Paid, private HDUs to replace affordable ICU unit at Sharda

Greater Noida: Sharda Hospital has decided to withdraw its affordable ICU facility, which was launched earlier this month, after arranging for 600 beds for a government Covid care facility. In its place, the hospital is preparing a private and paid HDU (high dependency unit) with 20 beds and private and paid rooms (both single- and twin-sharing) with 40 beds.
The new facilities come as per a government directive, which allows 10% of the capacity of private medical colleges and institutes to be used as a paid facility for private use to cater to patients’ demands and to remain sustainable.
“An affordable ICU facility has been removed and additional beds have been provided in its place, as required by the government/administration,” said Dr Ajit Kumar, spokesperson for Sharda hospital-SMSR.
Kumar added, to cater to the running costs, they will now utilise 10% of their current bed capacity as a private-paid facility for Covid care.
“The UP government had issued a directive on July 10 allowing all private medical colleges and institutes to use only 10% of their total bed capacity as private, paid facilities. We had an arrangement for 400 beds for Covid care, which is now ramped up to 600 beds. To cater to our day-to-day running expenses as well as demands from willing patients for improved, private-paid facilities, we had arranged a separate paid ICU at an affordable price. We have now handed over that area to the government and are preparing a 60-bed private room-cum-HDU facility,” said Dr Kumar.
While rates for the HDUs and rooms are yet to be finalised, the hospital promises end-to-end facilities, including attached toilet, TV, 24x7 doctor-on-duty, a dedicated 12-member team of a head doctor, junior doctors, nursing and hospital administration staff. “There are patients who have been demanding better services and are willing to pay for it. These beds will cater to that demand as well as address our need for some revenue generation,” said Kumar.