New Delhi, May 21 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a nationwide audit of intensive care unit (ICU) facilities and gave states and Union Territories two months to assess infrastructural and manpower gaps and ascertain the equipment needed to bring critical care facilities at par with model guidelines by a court-appointed panel of experts.

The court simultaneously ordered a nationwide audit of nursing colleges, requiring the Indian Nursing Council (INC) to submit a report on hands-on training facilities available to students across the 800 colleges under it.

"States/UTs shall ensure gap assessment exercise is undertaken by them and completed in two months. Simultaneously, they will work out modalities of putting into place/implem...