108 pvt hospitals in Delhi to charge govt rates on COVID-19 beds

According to the latest government order, all private hospitals in Delhi have to reserve at least 60 per cent of their beds for COVID-19 patients. Only seven hospitals currently meet the requirement and can charge their own rates on the extra beds with the patient's consent. However, the 108 private hospitals that do not meet the 60% requirement can only charge the rates fixed by the government on their COVID-19 beds.

New Delhi: As many as 108 private hospitals in the national capital can only charge the rates fixed by the government for COVID-19 treatment, as these hospitals do not meet the requirement of reserving at least 60 per cent of beds.

Earlier on June 20, the Delhi government had issued an order fixing the cost of a COVID-19 isolation bed in any private hospital in Delhi in the range of Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000 and an ICU bed with ventilator at Rs 15,000-Rs 18,000 per day.

However, out of the total number of beds in any private hospital, a maximum of 60 per cent will have to be dedicated for COVID-19 patients and these beds will be provided to patients at subsidised rates.

The committee, under the chairmanship of V K Paul, member, NITI Aayog, was constituted earlier to ensure the availability of 60 per cent beds by private hospitals at lower rates to coronavirus patients and fix the rate of COVID-19 testing and treatment.

According to a government circular, seven private hospitals in the city, which already have more than 60 per cent beds reserved for COVID-19, can now charge their own rates on the remaining 40 per cent beds, instead of the rates fixed by the government.

The 7 hospitals which meet the requirement

However, these hospitals will have to get the written consent of the patient if they want to charge non-subsidised rates.

Read:Delhi hospital holds patient hostage for unpaid bill

According to the circular, as many as 108 private hospitals have less than 60 per cent beds reserved for COVID-19. These hospitals will have to provide all their available COVID-19 beds at the capped rates.

Subsequently, if these hospitals cross the target of reserving at least 60 per cent of beds for COVID-19, they will have to inform the supervising authority in writing before they charge patients their own non-subsidised rates on the extra beds. Like in the case of the seven hospitals, these hospitals will also have to take the patient's consent before doing so.

Besides, the government order also states that hospitals which were allotted land at concessional rates will have to provide free treatment to EWS patients in at least 10 per cent of beds.

The government capped rates for private hospitals

The government has fixed the new subsidised rates at Rs 8,000-10,000; Rs 13,000-15,000 and Rs 15,000-18,000 including PPE costs for isolation bed, ICU without a ventilator and ICU with a ventilator respectively for all private hospitals.

Read:Create isolation wards, conduct rapid tests to curb spread of COVID-19 in jails: Committee