New Delhi: The Delhi State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) has directed all the District Magistrates (DMs) of the capital to ensure speedy implementation of disabled-friendly measures in all city hospitals. They have been asked to ensure that all government hospitals are made fully accessible for persons with disabilities (PwDs). As per the guidelines, the city hospitals are meant to be equipped with all measures for easy & comfortable movement & treatment of physically challenged patients. This includes construction of ramps, elevators & others facilities for movement & comfort of (PwDs). Additionally, Hospital & paramedic staff should also be trained for providing empathetic & comfortable treatment at hospitals. The direction comes on back of a petition by Dr Satendra Singh, director & professor of philosophy, University of Medical Sciences at Guru Teg Bahadur hospital. Dr Singh claimed in his petition that PwDs continue to face impediments & obstacles at hospitals, despite the Health Ministry notifying Accessibility standards for Healthcare in 2012. He alleged that the hospitals continue to remain callous & complacent in implementing guidelines for the disabled. SCPD Ranjan Mukherjee has also asked the District Magistrates to submit the action taken report within 90 days of the issue of order on January 24. In his order, the SCPD further said, “All Directors/Medical Superintendents of all hospitals of GNCT of Delhi are directed that each and every department/lab/other rooms/drinking water/toilets etc. are made accessible for persons with disabilities and action taken report be submitted to this Court within 90 days from the issue of this order. He also expressed disappointment & resentment over ‘repeated delays’ by authorities as many previous directions for the same went ‘unnoticed & unheard’. Petitioner Dr Satendra Singh claimed that Centre’s Accessible India Campaign sought to develop all public places as disabled-friendly by June 2022 but the hospitals & its many areas have remained ‘out of bounds’ for physically-challenged patients, those with disabilities.
