In view of the increasing number of novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases, the state government has given conditional permission to the private hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients.
The decision assumes significance because as of now the treatment of Covid-19 patients is being done at government hospitals only.
As per the prevailing norms when any admitted patient in the private hospital is found positive for Covid-19 then the patient has to be shifted to the government hospital which causes problems for the patients.
In an order to all the district magistrates (DM) of the state and director general of state health services, the Secretary medical health and family welfare department,
Amit Singh Negi said that the private hospitals can treat the admitted patients found positive for Covid-19 if they fulfil some conditions like they should be registered under the Clinical establishment act and the treatment is in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for co-morbidity patients. These hospitals should have a separate ward for treatment of Covid-19 patients and separate entry and exit for such patients. Apart from it these hospitals should have services of doctors and paramedical staff 24x7 in emergency and the specialist doctors should be available on call.
For treatment of Coronavirus patients the hospitals should have Intensive Care Unit (ICU) facility and all the beds in the isolation ward should have oxygen supply.
The order further mentions that the private hospitals should have pharmacy facilities and should confer to norms of Biomedical waste management rules-2016 and Pollution control board.
The hospitals should have triple layered masks, N-95 masks, PPE kits, face shields, hand sanitisers in required numbers and should follow social distancing norms. The services of dedicated Covid-19 ambulances should be available in these hospitals.