Sikkim High Court: While exercising its civil extra ordinary jurisdiction, the Court entertained a writ petition seeking effective implementation of the National Rural Health Mission in the State of Sikkim by issuing appropriate orders to provide for required facilities and personnel in remote rural villages of the State, focusing in particular on the health of Women, Children and Senior Citizens being Marginalized Groups of society. It also raised concern about the violation of Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution alleging failure on the part of the State to provide adequate facilities to women in terms of reproductive and child health services.
The Division Bench comprising of Sunil Kumar Sinha, C.J. and Meenakshi Madan Rai, J. suggested the State Government for establishing a Blood Bank in each district. It also asked the State to ensure availability of life saving drugs in all the hospitals/health centers in the state.
The Court while criticising the State’s action on its health policy and implementation of NRHM Scheme, directed the State to regulate the Maternal Death Reviews and Community Based Monitoring and necessary materials should be uploaded in the website of the NHM. It further said, ‘The State Government shall make all endeavors to establish a Blood Bank in each district and also to establish Blood Storage facility in each Community Health Centre in near future. The State will create a free medicine counter in all district hospitals. All free medicines, as per the list provided to the Court, shall be made available in the said counters.’[Rinzing Chewang Kazi v. The State of Sikkim, 2016 SCC OnLine Sikk 38, Decided on 05-04-2016]
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