A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Mannarkad Legal Services Committee Chairman to inspect the Kottathara Tribal Hospital and the sub-centre at Agali and report on their condition.
The Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice K. Harilal issued the directive on a writ petition complaining about the lack of facilities at the hospital and sub-centre.
The Bench also asked the chairman to assess the need of the people, and get the views of the doctors and the District Medical Officer regarding the requirements of the hospital. The committee should assess all aspects including the space availability, bed, staff and other relevant things.
The petitioner pointed out that despite various commissions and schemes for the welfare of the tribal people, they were leading a miserable life. According to him, the 52-bed Kottathara hospital did not have specialist doctors or nurses and facilities to handle serious cases.
Tribal people living in far off villages could not reach the hospital as no transporting facility had been provided.
In the female ward of the hospital, more than 40 patients were admitted. Most of them had to lie on the floor. The hospital would often refer patients to the medical colleges in Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Coimbatore. Besides, the hospital did not have stocks of adequate medicines, including life saving drugs.
Disbursement of grants
The petitioner also sought a directive to the State government to ensure disbursement of grants provided by the Centre and the State to the tribal people within the stipulated time.
Court directive to assess the need of the people and get the views of the doctors
