The Jharkhand High Court criticized the state government for failing to provide adequate infrastructure at the apex healthcare institute, RIMS in Ranchi. The court noted that if the government cannot supply the necessary facilities and equipment at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), it should consider shutting it down.
In an oral observation, the division bench stated that the government repeatedly failed to fulfill its commitments. “From the affidavits filed by the government and its claims of providing state-of-the-art facilities, it seems as if we are in a foreign country. However, the reality is quite different,” the court remarked.
The court highlighted that due to the lack of facilities at RIMS, patients are forced to seek treatment at private hospitals and nursing homes, many of which do not have the proper licenses as required under the Clinical Establishment Act. Instead of focusing on healthcare, these private hospitals are indulging in “wealth care,” the court added.
The court directed the government to file an up-to-date status report detailing the actions taken against hospitals and nursing homes operating without proper licenses. The matter will be heard again in a fortnight.
A bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay and Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava was hearing a public interest litigation(PIL) filed by Jyoti Sharma, alleging a lack of infrastructure and facilities at RIMS. RIMS is an autonomous institute under the Jharkhand government.
