HC seeks report on status of faulty dialysis machines

Madurai: Madras high court on Tuesday sought a report from the state on the status of repair work undertaken on faulty dialysis machines in govt hospitals.Pursuant to an earlier orders, state health secretary filed a status report before the court explaining the steps taken to fill up vacancies of dialysis technicians. The report stated that there are 768 dialysis machines across the state, of which 688 are in working condition and 10% of machines are under service.In Govt Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, there are 55 machines, of which 52 are in working condition. In Tirunelveli Govt Medical College Hospital, there are 39 units, of which 33 are in working condition and six are under repair. In Thanjavur Govt Medical College Hospital, there are 33 machines, of which 26 are in working condition and seven under service. In Trichy Govt Medical College Hospital, there are 20 machines, out of which 16 are in working condition and four are under service.Taking into account the status report, a division bench of justice M S Ramesh and justice A D Maria Clete directed the state to file a report. The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by an activist, C Anand Raj. who sought a direction to appoint permanent and qualified dialysis technicians in govt hospitals, as there is a shortage.Earlier, the court directed the health secretary to file an affidavit setting out the time that would be taken by the govt for filling up these posts. Since the report was not filed, the court had taken a serious view and directed the health secretary to file a report. The court warned that failure to file the affidavit shall be viewed as wilful and deliberate disobedience of the orders passed by the court. Taking into account that 15-20% of haemodialysis machines in govt hospitals are under repair, the court directed the health secretary to also address this issue in the affidavit.