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SC asks states, UTs to prepare action plan to implement ICU guidelines
The Supreme Court directed all states and Union Territories to prepare a realistic action plan to implement the Guidelines for Organisation and Delivery of Intensive Care Services as a minimum standard for ICUs. It ordered immediate steps, including expert meetings, identification of five basic priority issues, and a compliance mechanism, with a final blueprint due before the court. The court also directed the Ministry of Health to issue an advisory and involved nursing and para-medical councils in expanding ICU training.
Why It Matters
The ruling could standardize ICU care nationwide, affecting staffing, equipment, and training, with a tight three-week window for a final plan and monitoring.
Timeline
5 Events
Next hearing and final report to court
May 18, 2026
The matter was posted for further hearing on May 18; a final report/blueprint/recommendation shall be prepared and placed before the court on the next date.
Nursing and Para Medical Councils impleaded; training plan to be proposed
April 25, 2026
The Indian Nursing Council and the Para Medical Council of India were impleaded as party respondents; on the next date they shall come up with a plan indicating how they propose to augment the courses or curriculum and training imparted by them so that graduates are capable of managing ICU situations.
MOH advisory guidelines directive
April 25, 2026
The Ministry of Health, Government of India, was directed to formally issue the guidelines placed before the court by way of an advisory to the states and UTs, and a copy of it was to be uploaded on the MoH website.
First meeting to be convened
April 25, 2026
The bench stated that the first meeting shall be held within one week from April 20 and should be attended by the additional chief secretary/secretary headed the department of health and medical education in the states and UTs to prepare an action plan for implementation of the guidelines.
SC orders immediate action to implement ICU guidelines
April 20, 2026
A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan directed all states and UTs to convene a meeting of experts to prepare a realistic and practical action plan to implement the 'Guidelines for Organisation and Delivery of Intensive Care Services' as a minimum standard for ICUs. The bench called for identifying five basic issues to prioritise and preparing an initial list of five basic requirements for manpower and equipment/logistics, plus a methodology for ground-level implementation and a mechanism to ensure compliance and monitoring. The first meeting should be held within one week and attended by the concerned additional chief secretary/secretary heading health and medical education in the states and UTs. Reports should be forwarded to the Secretary of the Department of Health, Government of India, who would circulate them to all states/UTs; a final report/blueprint/recommendation should be prepared and placed before the court on the next date, within a three-week timeline. The Ministry of Health should formally issue the guidelines as an advisory and upload a copy on its website. The nursing and para-medical councils were impleaded as party respondents.