Delhi: Pvt hospitals told to increase beds for combating dengue

NEW DELHI: Delhi government has advised private hospitals and nursing homes to increase their capacity by up to 20% of the approved bed strength in view of increasing dengue, malaria and chikungunya cases. The tariff levied for such beds shall not be more than 50% of the lowest category at the hospital, the government advisory said.
“Hospitals/nursing homes are advised to accommodate extra beds in the existing wards depending on space availability.If required, during exigency extra beds may also be placed in the corridors and waiting areas for admitting patients,” the advisory added.
Officials said the decision comes in the wake of past instances where it was alleged that patients were denied treatment at private hospitals due to unavailability of beds.
“No patient can be denied admission. We have clearly stated in our advisory that in exigency, more than one patient may be accommodated on a single bed. In case a patient needs to be shifted to a higher centre, he/she shall be transferred in the hospital ambulance accompanied by a doctor in coordination with the casualty medical officer on duty of the higher centre,” said an official.
This year, 88 cases of malaria, 49 of dengue and 35 of chikungunya have been reported till July 30. “Post-rains, the incidence of both dengue and chikungunya is likely to increase significantly. The government is taking measures to create awareness about preventive steps, but at the same time steps are being taken to augment infrastructure to deal with any possible crisis,” said a municipal health officer.
Last week, Union health minister J P Nadda wrote to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal stressing on the need to initiate preventive measures to check spread of dengue and other vector-borne diseases. He also asked Delhi government to ensure adequate number of beds, drugs and other logistics in hospitals so that nobody is denied treatment.