Allahabad HC flags gaps in UP government hospitals after newborn dies without critical care

The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench on Wednesday expressed concern over inadequate facilities at government hospitals in Uttar Pradesh and sought to know whether recently established medical colleges across the state were functioning without essential equipment and specialist doctors. The court was hearing a PIL concerning the death of a newborn who was allegedly unable to get timely access to a ventilator, an oxygen-supported bed and specialist treatment at government medical institutions.

A bench of Justices Rajan Roy and Manjive Shukla directed senior officials of the Medical, Health and Family Welfare Department, King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS), Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) and the Sultanpur chief medical officer to appear through video conferencing on September 11. The officials have been asked to examine the allegations in the petition as well as previous court orders concerning medical facilities before joining the proceedings.

Newborn died within 24 hours

The PIL, filed by Ashutosh Kumar Singh, alleged that a newborn delivered at the Government Autonomous Medical College in Sultanpur developed congenital complications and urgently required ventilator support and the services of a paediatric surgeon. According to the petition, neither facility was available at the medical college, which was established around three years ago.

The infant was subsequently referred to KGMU, RMLIMS and SGPGI for advanced treatment. However, an oxygen-supported or otherwise appropriate bed was allegedly unavailable at each of the institutions. The child eventually died within 24 hours of birth, prompting the petitioner to raise questions about the availability of critical-care infrastructure and specialist medical personnel in the state’s public healthcare system.

New colleges under scanner

Taking note of the allegations, the bench observed that newly established medical colleges conducting deliveries should have the essential equipment and specialist doctors required to deal with emergencies. The court widened its scrutiny beyond the Sultanpur case and sought information on whether similar deficiencies existed at other recently opened government medical colleges across Uttar Pradesh.

The bench also asked officials to explain whether an effective mechanism suggested during earlier proceedings to address gaps in medical facilities had been implemented. The case will next be heard on September 11, when the officials summoned by the court are expected to provide details about the availability of critical equipment, beds and specialists at government healthcare institutions.