NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Saturday directed 33
private hospitals
to reserve 80% of their total ICU/ HDU beds for
Covid-19 patients
after a surge in the number of cases and the demands for
ICU beds
in the city.
In May, all nursing homes and private hospitals, having 50 beds or more, were told to reserve at least 20% of their total beds for Covid patients.
‘Most patients rushing to hospitals in critical stage’Also certain private hospitals in the capital were turned into fully Covid-19 facilities and in some more than 40% beds were reserved for corona patients.
Recently, there has been a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases and it has been found that the majority of the ICU beds in private hospitals are fully occupied, according to the order of the Delhi government’s health and family welfare department.
“However, if in some hospitals, non-coronavirus patients are already admitted in more than 20% of their ICU/HDU beds, then in such cases, once these non-Covid patients are discharged, the vacant ICU/HDU bed(s) shall thereafter be kept reserved for Covid-19 patients only,” the order stated.
The number of ICU beds for Covid-19 patients in the capital is more than 2,200. Delhi chief minister
Arvind Kejriwal has also directed health authorities to increase the number of ICU beds in hospitals.
Apart from the rising number of cases in the capital, many patients from neighbouring states come to Delhi for treatment, doctors said. “Several patients require ICU care. Influx of patients from other states is a major concern,” doctors said.
As on Saturday, out of total 14,390 hospital beds in the capital, 6,294 were occupied. The number of active Covid-19 patients was 28,059, while 15,371 patients are recuperating in home isolation currently.
Public health experts have expressed concern over rapid rise in new cases in the capital over the past few days. On Saturday, Delhi recorded 4,321new Covid-19 cases.
According to a senior doctor of Lok Nayak hospital, the demand for general beds has gone down as most patients rush to hospitals only when their conditions get worsen, necessitating oxygen support.