Vadodara: Deputy chief minister Nitin Patel said on Saturday that hospitals that admit Covid patients unnecessarily will face action. Patel who was visiting the city in the wake of the scary Covid-19 situation said that no lockdown was being considered in the state.
Patel reached Vadodara in the forenoon and remained in meetings for about four hours. Elected representatives, officials and BJP functionaries had remained present in the meetings.
Addressing media persons after the meeting Patel said that the cases had been increasing in the four bigger cities of the state much like in other parts of the countries. “The second wave has come around the same time in several parts of the country. From 700 to 800 cases a day, the state now sees 2,200 to 2,300 positive cases a day. Cases have also been rising in Vadodara city and district too,” said Patel.
In wake of the rising cases in Vadodara, Patel announced that it was decided to set up two testing camps per assembly seat in the city. Rapid antigen tests will be done at these camps that will be set up at public places and will be readily accessible to people.
The deputy CM who also holds the health portfolio said that four community halls of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) in the city will be converted into Covid care centers for the poor and middle class. “Persons having no symptoms or very mild symptoms will be kept there. Medical teams will monitor their condition and refer them to hospitals if the need arises,” said Patel.
Patel said that it had come to light that some private hospitals were admitting patients unnecessarily. “Patients have mediclaims or their companies foot treatment bills. Hospitals keep such patients unnecessarily to inflate bills. Not all may be involved in the practice, but there are some who are doing so,” Patel said.
A committee will be formed by the civic body to look into admissions at hospitals. They will check documents to ensure that people are not admitted in hospitals unnecessarily.“If it comes to light that patients were kept in hospitals without any reasons, we will take action,” said Patel.