GRATUITOUS TREATMENT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ALL THE VICTIMS OF BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY SUFFERING FROM CANCER IN BHOPAL AAIMS: MP HIGH COURT

On a plea filed by Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sangthan, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the State government to provide free of cost services to all the cancer patients of the Bhopal Gas tragedy in Bhopal AIIMS. 

Background: Earlier, the Supreme Court had remanded the matters of Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims to the High Court for future monitoring. Further, The High Court had constituted a monitoring committee under the chairmanship of Retired Judge, Justice Vive Agarwal for it. On 16th August 2021, the committee submitted its 17th report stating that the Cancer patients who were among the gas victims were not being provided free treatment in the government hospitals and instead were being sent to the private hospitals. It was also mentioned in the report that the staff and infrastructure of the hospitals were inadequate and substandard.

In response to the report, Counsel Vikram Singh appearing for the Union Government submitted that the recruitment process for various medical staff posts was initiated and an endeavor to outsource the services was also being done by the government. Retorting to this submission, the committee remarked that they shall again inspect and give a specific report regarding all the improvements in the hospital concerning the treatment provided to gas victims and other patients. 

Order: In the light of the recommendation made by the Committee, the High Court directed that gratuitous treatment shall be provided to all the victims of Bhopal Gas Tragedy who are suffering from any kind of cancer in Bhopal AIIMS.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal