New Delhi, April 25: The Supreme Court has directed all states and Union Territories to begin a time-bound exercise for implementing minimum standards for Intensive Care Units across the country, stressing the urgent need for trained medical personnel, standardised protocols, and technology-enabled emergency care systems.
A Bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan noted that a consensus-based foundational framework for ICU organisation and service delivery has already been prepared and circulated to all states and Union Territories for adoption. The court observed that the process has reached a crucial stage and requires coordinated implementation.
The Bench recorded that the guidelines are practical, implementable, and necessary to establish baseline standards for ICU facilities nationwide. It emphasised that uniform protocols are essential to improve critical care delivery and reduce disparities in emergency healthcare infrastructure.
During proceedings, experts from leading medical institutions, including AIIMS, Tata Memorial Centre, Medanta, and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, assisted the court by suggesting measures to strengthen ICU systems. Their inputs focused on improving infrastructure, defining timelines, training specialised staff, and introducing standard operating procedures in checklist formats.
The court highlighted the importance of integrating technology into emergency response systems and recommended the creation of a GPS-based hospital locator system. Such a platform, it stated, would enable patients and families to identify the nearest medical facility and available critical care services based on urgency and condition.
As an immediate measure, the Supreme Court directed that senior officials heading health departments in all states and Union Territories convene meetings within one week to prepare a practical action plan for implementing the ICU guidelines. The court also instructed authorities to identify and prioritise five essential requirements related to manpower and equipment in the initial phase.
The Bench further stated that the implementation framework must include a clear monitoring and compliance mechanism. It directed that all state and UT-level reports be submitted to the Union Health Ministry, which will coordinate a national-level meeting to finalise a unified roadmap.
The court set a three-week deadline for completing the entire preparatory exercise and scheduled the next hearing for May 18.
In its observations, the Supreme Court underscored the critical role of nursing staff in ICU care, noting their continuous presence at the patient’s bedside. It directed the inclusion of the Indian Nursing Council and the Paramedical Council in the proceedings to strengthen training and curriculum development for critical care management.
The Union Health Ministry has been instructed to issue the guidelines as an advisory to all states and UTs and upload compliance reports on its official platform to ensure transparency and monitoring.
