New Delhi, Apr 20 (IANS): The Delhi High Court on Monday applauded the doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers for their services in combating the Covid-19 pandemic. It also appreciated the work being done by government agencies, including police, armed forces and paramilitary forces.

The High Court Bench, comprising Justices J.R. Midha and Jyoti Singh, expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by the central and the Delhi governments to provide medical treatment to the non-coronavirus patients, including pregnant women.

The court said if a citizen had any grievance related to medical facilities, he/she could approach the authorities for redressal through helplines and dedicated WhatsApp numbers. "Publicise these helplines and continue rendering assistance to the people in need," the Bench said.

The Bench was hearing a petition, seeking direction to the authorities to also provide medical aid to patients suffering from illnesses other than Covid-19.

The plea, filed by law students Yash Aggarwal and Chitrakshi, said hospitals were refusing to entertain patients who had to undergo dialysis or chemotherapy and other medical emergencies, apart from Covid-19.

While disposing of the plea, the court said Covid-19 was an unprecedented calamity and had not left any country untouched with its devastating effects. "Given the magnitude of the pandemic, the task undertaken by health workers or others on the frontline, both inside and outside the hospital, of rendering medical aid to a patient suffering with Covid-19, is a gigantic and Herculean task," it said.

The court turned down the contention that non-Covid-19 patients suffering from cancer or kidney diseases were not being treated.