14 private hospitals not to go fully Covid

New Delhi: Delhi government on Wednesday amended its order to declare 14 major private hospitals, including Indraprastha Apollo, Sarita Vihar, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Max SS Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh and Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket as fully Covid hospitals.
The government reviewed its order after these private hospitals submitted representations.A meeting was held under the chairmanship of health minister Satyendar Jain with the representatives from these hospitals on Wednesday.
“It was decided through consensus that keeping in view the interest of treatment of non-Covid patients and also the alarming rise in the Covid-19 cases in Delhi, the 14 private hospitals concerned would cumulatively provide 3,553 beds for Covid-related treatment and the remainder beds in these hospitals shall be used for treatment of non-Covid follow-up patients and patients requiring emergent medical/surgical treatment,” a corrigendum order issued after the meeting stated.
In an order issued by the health department on April 12, these hospitals were directed not to admit any non-Covid medical/surgical patient till further orders.
Together, these hospitals have 4,337 beds out of which only 3,553 beds are now reserved for Covid. “The 14 hospitals would be allowed to temporarily increase their bed capacity up to 35% and the additional beds may also be utilised for treatment of non-Covid patients,” stated the order.
The decision to declare 14 hospitals as fully Covid hospitals was taken in the wake of exponential rise in Covid cases so that more and more beds can be created to accommodate the rising demands for beds. By Monday, the occupancy of Covid ICU beds crossed more than 85% in 57 out of 115 private hospitals and reached 100% in almost all of the large private hospitals. The occupancy of Covid ward beds crossed more than 85% in 32 out of 115 private hospitals and reached 100% in majority of the large private hospitals.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a review meeting with lieutenant governor Anil Baijal on Thursday in the wake of rapid surge in Covid cases in Delhi. The two are likely to discuss the situation and plan the course of action needed to check the rise in cases. Delhi reported more than 17,000 new Covid cases on Wednesday. The CM has, however, categorically stated that the Delhi government is currently not planning any lockdown.