The Chandigarh Administration was directed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to provide necessary medical assistance to a five-month pregnant woman. The pregnant lady was denied treatment by GMSH Sector 16, Chandigarh, as she was a resident of Punjab and the hospital did not provide treatment to patients from outside Chandigarh.

The 27-year-old woman resident of Kansal in Mohali complained through the counsel Ashdeep Singh, that she was five months pregnant and required medical treatment for her fetus and herself. She went to GMSH 16 and was registered as a patient at the hospital for treatment. But, subsequently, on February 10, 2022, she was denied treatment and turned away from the hospital.

The Bench of Justice Rajbir Sehrawat said that even the counsel for Chandigarh could not point out any law which entitles hospitals to drive outpatients by denying them medical treatment for not being a resident of UT, Chandigarh. It also stated that the petitioner could not be denied treatment and discriminated against only on the ground of her place of residence. Justice Sehrawat further said that the present petition was disposed of with a direction to provide necessary medical treatment/advice to the petitioner even ever she requires and approaches the respondent-hospital.

Source: The Indian Express