Delhi govt increases 795 beds in private hospitals to fight dengue

New Delhi: In order to accommodate rising numbers of dengue patients, Delhi government has decided to immediately increase 795 beds in 48 new private hospitals and nursing homes on a temporary basis by granting them provisional registration certificates for three months.

Health Minister Satyendar Jain said that provisional registration certificates will be given to new nursing homes and hospitals on the condition that they would only admit fever and dengue patients till further orders.

According to government, the beds occupancy under Economic Weaker Section (EWS) has also gone up in private hospitals, which used to earlier remain vacant.

"Delhi government has decided to immediately increase 795 beds in the national capital by granting provisional registration certificates on a temporary basis to 48 new private hospitals and nursing homes for three months, on the condition that they will only admit fever and Dengue patients till further orders," said a senior government official.

Health Department has issued the order in this regard stating, "The concerned hospital authority will have to ensure that only medically sick patients and fever cases suspected of having Dengue and its complications may be admitted in hospital."

Dengue crisis in the capital showed no signs of abating with a 17-year old boy succumbing to the vector-borne disease today allegedly due to medical negligence, taking the death toll to 17 as hospitals, both private and government were under strain grappling with the rising number of patients.

In its order, the health department also said that the keeper of the hospital has to ensure that there is adequate number of required manpower, equipment and other accessories are stocked and available to take care of admitted patients.

"The tariff of these temporary beds will be 50 per cent less than the respective hospital’s specified charges for the lowest category of economy category patients," official said.

The government has made it clear none of the hospitals granted temporary registration will conduct any OT and Labour Room procedures till these are inspected by the competent licensing authorities and are granted regular clearance.

"Government is willing to take help from all concerned quarters in dealing with the Dengue situation in the national capital and this facility extended to new private hospitals is beneficial for them as well as for the people of Delhi," the official also said.

Government today also released the data of EWS beds in existing private hospitals of Delhi, which shows that most EWS beds are now occupied in private hospitals of the the national capital for the first time.

According to data released by the government, out of 656 EWS beds, 633 beds are occupied in private hospitals across the national capital.

The government has also decided to attach three hospitals having 600 new beds, which are nearly complete in Ashok Vihar, Tahirpur and Janakpuri, with GTB Hospital to tackle the crisis situation. The doctors of the GTB hospital will also treat patients in these three hospitals.

Meanwhile, in a today's review meeting held by West District administration, it was reported by the health Department that 387 cases of dengue have been reported in the entire district during the first fortnight of September.

According to the administration, District Task Force (DTF) of 200 Civil Defence Volunteers (CDVs) will reach out to each and every household in the district to spread awareness about mosquito breeding

"All residential houses, commercial properties and nearby areas will be inspected by CDVs everyday along with specially designed checklist," official said.

The official also said that 500 social workers and Anganwadi workers and 250 schools have been imparted training to work on awareness creation in the last two days.

All government departments including railways, DMRC, DTC, DJB, PWD, police have been directed to carry out inspection of their respective premises.