India, Sept. 22 -- The Supreme Court has mandated minimum standards for establishing and operating intensive care units (ICUs) nationwide. It directed states and union territories to implement guidelines, framed by a committee comprising eminent doctors, within a time frame extending up to nine months.

The guidelines, which were placed before the court by the Union health ministry, prescribe minimum standards on infrastructure, equipment and personnel for a basic ICU (Level 1) followed by specialised services forming the Level 2 and Level 3 in multi-specialty hospitals and institutions of excellence.

A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan on Monday made the guidelines applicable to all public and private hospitals.

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