Kolkata: Prodded by the Calcutta HC, the state on Tuesday submitted that a 50-bed critical care unit at the Kolkata Police Hospital was on the verge of completion. In this unit, three ICU beds on the ground floor would be reserved for persons suffering from rare diseases.
A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee Das recommended that the state reserve at least five ICU beds, of which three would be reserved for patients suffering from muscular dystrophy. The division bench also directed the centre of excellence in the state to arrange for sleep study tests for patients with muscular dystrophy. The Chief Justice wanted the Kolkata Police Hospital to have the necessary facilities to conduct sleep study tests and BIPAP machines.
The state counsel also submitted that, upon the directions of the division bench on May 23, the govt was actively considering increasing the stipend of such patients from the existing Rs 1,000.
The division had also observed that tablet deflazacort, a costly medicine used to treat patients with muscular dystrophy, should be supplied free of cost to patients, at least for two months. The state counsel submitted that the supply already started.
Keeping in view the other ailments these patients suffer from due to the application of steroids in treatment, the division bench held that necessary medicines should be provided to such patients along with tablet deflazacort. The Chief Justice directed the additional solicitor general to take instructions from the director of the National Institute of Locomotor Disability, Bonhooghly, to supply knee orthosis, braces, and belts for spines, after being informed that the institute provided these aids free of cost to the disabled. The Chief Justice, upon suggestions from the petitioner over the availability of lightweight non-mechanised wheelchairs for children suffering from the disease, asked the petitioner to obtain a proforma from a Bidhannagar-based company so that the state could consider procuring them. The Chief Justice noted that despite requests earlier, the chambers of commerce had not responded to the appeal for sponsoring some of the mechanised wheelchairs. The division bench urged the lawyers in touch with the chambers of commerce and corporate houses to take it up with their clients. The Chief Justice directed the state to submit a report in the form of an affidavit during the next hearing of the matter on July 15.