COVID positive report not must for hospital admission, says Govt

NEW DELHI: In a significant directive to states and Union Territories, the Union Health Ministry on Saturday said a positive COVID-19 test report is not mandatory for admission to a health facility.

In its revised national policy for admission of COVID patients to various dedicated health facilities, both public and private, the Union Health Ministry said no patient will be refused services on any account, including oxygen and essential drugs, even if the he or she belongs to a different city.

“This patient-centric measure aims to ensure prompt, effective and comprehensive treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19,” the ministry said. “Hospitals under the Central government, state governments and UT administration, including private hospitals managing COVID patients, shall ensure that requirement of a positive test for COVID-19 virus is not mandatory for admission to a COVID health facility.

“A suspect case shall be admitted to the suspect ward of COVID Care Centre (CCC), Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC) of Dedicated COVID Hospital (DHC) as the case may be,” the directive to all the states and Union Territories said. It said no patient will be refused services on any count which includes medications such as oxygen or essential drugs even if the patient belongs to a different city. “No

patient shall be refused admission on the ground that he/she is not able to produce a valid identity card that does not belong to the city where the hospital is located,” it said. The Ministry also said admissions to hospital must be “based on need”. “It should be ensured that beds are not occupied by persons who do not need hospitalisation. Discharge should be strictly in accordance with the revised discharge policy,” it said.