Private Hospitals Must Reserve 20% Beds for Coronavirus Patients: Delhi High Court
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Among
other major directions, the Delhi High Court has directed that all private
hospitals, which were asked to reserve 20% beds for Covid-19 patients, must
conduct tests of symptomatic and asymptomatic persons.
As the city is undergoing “fast heading
towards becoming the Corona capital of the country, an epithet the city can
well do without”, they should also think over those seeking admission in the
hospital for undergoing surgeries and procedures of other nature as well. A
bench, comprising justice Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad, said it was the
need of the hour that all private hospitals which are equipped with labs to
conduct coronavirus tests and have the sanction of ICMR to do so should be
permitted to conduct tests.
The high court also noted that non-Covid
patients, who are approaching private hospitals for admission to undergo
emergency surgeries and other such procedures, are not being admitted before
getting a coronavirus test done, for which they are compelled to go elsewhere. The
bench said, “It is most unfortunate that non-Covid patients are being made to
wait to undergo a test for Covid-19 at labs other than those which are situated
within the premises of the hospitals, that is equipped and authorised to conduct
the said test”.
It said, “In view of the aforesaid
situation brought to our attention, it is directed that all the private
hospitals in Delhi that have been called upon to reserve 20% beds for admitting
COVID-19 patients are equipped with labs to conduct the COVID-19 test and have
the sanction of the ICMR to do so, should proceed to conduct tests on
symptomatic/asymptomatic persons, who seek admission in the hospital for
undergoing surgeries/procedures of other nature as well”. The order came on the application by advocate
Sanjeev Sharma who contended that there have been several instances where
non-Covid patients needing surgery or other procedures were asked to undergo
testing before that, but the hospital concerned did not conduct the Covid test
since they don’t have the government permission.
