IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR.S.R.BANNURMATH & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.K.BASHEER MONDAY, THE 21ST DECEMBER 2009 / 30TH AGRAHAYANA 1931 WP(C).No. 18112 of 2005(S) -------------------------- PETITIONER: -------------- INITIATED ON A PETITION RECEIVED FROM THE PRESIDENT, HEART PATIENT ASSOCIATION, DISTRICT COMMITTEE, ALAPPUZHA REGARDING MAL-FUNCTIONING IN THE CARDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF THE ALAPPUZHA MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL. BY SUO MOTU RESPONDENTS: ---------------- 1. DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. DISTRICT MEDICAL OFFICER, ALAPPUZHA 3. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 4. THE SUPERINTENDENT, MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL, ALAPPUZHA. 5. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, (CHAIRMAN, HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE) ALAPPUZHA. ADDL. 6. THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL EDUCATION, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DATED 25.11.09 IN WPC). BY ADVOCATE GENERAL, SRI.C.P. SUDHAKARA PRASAD, SENIOR GOVERNMENT PLEADER, SM. K. MEERA. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 21/12/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S.R. Bannurmath, C.J. & A.K. Basheer, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W.P.(C) No. 18112 OF 2005 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 21st day of December, 2009 JUDGMENT A.K. Basheer, J. This Writ Petition was suo motu registered at the instance of this Court in Public Interest, in view of the extreme seriousness of the issue involved in the case. 2. It was brought to the notice of this Court that the facilities available in Alappuzha Medical College in general, and in the Cardiology Department in particular, were so pathetically inadequate. In response to the notice issued to the respondents, several statements/counter affidavits have been filed from time to time indicating the various steps taken to tide over the deficiencies and poor state of affairs. 3. In the last statement, dated December 15, 2009, filed by the Additional Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department, it has been stated that the Department of Cardiology was shifted to a more spacious and convenient block of the Medical College Hospital Complex at Vandanam with effect from January 01, 2007. Government W.P.(C) No. 18112 OF 2005 -:2:- accorded administrative sanction to expend Rs.3.20 Crores in the Cardiology Department for the purpose of installation of 'Catheterization Lab' and for procurement of equipment called 'Fully Auto Analyser'. It is further stated that installation of these equipments will be completed during the current financial year itself. The said allocation of Rs.3.20 Crores is over and above Rs.45 lakhs sanctioned by the Government for carrying out different works in the Medical College. It is also in addition to the sum of Rs.64 lakhs earmarked for purchase of equipments during the current financial year. It is further stated that the work on the new operation theater complex is nearing completion. Cardiology has been accorded the status of a super specialty branch of Medical College, Alappuzha. Out Patient wing in the Cardiology Department is working two days in a week. Number of outpatients on OP day is about 250 to 300. Intensive Cardiac Care Centre in the Cardiology Department is functioning 24 hours a day and it is provided with 9 beds. All necessary facilities like Central Oxygen Supply, 8 Defibrillators, 2 pulse Oxymeters, 4 Monitors, One Ventilator; one Color Doppler Machine etc; are made available in the Intensive Cardiac Centre. There are 20 W.P.(C) No. 18112 OF 2005 -:3:- beds in the Cardiology Ward. Facilities for treatment of Cardiac cases such as Echo Cardiography, TMT Machine, Color Doppler Machine etc are also available in the Department of Cardiology. 4. Having perused the above statement, in addition to those which were filed earlier, we are satisfied that efforts are being made by the Government to improve the condition of the Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha, particularly the Cardiology Department. In that view of the matter, we do not propose to keep this Writ Petition pending on the file of this Court. Accordingly the Writ Petition is closed. However, we make it clear that it will be open to the aggrieved parties, if any, to approach this Court again in Public Interest. S.R. Bannurmath, Chief Justice. A.K. Basheer, Judge. ttb W.P.(C) No. 18112 OF 2005 -:4:-