KATHMANDU, May 18: While concluding that people infected with COVID-19 were losing life due to lack of treatment as a result of state’s insensitivity, the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday directed the government to formulate a detailed action plan within seven days to ensure effective response to COVID-19 pandemic.
A single bench of Justice Nahakul Subedi on Monday issued an interim order in the name of the government to ensure oxygen, basic medicine and treatment for those who reach the hospital. The Supreme Court has ruled that the death of a citizen without medical treatment means that the state is not seriously sensitive to the responsibility of saving the life of the citizen. The SC has stated that saving the lives of the people is the most important responsibility of the state. "Infected people should not have to lose their lives due to lack of oxygen and adequate treatment," the court said. The order states that the state cannot be exempted from the responsibility of saving the lives of the people under any pretext.
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The Supreme Court has ordered to form an emergency team to ensure the intensive care unit (ICU) or ventilator for the infected as per the need. The court has also directed to establish easy and equal access to the treatment of the infected. The apex court has ordered the government to make necessary arrangements for the treatment of the infected at the province and local level as well.
The court has also issued an order in the name of the government to make arrangements for all the people to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to give the second dose of the vaccine to those who have been vaccinated in the first phase within the stipulated time.
Hearing on the writ petition filed by Advocate Manish Kumar Shrestha, the court has clearly ordered the work, duties and responsibilities of the concerned bodies of the government and make a time-bound schedule, details and indicators and appoint a responsible officer to monitor the work.
