Uttarakhand High Court Seeks State's Response on Pithoragarh Hospital Issues

The Uttarakhand High Court has requested a reply from the state government regarding a PIL about the lack of basic facilities at the Pithoragarh Base Hospital. The PIL, filed by Rajesh Pandey, cites a shortage of doctors and essential facilities, causing pregnant women and other patients to be referred to higher centres.

The Uttarakhand High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to respond within three weeks to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging inadequate facilities at Pithoragarh Base Hospital.

The division bench, comprising Justices Manoj Tiwari and Pankaj Purohit, reviewed the case presented by Pithoragarh resident Rajesh Pandey.

The PIL highlighted that the hospital suffers from a shortage of doctors and insufficient basic facilities, often resulting in pregnant women and other critically ill patients being referred to higher care centres.

During the court proceedings, Pandey noted instances where pregnant women delivered babies in ambulances en route to referral centres. He also pointed out that poor individuals from remote areas struggle to receive necessary medical treatment at the hospital.