‘Positive test not mandatory for hospitalization’
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 9: Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam, also Chairperson of State Executive Committee has ordered that no patient will be refused services on any count in J&K hospitals, including Government or private.
“J&K hospitals will provide services like mediation such as oxygen or essential drugs even if the patient belongs to a different city,” the order stated adding that no patient shall be refused admission on the ground that he/she is not able to produce a valid identity card showing him/her to the city where the hospital is located.
“Admission to a hospital must be based on need. It should be ensured that beds are not occupied by persons who do not need hospitalization. Further, the discharge should be strictly in accordance with the revised extant discharge policy in vogue presently,” it maintained.
This development came after the Supreme Court of India issued a national policy for admissions in hospital for suspect/confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Now, there will be no need of production of a positive report of COVID-19 for admission to a COVID health facility and a suspect case shall be admitted to the Suspect Ward of COVID Care Centre, Dedicated COVID Health Centre or Dedicated COVID Hospital as the case may be depending on the medical condition of the person based on a medical assessment.
While issuing new National Policy for admission of patients in hospitals in the country, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has directed that no hospital including private, can refuse admission/ service to the COVID-19 or COVID suspected patients.
Official sources said that on the intervention of the Supreme Court of India in a suo-moto writ petition, dated April 30, 2021, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued new National Policy for admission in hospitals for the suspect/ confirmed COVID-19 cases. This patient -centric measure aimed to ensure prompt, effective and comprehensive treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19 in the country, the sources said.
According to the directive of the Union Government to all the States and Union Territories, the hospitals under the Central Government, State Governments and the Union Territory Administrations, including private hospitals, managing Covid patients, can not now refuse admission to the COVID-19 or COVID suspected patients.
The Government further directed that no patient will be refused services of any count, which include medications, such as oxygen or essential drugs, even if, the patient belongs to different city or area.
The Government strongly declared that requirement of a Positive test report for COVID -19 virus, shall not be mandatory for admission to a COVID hospital/ health facility. It further directed that a suspect case shall be admitted to the Suspect Ward of COVID Care Centre (CCC), Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC) or Dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH), as the case may be, depending on the medical condition of the persons based on a medical assessment.
As per new guidelines, the Government said, no patient shall be refused admission on the ground that he/ she is not able to produce a valid `Identity Card’ that does not belong to the city where the hospital is located. The Government further directed that admission to a hospital, must be based on the need and it should be ensured that beds are not occupied by persons who do not need hospitalization. Moreover, the discharge should be strictly in accordance with the revised extant discharge policy in vogue at present.
The Government further warned that any deviation from this order by any hospital/ health care centre/medical Institution, shall attract penal action under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The order is effective from May 9, 2021.
The Union Health Ministry also advised all the Chief Secretaries of the States / UTs to issue necessary orders/ circulars in this regard, incorporating directions within three days.
The official sources said that Union Health Ministry had earlier, enunciated a policy of setting up of three-tier health infrastructure for appropriate management of suspect/ confirmed COVID -19 cases. The guidance document issued in this regard on April 7, 2020 envisaged setting up of a COVID Care Centre that shall offer care for mild cases. These have been set up in hostels, hotels, schools, stadia, lodges etc. COVIDboth public and private.
As per the policy the functional hospitals like CHCs etc which may be handling regular, non-COVID cases may also be designated as COVID Care Centres as a last resort. Moreover, the dedicated COVID Health Centres shall offer care for all cases that have been clinically assigned as moderate. These should either be a full hospital or a separate block in a hospital with preferably separate entry/exit/ zoning. Private hospitals shall also be designated as Covid Dedicated Health Centres and these hospitals should have adequate beds with assured oxygen support. Dedicated hospitals would have fully equipped ICUs, ventilators and beds with assured oxygen support, the sources added.
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