Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/DV)

Udupi, Jan 8: Deputy commissioner Kurma Rao on Friday January 7 warned private hospitals against denying beds to Covid patients and said that stringent action would be taken against hospitals in such cases.

Addressing a meeting with heads of private hospitals at zilla panchayat here, the DC said, "If the private hospitals impaneled under Ayushman Bharat deny beds for the treatment of Covid-19 patients sent from the district administration, stringent action will be taken against such hospitals."

"As per the guidelines from the government, all hospitals in the district should reserve a fixed number of beds in all categories for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. If any hospital denies treatment to the patients sent by the district administration, strict action will be taken under KPME Act and Disaster Management Act against such hospitals," the DC warned.

"All private hospitals should report to the district administration about the ILI and SARI patients visiting their hospitals. Information should be uploaded every day in the portal created for the purpose. Action will be taken against hospitals that fail to record information," he added.

He also asked the hospitals to examine the functioning of all types of equipment to treat Covid-19 patients. "If there is any problem in the hospital, it should be brought to the notice of the district administration and resolved," he said.

The hospitals should display the cost of all types of treatment including Covid-19 in a way that is visible to everyone. While shifting the patient from one hospital to another, all documents should be provided without unnecessarily delay. Before admitting a patient to the hospital proper information on ABRK programme should be given, Rao said.

He also directred nodal officers appointed by the district to gather information about private hospital facilities and availability of beds.

ZP CEO Dr Naveen Bhat, ADC Sadhashiva Prabhu, DHO Nagabushan Udupa, KPME Nodal officer Dr Ram Rao, District Covid-19 nodal officer Dr Prashanth Bhat and others were present.