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NEW DELHI: A day after TOI highlighted the lack of beds for Covid-19 patients in the city of the private hospitals, the Delhi government took note of the crisis and decided to increase the allocation in these hospitals.
It is addressed to all private hospitals and nursing homes with a capacity of 50 beds or more to reserve at least 20% of their total bed strength for coronavirus of patients.
Up to now a total of about 650 beds were available for the coronavirus patients in around eight private hospitals, while 10 were designated as Covid-19 hospitals. After the government of addresses, this number is expected to increase to about 3,000, about five times the current availability.
As on date, the government, he said, there are 117 private hospitals or nursing homes have a bed strength of 50 or more. Now, all these hospitals have to allocate beds for Covid-19 patients.
TOI had reported on Saturday how almost 80% of beds in private hospitals designated by Covid-19 in Delhi were busy. Best hospitals such as Apollo at Sarita Vihar, Max Smart in Saket, Fortis in Shalimar Bagh and two Sir Ganga Ram hospital in Pusa Road, had confirmed that most of their beds were running full.
117 private hospitals to reserve 20% of beds for Covid
The government’s decision marks a significant change from its previous policy of designating only the hospitals or units Covid-19 of treatment that can be fully converted in Covid-19 facilities so as to prevent the mixture of Covid-19 patients with others.
“Government of Delhi felt the need of increasing the number of beds dedicated to Covid-19 patients. Therefore, all the 117 private hospitals, nursing homes with a capacity of 50 beds or more have been directed to reserve 20% of their total bed strength for Covid patients,” Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain tweeted on Sunday, along with a copy of the order of the government for the expansion of Covid-19 beds in the private sector.
The order states that the government is going to append the Delhi Nursing Homes Registration (Amendment) Rules 2011 to allow all hospitals that treat Covid-19 patients to accommodate a 25% capacity for extra beds in function of the availability of space for non-Covid patients, if they so choose.
“These 117 private hospitals are required to bill the Covid-19 patients as per their respective schedule of charges. However, the billing does not Covid patients admitted in beds shall not be more than 50% of the lowest category of economy of the concerned hospital as per the previous practice during the increase of cases of vector-borne diseases”, he adds.
Dr Vinay Aggarwal, executive member of the Delhi Medical Council (DMC), said that an increase in the availability of beds in private hospitals is very necessary.
“Since it is a national disaster, we all need to participate. The non-Covid-19 hospitals will have to identify the smallest units that are independent from the main block to accommodate Covid-19 patients. Needless to say, the infection control measures need to be stepped up too to ensure that the rest of the patients did not feel scared,” he said.
The dr. Aggarwal, however, added that many of the smaller hospitals and nursing homes with more than 50 beds operate from residential areas and, given the stigma associated with Covid-19, there might be some resistance against the decision.
Ashok Agarwal, lawyer and public health activist, suggested that the government should select private hospitals, and declare the 100% Covid-19 appointed in place of direct allocation of a couple of beds.
“It can lead to a scare among the non-Covid-19 patients. We are already seeing many patients who suffer from diseases such as cancer and heart disease that they are afraid to go to the hospital for fear of contracting Covid-19,” he said.
BJP targets Delhi govt
Delhi BJP on Sunday alleged that the crown of patients who were not receiving appropriate treatment due to the lack of availability of beds in the health facilities. It was alleged that while the Delhi government claimed to have beds and other facilities for the treatment of 30,000 patients, told the court that 3,150 beds were allocated in the government and in private health facilities. Delhi government, however, rejected the accusations and said he had preparations to 10,000 patients, while the action plan for 30,000 patients was ready.
Video:Delhi: Five-fold hike in Covid-19 beds in private hospitals
It is addressed to all private hospitals and nursing homes with a capacity of 50 beds or more to reserve at least 20% of their total bed strength for coronavirus of patients.
Up to now a total of about 650 beds were available for the coronavirus patients in around eight private hospitals, while 10 were designated as Covid-19 hospitals. After the government of addresses, this number is expected to increase to about 3,000, about five times the current availability.
As on date, the government, he said, there are 117 private hospitals or nursing homes have a bed strength of 50 or more. Now, all these hospitals have to allocate beds for Covid-19 patients.
TOI had reported on Saturday how almost 80% of beds in private hospitals designated by Covid-19 in Delhi were busy. Best hospitals such as Apollo at Sarita Vihar, Max Smart in Saket, Fortis in Shalimar Bagh and two Sir Ganga Ram hospital in Pusa Road, had confirmed that most of their beds were running full.
117 private hospitals to reserve 20% of beds for Covid
The government’s decision marks a significant change from its previous policy of designating only the hospitals or units Covid-19 of treatment that can be fully converted in Covid-19 facilities so as to prevent the mixture of Covid-19 patients with others.
“Government of Delhi felt the need of increasing the number of beds dedicated to Covid-19 patients. Therefore, all the 117 private hospitals, nursing homes with a capacity of 50 beds or more have been directed to reserve 20% of their total bed strength for Covid patients,” Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain tweeted on Sunday, along with a copy of the order of the government for the expansion of Covid-19 beds in the private sector.
The order states that the government is going to append the Delhi Nursing Homes Registration (Amendment) Rules 2011 to allow all hospitals that treat Covid-19 patients to accommodate a 25% capacity for extra beds in function of the availability of space for non-Covid patients, if they so choose.
“These 117 private hospitals are required to bill the Covid-19 patients as per their respective schedule of charges. However, the billing does not Covid patients admitted in beds shall not be more than 50% of the lowest category of economy of the concerned hospital as per the previous practice during the increase of cases of vector-borne diseases”, he adds.
Dr Vinay Aggarwal, executive member of the Delhi Medical Council (DMC), said that an increase in the availability of beds in private hospitals is very necessary.
“Since it is a national disaster, we all need to participate. The non-Covid-19 hospitals will have to identify the smallest units that are independent from the main block to accommodate Covid-19 patients. Needless to say, the infection control measures need to be stepped up too to ensure that the rest of the patients did not feel scared,” he said.
The dr. Aggarwal, however, added that many of the smaller hospitals and nursing homes with more than 50 beds operate from residential areas and, given the stigma associated with Covid-19, there might be some resistance against the decision.
Ashok Agarwal, lawyer and public health activist, suggested that the government should select private hospitals, and declare the 100% Covid-19 appointed in place of direct allocation of a couple of beds.
“It can lead to a scare among the non-Covid-19 patients. We are already seeing many patients who suffer from diseases such as cancer and heart disease that they are afraid to go to the hospital for fear of contracting Covid-19,” he said.
BJP targets Delhi govt
Delhi BJP on Sunday alleged that the crown of patients who were not receiving appropriate treatment due to the lack of availability of beds in the health facilities. It was alleged that while the Delhi government claimed to have beds and other facilities for the treatment of 30,000 patients, told the court that 3,150 beds were allocated in the government and in private health facilities. Delhi government, however, rejected the accusations and said he had preparations to 10,000 patients, while the action plan for 30,000 patients was ready.
Video:Delhi: Five-fold hike in Covid-19 beds in private hospitals
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