Allahabad High Court orders roadmap for neonatal care in Uttar Pradesh medical colleges

The Allahabad High Court, responding to concerns over inadequate neonatal facilities in the state's medical colleges, issued a directive on Thursday for a detailed care roadmap. The order calls for the Uttar Pradesh Health Department and the Directorate of Medical Education to draft a comprehensive plan covering infrastructure, staffing, and training for newborn intensive care units across all government medical institutions.

The court emphasized that timely and quality neonatal care is essential to reduce infant mortality rates, which remain higher than the national average in several districts. It asked the state to submit the roadmap within six weeks, along with a monitoring mechanism to ensure implementation.

State officials have acknowledged the directive and said a task force will be formed to collate data from each college, assess gaps, and propose actionable measures. The High Court will review the submitted plan before it is put into effect.

Legal experts note that the court's intervention underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding public health standards, especially in educational institutions that train future doctors. The upcoming roadmap is expected to set a benchmark for neonatal services in Uttar Pradesh.

The directive also urges regular audits and periodic reporting to the court to track progress, aiming to align the state's neonatal care standards with national guidelines.