NAGPUR: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has come down heavily on private hospitals, directing them to immediately stop admitting walk-in non-critical patients, and provide real-time data on vacant beds. The civic body has warned it would cancel registration and register offences under Indian Penal Code (IPC) against hospitals flouting the order.
Meanwhile, the NMC’s health department, on Tuesday, issued an order to all city hospitals having more than 10 beds to treat Covid-19 patients. “No hospital should deny any Covid-19 patient coming for treatment to their respective hospital/nursing home. All hospitals having more than 10 beds are being designated as dedicated Covid hospitals (DCHC),” reads an order issued by Dr Sanjay Chilkar, health officer of NMC.
TOI has reported on hardship faced by Covid-19 patients and their family members in finding a bed at government as well as private hospitals. Officials said a major reason behind this was that information regarding vacant beds was not being updated frequently. Also, private hospitals were allowing walk-in patients, due to which vacant beds would get occupied without the knowledge of the civic body.
On Tuesday, municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B issued an order that admission of all patients should be only through NMC’s control room. “Hospitals cannot admit Covid patients without telephonic consent of the civic body. If a patient is critical and needs urgent treatment, hospitals can admit him, but they need to inform the control room about such admission and also update it on the portal within one hour,” the order stated.
This is being done to ensure real-time data of vacant beds is available with NMC, so citizens can be provided accurate information. “A non-critical patient has the privilege of time, and he should call the helpline desk for admission. If a hospital is found admitting a non-critical patient without NMC’s consent, we will take strict action,” said additional commissioner Jalaj Sharma.
NMC has received many complaints from citizens regarding private hospitals denying admissions. The civic chief has directed that all hospitals should ensure 80% of their beds reserved for Covid-19 under the government rule are fully utilized at the regulated rates. “Hospitals should not charge beyond the prescribed rates,” officials said.
TOI has also highlighted many such complaints. Recently, the paper reported discrepancy in number of beds available and numbers displayed on the NCM portal. “Private hospitals are not updating real-time data of admissions and bed availability, which is causing extreme hardship and psychological trauma to patients and their kin,” Radhakrishnan said, adding that this has also affected the health of some patients.
Meanwhile, mayor Sandip Joshi has instructed NMC officials to issue notices to all 637 private hospitals in city to make them treat Covid patients. According to him, each hospital will have to reserve at least 5 beds for Covid patients and those who do not comply might face cancellation of licenses.
Joshi further said that hospitals unable to reserve beds should provide manpower to NMC and government medical colleges. “NMC has 200 beds but due to insufficient manpower it is not able to provide services. IGGMCH can treat 300 more patients and GMCH can treat 100 more patients if they get manpower. Private hospital owners should behave altruistically and offer services to government hospitals,” he said.
The mayor held a meeting with representatives of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Vidarbha Hospitals Association (VHA) wherein he highlighted that number of Covid-19 cases has risen exponentially this month, leading to extreme shortage of beds.
State government has also taken cognisance of excess bills being issued to Covid patients by private hospitals. The chief secretary has issued a directive to NMC, and the latter has constituted a pre-audit committee to vet bills of private hospitals. Additional municipal commissioner Jalaj Sharma said hospitals which charge more than prescribed NMC rates will be strictly dealt with.