The Supreme Court has directed all states and Union Territories to prepare a “wartime” action plan to implement guidelines for Intensive Care Units (ICUs) across hospitals nationwide. The directions came in a case raising concerns about the quality of ICU treatment and the minimum standards required.
A bench of Justices Asanuddin Amanullah and Mahadevan, hearing the matter, noted suggestions placed by medical experts, including the need for ICU checklists, systems to identify nearby hospitals based on a patient’s condition, and structured training for staff to handle medical equipment effectively.
In its order, the court asked health secretaries of states and UTs to hold a consultation meeting with medical experts within one week and prepare a standard action plan. They were also told to identify the most critical needs—such as manpower, equipment and basic requirements—and list five top priority tasks for the first phase.
The bench stressed the role of nurses, who remain with patients round the clock, and said specialised training and curricula are essential for managing ICU settings. It directed that the Indian Nursing Council and the Indian Paramedical Council be added as parties to the case.
The court further instructed the Union Health Ministry to immediately circulate the directions to all states and UTs and upload them on its website. Based on state draft reports, the ministry must prepare a common nationwide guideline within three weeks and submit it to the court on the next hearing date, along with a strong monitoring mechanism to ensure rules are followed on the ground.
