Chandigarh private hospitals to reserve 25% beds for Covid patients

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 19

In view of the continuous rise in coronavirus cases in the city, private hospitals and nursing homes have been directed to reserve one-fourth of the beds for patients suffering from the virus.

During the war room meeting, UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore ordered that at least 25 per cent of the beds available in private hospitals and nursing homes must be kept reserved for Covid patients.

Fighting the virus

• Area committees to be formed to ensure that residents follow hygiene
• During online classes, the Education Department to give lessons to children regarding hygienic practices to be followed to prevent the Covid infection
• Vendors in markets to be tested through the rapid antigen method so that they do not become super spreaders
• PGI to create a plasma bank and also study whether Covid patients are suffering from any side effects after treatment and recovery

During a meeting with the Administrator, MP Kirron Kher suggested that nursing homes in Chandigarh be allowed to join government hospitals in the fight against Covid-19. She said the city would be in better position with the availability of hospital beds/ventilators at nursing homes for treatment of the disease.

Under the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, the Health Department directed all private hospitals to keep at least 25 per cent of the beds/ICU beds in all specialities for Covid patients on a payment basis. However, the charges will be borne by the patients willing to avail of the facility at these private hospitals at the rates approved by the UT Administration.

On reserving beds in private hospitals, Dr RS Bedi, member of the Indian Medical Association, said, “Private hospitals have already initiated providing beds for Covid patients after discussing it logistically and scientifically with the health authorities. Importantly, nursing homes are also taking a big chunk of non-Covid patients, who are equally entitled to treatment, thereby actively participating in sharing the overall load of patients.”

Meanwhile, the Administrator directed KK Yadav, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, to form various area committees along with councillors, which can help the local administration in keeping a watch over different areas to ensure that residents follow hygienic practices such as wearing of masks and social distancing and ramp up information, education and communication (IEC) activities.

The Administrator also ordered that the Director, Education, must ensure that during online teaching being given by various schools, necessary lessons should be given to young children regarding hygienic practices to be followed to prevent the Covid infection.

Badnore directed the Health Department and the Municipal Corporation to ensure that the vendors in markets are tested through the rapid antigen method so that they do not become super spreaders. The Administrator directed the PGI to create a plasma bank and also to study whether Covid patients are suffering any side effects after treatment and recovery.

Dialysis faciliy for Covid patients at two centres

The Health Department has directed Dharam Hospital, Sector 15-C, Chandigarh, and Rahi Care Dialysis, Sector 22-C, Chandigarh, to reserve two dialysis machines each for Covid patients.

These hospitals can charge up to Rs800 from Covid patients over and above the normal charges in lieu of the extra cost to be incurred on observing the precautions for dialysis of Covid patients.