as party respondents,” the council said.
She said on the next date, the newly added responders should come up with a plan indicating how they propose to increase the courses or curriculum and training they offer so that people coming out of the institutions recognized by them can manage and handle situations in ICUs.
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