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Judgment
R.S., CJ
[1] The prayers in this PIL are as follows:-
"(ii) to issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction thereby, directing the Respondents to provide free Ambulances to the pregnant women and newborn for referral to higher health institutions as per the guidelines of Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK);
(iii) to issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction thereb, directing the Respondents to provide adequate number of Ambulances at the District Hospital, Tamenglong and to ensure uninterrupted referral service which may be caused due to shortage of Ambulance;
(iv) to issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction thereby, directing the Respondents to fully implement the National Ambulance Code as per the guidelines laid down under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989;"
[2] In this PIL, the grievance of the petitioner is that ambulance services should be provided to the pregnant women and new born for referral to higher health institutions in the case of emergency and as per guidelines of Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram and adequate numbers of ambulances should be provided to the district hospitals, more particularly, District Hospital, Tamenglong. This prayer is made on the basis of the National Ambulance Code.
[3] Learned Advocate General states that it is the endeavour of the State Health Department as well as the Directorate of Medical Services to ensure that ambulance services is provided at the district hospitals, primary health centres in the earliest possible manner and the Court is also impressed upon by the learned AG that in some cases, for want of adequate ambulance facilities, the Court has directed compensation to the next of kin to those who died due to admitted medical negligence for want of basic medical facilities and ambulance facilities. In this regard, learned Advocate General stated that in a time bound manner, all district hospitals, ambulance facilities will be improved and provisions will be made within a period of 3-6 months to ensure that ambulance facilities with all support system will be provided to all the districts and taluk levels. The said statement of the State Government through the Director, Health & Family Welfare and the Director, Health Services, Govt. of Manipur are recorded with the direction to them to implement the provisions in the Code within a time frame of six months from the date of receipt of this order. Other schemes will also be duly implemented without any discrimination as between one district and the other.
[4] With the above direction, the PIL stands disposed of.