Indore, Jun 22 The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday sought the Centre's response to a plea seeking financial assistance for a three-year-old girl suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2, noting that her parents have arranged Rs 7.50 crore while the total treatment cost is Rs 9.50 crore.
Justice Subodh Abhyankar of the Indore bench also asked the state government whether it could provide any assistance to the girl.
The bench issued the direction after hearing a writ petition filed on behalf of three-year-old Anika Sharma, a resident of Indore.
During the hearing, Central government counsel Anuj Bhargava informed the court that he had no instructions from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and had been informed that he could not represent the institute in the case.
Responding to this, the single bench directed Additional Solicitor General Sunil Jain to obtain appropriate instructions from AIIMS, New Delhi, and submit a brief response.
The bench noted that the girl, suffering from SMA Type 2, needs immediate treatment.
The HC also noted that the girl's parents have arranged Rs 7.50 crore for her treatment, including Rs 50 lakh approved by the Central government, while the total cost of treatment is Rs 9.50 crore.
The bench asked an advocate representing the state government to seek necessary instructions on whether the government can provide any assistance to the petitioner girl.
The next hearing is scheduled for June 30.
Anika Sharma's family and local residents have been campaigning to raise funds for the girl's treatment for the past seven months.
Her father, Praveen Sharma, told PTI that an injection needs to be imported from the US and will have to be administered to his daughter at AIIMS, New Delhi.
"My daughter's condition is continuously deteriorating. If she doesn't receive this injection soon, her life could be in danger in the coming days," he added.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder that causes the progressive loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord. This nerve loss prevents the brain from communicating with voluntary muscles, leading to muscle weakness, atrophy, and difficulties with crawling, walking, swallowing, and breathing.
