PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the State government to file its reply on the use of Ivermectin against COVID-19 despite the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending not using this treatment on COVID-19 infected patients.
The Bench, comprising Justice S C Gupte and Justice M S Sonak also asked the State to submit an affidavit regarding the alleged absence of protocol for detection and treatment of mucormycosis which has been known to follow COVID-19 related illness.
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The High Court, which is hearing PILs regarding COVID-19 management in Goa, was on Monday told by one of the petitioners that Goa does not have a protocol for detection and treatment of mucormycosis. Similarly, for issues particularly concerning setting up of oxygen generation plants in Goa and post COVID-19 health complications which are noticed during the course of this pandemic.
In addition, some of the petitioners flagged the issue of the approval by the State of Ivermectin for its therapeutic or prophylactic uses. The petitioners submitted that this particular medicine does not have the approval of either the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) or international regulatory authorities. In fact, WHO has issued an advisory against the use of Ivermectine for Covid related treatment.
During the hearing, an individual petitioner filed a separate PIL referring to issues pertaining to fire safety in hospitals and Covid care centers including servicing of existing fire equipment.
The Bench observed that since these companion petitions have already been served some time back on the respondent State and the State proposes anyway to file its affidavit in the petition of South Goa Advocate’s Association, which has been treated a lead case by the High Court for Covid related public issues, the State will naturally reflect and communicate its response to these additional issues in their proposed affidavit.
To this, the Advocate General Devidas Pangam offered to do so. The AG also offered to communicate to the Court the State’s policy decision, if any, on the procurement of vaccination shots from sources other than the Union Government.
“We are also of the view that whilst the State has proposed much-needed augmentation of medical infrastructure for Covid treatment, there has been no clarity on proportionate increase of manpower required for handling this additional infrastructure to enable it to cater to additional patients. Let a comprehensive affidavit be filed by the respondent State on all issues as indicated above,” said the Bench. The affidavit has to be filed by May 27, 2021.
The Union Government, through its legal representative has agreed to focus, in its own affidavit proposed to be filed by May 27, 2021 on Covid vaccination doses to be issued to the State not only for the immediate present but also on a long term footing, so as to take care of second doses of vaccine to be administered to priority age groups and also for eventual vaccination of other age groups which are soon to be roped in for the vaccination drive. There was also a plea for door-to-door vaccination, to which the court said it was for the government to decide.
The Court adjourned the matter to May 28, 2021 when comprehensive directions will be pronounced based on the material produced before it by the petitioners as well as the respondent State and Union.
