Order of the Supreme Court regarding prioritising admission of elderly people in healthcare facilities, India, 04/03/2021
Order of the Supreme Court of India in the matter of Dr. Ashwani Kumar Vs Union of India & Others dated 04/03/2021. The matter related to admission of elderly people on a priority basis in private hospitals besides government hospitals amid the COVID-19 scenario.
The bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice R. Subhash Reddy modified the earlier order passed by SC August 4, 2020 - wherein the court had directed priority with reference to admission be given to the elderly people in government hospitals. The SC directed that priority with reference to admission to the elderly people should also be given in the private hospitals.
The applicant, Dr. Ashwani Kumar informed the apex court that except for Punjab and Odisha, no other state governments have filed their responses in pursuance to the SC order September 7, 2020 directing the states to submit details of the steps taken by them to care for the elderly population.