Supreme Court orders treatment of HIV positive ex-servicemen at Base Hospital

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Army to treat an HIV-infected ex-serviceman at a local base hospital. The ex-serviceman had reportedly contracted HIV after being transfused with contaminated blood at an army hospital. The top court also ordered the production of the medical condition report of the ex-serviceman. The soldier, who was a part of 'Operation Parakram', has approached the apex court alleging that he was transfused with contaminated blood at an army field hospital in 2002, due to which he got infected with HIV and now he (because of) from) has become a patient of AIDS.

The petitioner had alleged that he was being denied treatment in army hospitals. After the terrorist attack on Parliament on 13 December 2001, India launched 'Operation Parakram'. Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee, appearing for the government, argued before a bench of Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice Bela M Trivedi, "He (ex-serviceman) is our man. We will take care of that." The bench said, "The nature of this dispute and the urgency of providing medical facilities to the petitioner was settled by this court on April 25 and July 18, 2022."

The ex-serviceman claimed that (despite the apex court's order) when he went to the base hospital, he was denied treatment at least thrice. The bench has now directed to list the matter before another bench for hearing on November 22.

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