New Delhi, April 25 -- The Supreme Court of India has directed all states and Union Territories to prepare a "realistic and practical" action plan to implement minimum standard guidelines for intensive care units (ICUs), setting a three-week deadline for the exercise.

A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan ordered that the guidelines on "Organisation and Delivery of Intensive Care Services," already finalised with broad consensus, be circulated to all states and UTs for immediate action.

The court instructed additional chief secretaries and health department heads to convene expert meetings within a week to prepare implementation plans, emphasising that these must be practical and grounded. It also asked authorities to...