Hospitals to face music for denying treatment to Covid patients

The District Magistrate on Monday issued an order stating that if any private hospital denies treatment to a Covid-19 patients then they will have to pay penalty as per the Epidemic Act (1897) without any prior notice.

The decision was taken after the district administration received complaints that some private facilities are refusing to treat patients with symptoms of coronavirus and other critical services which are grave negligence in times of such an epidemic," the order said.

All non-governmental hospitals and medical facilities situated in Gurugram received an order issued to this effect by the district magistrate of Gurugram on Monday.

The order was issued by the District Magistrate Amit Khatri and the order clearly states that "Private hospitals /nursing homes in the district Gurugram shall not refuse any patient approaching them for treatment of coronavirus infection and other critical services.

If any private hospital/nursing home refuses treatment to any such patient, action will be initiated against them under the Epidemic Act (1897) without any prior notice" reads the order issued by district magistrate Amit Khatri.

The health officials said that in the absence of a written order for private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics were denying treatment to symptomatic patients.

"The order will hold them responsible in case they deny admission to any symptomatic a patient requiring Covid-19 or any other critical healthcare treatment," an official said.

Meanwhile, the district administration has decided to upload the test results of the patients on Map Gurugram portal and Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) website so that those who have submitted their samples for Covid-19 testing can access their reports online.

"All test reports will be uploaded on the portal and website, which can be accessed by entering the registered mobile number. It will be OTP-based restricting people from accessing any other patients report," a GMDA official said.

Apart from this, the district administration has changed rules again on allowing entry of people into the city, this time saying that those travelling to Gurugram from the airport or railway stations will not require movement passes.

The deputy commissioner issued an order stating passengers with a confirmed air or train e-ticket in their names will be allowed to travel from the airport or railway station to their home without a movement pass.

Besides this, As per latest reports, Gurugram has reported 317 COVID-19 cases including 33 new coronavirus cases which includes 12 cops on Tuesday.