Hospitals not reserving beds to become Covid-only centres
NEWDELHI: The Delhi government said on Thursday that private hospitals facing challenges in earmarking 20% of their beds for Covid-19 patients will be declared as complete Covid-19 facilities, and ordered all institutions to discharge any mild or asymptomatic cases as concerns mounted over the city’s preparations to handle a surge in cases.
The announcement came a day after the administration declared three private facilities — Sir Ganga Ram hospital, Moolchand hospital and Saroj hospital — as Covid-19-only centres. The number of new infections rose past the 1,500 mark for the first time on Wednesday. On Thursday, Delhi registered 1,359 new cases.
“Five Delhi government-run hospitals have been designated for treating only Covid-19 patients, there are beds in central government hospitals, and 61 private hospitals have also earmarked the beds. Three private hospitals were designated as Covid-19 hospitals yesterday. However, some private hospitals are still facing some logistical problems in ensuring that there is no mixing of Covid-19 and nonCovid-19 patients while reserving 205 beds. We will declare these hospitals as Covid-19 only,” said Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday.
Later on Thursday, the Delhi government also asked 42 hospitals that received land at concessional rate from the government to reserve beds for the free treatment of poor patients with Covid-19. The number of free beds adds up to 298 in these hospitals. The order by the directorate of health and family welfare on Thursday states these hospitals are to send a compliance report within three days of the order.
The Delhi government on Wednesday declared 802 beds in three private hospitals – Moolchand hospital, Saroj hospital, and 80% of Sir Ganga Ram hospital– for Covid-19 treatment. On May 24, it directed 117 hospitals to set aside 20% of their beds for Covid-19 patients. According to Delhi government’s ‘Delhi Corona’ app, so far 72 private hospitals have Covid-19 beds.
On Thursday, the administration asked hospitals to discharge all mild and asymptomatic cases. “It has come to the notice that many asymptomatic and mild symptom cases have been admitted in hospital facilities.