Kolhapur reserves 7,800 beds as per Maharashtra order

KOLHAPUR: The district administration has listed 7,800 beds in 694 private hospitals for treating Covid-19 and non-Covid patients as per the charges fixed by the state government.
The hospitals in areas outside Kolhapur city, which will have to have fixed charges for 80% of the beds, have been notified. The process of notifying hospitals in Kolhapur city is going on. Currently, some of the private hospitals are not just screening Covid-19 patients but also providing them treatment as per the guidelines of the government.
The state government has invoked the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act for the private hospitals to ensure the Covid and non-Covid patients referred to these hospitals get proper treatment.
District health officer Yogesh Sale said, “We have all the infrastructure in place to treat the Covid-19 patients. We are also seeking services of private doctors in Covid care centres. As per the state government order, 80% of the beds in the private hospitals have to be reserved. Accordingly, we have listed and notified the hospitals and the doctors working therein.”
“Incase there is a surge in the number of Covid-19 patients, we will refer them to the private hospitals. Charges have been fixed for treatment and surgeries of non-Covid patients. Action will be taken if we find that any patient referred to the private hospitals have been overcharged,” said Sale.