In consideration of amid Covid-19 Pandemic, Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, as per guidelines dated 24.03.2020 of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, directed: –
- Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to ensure availability of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment’s (PPE) including sterile medical/Nitrile gloves, starch apparels, medical masks, goggles, face shield, respirators (i.e. N-95 Respirator Mask or Triple Layer Medical Mask or equivalent), shoe covers, head covers and coveralls/gowns to all health professionals such as Doctors and other Medical Staff, actively attending and treating patients suffering from COVID-19 in India.
- The Government of India, Police authorities and respective States and Union Territories are also directed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to provide necessary police security to Doctors and other Medical Staff in Hospitals and places where patients who have been diagnosed coronavirus positive and who have been quarantined inside house.
- Necessary police security be also shall extend to those Doctors and other Medical staff who visit places to conduct screening of people in order to find out symptoms of coronavirus.
- Respective State also directed to take necessary action against those persons responsible for causing obstruction, and committing offences against Doctors and other medical staff, are performing their duties while conducting screening test for people in local areas. Further directed to take a necessary action against those who are preventing Govt. officials to deliver their duties.
- The Government of India shall explore all alternatives including enabling and augmenting domestic production of protective clothing and gear to medical professional. This includes the exploring of alternative modes of production of such clothing (masks, suits, caps, gloves etc.) and permitting movement of raw materials. Further, the Government may also restrict export of such materials to augment inventory and domestic stock.”