Kejriwal warns private hospitals against selling beds on black market

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 6

Addressing a digital press conference on Saturday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed disappointment over private hospitals denying admission to Covid patients.

He warned of stern action against hospitals involved in the “black-marketing” of beds and said medical professionals would be deployed in each private hospital to ensure patients were aware of beds available in hospitals and they were admitted without any hassle.

A medical professional of the Delhi government will be deployed at the reception of every private hospital and will give information on the bed vacancy in the hospitals as well as ensure that people are admitted.

Kejriwal said, “A few days ago, a person came to me and informed me that he was denied a bed by a private hospital and after many requests, they charged him Rs 2 lakh for admission. On a live TV programme aired a few days ago, an anchor called up a hospital saying he needs a bed for a Covid patient in his family. First, he was denied and later he was told to submit Rs 8 lakh for the admission.”

“Private hospitals play an important role in the development of the health infrastructure of Delhi. However, certain private hospitals are indulging in malpractices even in these distressing times,” he added.

He said testing of coronavirus had not been stopped and currently 36 government and private labs were doing the tests.

Ganga Ram Hospital booked for violations

New Delhi: A case was registered against Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here on the charge of violating the ICMR guidelines on coronavirus testing following a state government complaint. The private hospital was issued a directive by the Delhi government on June 3. The complaint filed by Amit Kumar Pamasi, Deputy Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, against the hospital Medical Superintendent read that the hospital was not using RT-PCR app while collecting Covid samples, which is ‘mandatory’. IANS