SC directs Centre to ensure doctors, medical staff attending to Coronavirus patients get appropriate PPE

The Supreme Court yesterday directed the Centre to ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) are made available to doctors and medical staff attending to Coronavirus patients as they are the first line of defence of the country in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic. 

While passing a slew of interim directions to ensure safety of doctors and healthcare professionals, a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Ravindra Bhat expressed concern over the recent incidents of attack on them. The court directed the Centre, all states and union



territories to provide necessary police security to the medical staff in hospitals and places where patients, who are either quarantined, suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19, are housed.

The court passed the order on three petitions seeking protective kits, other requisite equipment and safety measure for doctors and healthcare workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It said that the government may also restrict export of such materials to augment inventory and domestic stock