Fulfil doctors’ needs, top court tells govt

Directs providing secure uniforms to sanitary staff so that they may work without fear of catching disease

ISLAMABAD: The top court has directed the federal as well as all the provincial governments, including the Islamabad Capital Territory and Gilgit-Baltistan, to ensure that all necessary needs of the doctors and paramedics, who are working on the front line in the battle against the novel coronavirus pandemic, are fully fulfilled.

"The doctors and paramedics, who are working on the front line in dealing with this pandemic, are especially affected and are at a risk of contracting this disease and it is hoped that the federal and provincial governments, the ICT and G-B shall ensure that all necessary needs of the doctors and paramedics, in such an emergency situation, are fully fulfilled,” stated the Supreme Court in its detailed judgement in the coronavirus suo motu notice case on Tuesday.

It stated, “We are informed that doctors and paramedics are performing duties beyond their call of duty and at many places, they are not even being provided with food. This, in our view, is a sensitive issue, which should immediately be addressed by all the governments and grievances, in this regard of the doctors and paramedics, are redressed."

The court observed that the condition of sanitary staff was also not good and it was informed that they were exposed to all sorts of diseases, while they were working in the hospitals and other places.

“No effective care is being provided to them and a request has been made that they be provided with the requisite protection, so that they may perform their work without any fear.

“In the circumstances, the federal as well as all the provincial governments, including the ICT and G-B, shall ensure that sanitary staff are taken care of and are provided with proper and secure uniforms, so that they can work without fear of being affected by the disease," it added.

The court, in its judgement, directed the federal government to file a comprehensive report, along with the outcome of the high-level meeting, which was scheduled to take place on Monday.

The court order stated that the governments of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan had submitted their reports. “It seems that the effect of coronavirus (Covid-19) is not so much alarming in the two provinces, including Gilgit-Baltistan, and that things are being kept in control. Punjab, Sindh and ICT, however, are on different pedestals, where there is a considerable threat of surge in the coronavirus cases.

The SC directed the Punjab government and the ICT administration to submit their reports regarding matters relating to the pandemic.

It also sought all necessary information, which could show that the citizens' fundamental rights were fully safeguarded and the state functionaries were aware of all what was necessary for the survival of the people.

(With input from APP)