New Delhi: After learning that only 14 of Madhya Pradesh’s 52 district hospitals have CT scan machines, the state high court has directed the government to install these machines in all such hospitals. The court has said that this process should be completed by October 4.

This details, according to the Times of India, was revealed to the high court while hearing a group of petitions on the coronavirus pandemic and its impact in the state.The court was also told that there are 1,280 ventilators in 13 medical colleges across the state, of which 23 are not working. In the 52 district hospitals, there are 567 ventilators, according to Times of India. The court asked the state government to repair the non-functional ventilators at the earliest.

On other determinants related to COVID-19 however, the high court was told that the state is performing well. The amicus curiae informed the court that the government has created a uniform rate list for private and public hospitals in keeping with the court’s order. He also said that COVID-19 treatment in Madhya Pradesh’s hospitals is 25% to 50% cheaper than in Rajasthan, Kerala and Chhattisgarh, the newspaper reported.

The state government also told the court that by September this year, everyone in the state above the age of 18 will have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. As of now, though, only about 53% of the eligible population has received one dose, while 10% has got both doses.

Like the rest of the country, Madhya Pradesh too witnessed a severe outbreak of the virus in April-May this year. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has now told government officials that a third wave must be prevented “at all costs”, and that COVID-19 testing must continue despite the fewer number of cases.