Ganga Ram Hospital booked for ‘violating’ COVID-19 testing norms

NEW DELHI: Delhi government on Saturday registered an FIR against Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for the alleged violation of the Coronavirus testing guidelines put in place by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR). The private hospital was issued an order by the Delhi government on June 3 on the same matter. The complainant is a senior official in the Health Department of the Delhi Government.

The FIR has been filed against the medical superintendent of

SGRH under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC for allegedly violating directions issued under Epidemic Disease COVID-19, Regulation 2020.

“It was an oversight, due to the lockdown we are understaffed. This is not a serious offence. We have already responded to Delhi Govt’s notice for not updating details on the RT-PCR App. We hope this issue is settled soon,” said Dr DS Rana, Chairman of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

The FIR said, “The CDMO cum mission director central has mentioned that Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is still not using RT-PCR app even till June 3, which is a clear violation of directions issued under Epidemic Disease Covid-19 Regulation 2020 Act”.

The hospital was allegedly not using the RT-PCR app while collecting COVID-19 samples. As per the guidelines, it is mandatory for labs to collect samples through the RT-PCR app, it said.

The Delhi government had also announced that the hospital with 675 beds must reserve 80 per cent of its capacity for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.