Bombay HC rules for clean hospitals

Hospitals must be impeccable, observed the Bombay high court while batting for giving top priority to disposal of bio-medical wastes and hygiene at civic and government hospitals in Mumbai and all over Maharashtra.

“We want special attention to be given to these aspects. That is a priority now,” said a bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni while hearing a PIL for special masks for those with speech and hearing impairment, and the issue of disposal of masks.

Judges drew the attention of BMC to the state of its hospitals, saying there must be some system in place as a large number of people visit them. “We would request you to take up the issue with the higher ups. See that there is cleanliness. Each hospital must have a committee to look into hygiene,” Justice Kulkarni told senior advocate Anil Sakhare for BMC.

Justice Kulkarni recalled hearing a PIL with respect to the Malegaon Civil Hospital in which a committee comprising the local MLA, corporator and the municipal commissioner was set up. “In 15-20 days it was looking like a private hospital. If there is a will, anything can happen,’’ said Justice Kulkarni.

The judges said not just municipal corporations but all hospitals and clinics in the state must maintain cleanliness.