The Delhi High Court on Monday sent notices to AIIMS and the Centre over not repairing a ‘pulse dye laser machine’, used for skin treatment, which has been lying defunct for over a year now.
The court asked AIIMS why the machine costing ₹50 lakh could not be fixed in time.
“If you have bought a machine, you should maintain it. If the All India Institute of Medical Sciences does not have funds, which I don’t think is the case, then the government should pay for its repairs,” said Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva.
Court hears student’s plea
The court was hearing the plea of a 23-year-old engineering student, Mohammad Qayamuddin, who could not get complete treatment for a rare skin condition called “port wine stain” as the machine at AIIMS was not working.
His counsel Ashok Agarwal said the laser machine used to treat this condition was available only at AIIMS and no other government hospital. Mohammad needed 10 sessions of treatment with the machine, but could receive only one in May 2015. Since then, the machine has been out of order.
Port wine stain is almost always a birthmark and in some cases it can develop in early childhood. It is caused by a vascular anomaly and is named for its colouration which is similar to port wine. If left untreated, it can lead to visual impairment, glucoma, paralysis and other medical conditions.
