New Delhi, May 24 (IANS): With the increasing number of coronavirus cases in Delhi, the government on Sunday directed 117 private hospitals and nursing homes with a capacity of 50 beds or more to reserve 20 per cent of their total bed strength for coronavirus patients.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, in a tweet, said the decision was taken as the government felt an imperative need to increase the number of beds dedicated to Covid-19 patients.
"The Delhi govt felt an imperative need to increase the no. of beds, dedicated to Covid19 patients. Hence, all 117 pvt hospitals/nursing homes with a capacity of 50 beds or more, have been directed to reserve 20 per cent of their total bed strength for Covid19 patients," Jain said.
In an order issued on Sunday, the Delhi Directorate General Of Health Services said that it was found that in the recent past, a majority of beds earmarked for Covid-19 patients in the dedicated private hospitals are occupied at any given time.
"Therefore there is a need to increase the number of beds dedicated for Covid-19 patients in the private hospitals in the city," the order said.
As on date, it said, there are 117 private hospitals/nursing homes having bed strength of 50 beds or more registered under Delhi Nursing Homes Registration Act, 1953 with the Directorate.
"In order to increase the bed capacity for Covid-19 patients, all 117 nursing homes/private hospitals having bed strength of 50 beds or more are directed to reserve/earmark at least 20 per cent of their total bed strength for Covid-19 patients," it said.
The order also allowed the 117 private hospitals and nursing homes to accommodate 25 per cent extra beds depending on space availability for non-Covid patients, if they choose.
"These 117 private hospitals shall bill the Covid-19 patients as per their respective schedule of charges. However, the billing for non-Covid patients admitted on extra beds shall not be more than 50 per cent of the lowest economy category of the concerned hospital as per earlier practice during upsurge of cases of vector-borne diseases," the order said.
Till date, Delhi has 14 Covid dedicated hospitals in the city, including two AIIMS.