The medical body also condemned the police case filed against authorities of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, after violating rules for registering coronavirus tests
NEW DELHI| On Saturday Delhi Medical Association hit out at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after he strictly warned hospitals of stern action if they refuse COVID-19 patients or indulge in “Black-marketing” of beds amind growing concern over a surge in coronavirus cases in the capital.
The medical body said in a statement, “Delhi Medical Association strongly condemns the way Delhi CM (Chief Minister) is warning the doctors and threatening the hospitals about COVID-19 patients admissions and tests.”
They further added, “Doctors who are serving the people of Delhi tirelessly from last two months in this pandemic crisis risking their lives feel insulted by the way they are being treated.”
“Hospitals are the backbone of healthcare and are serving the patients COVID or Non-COVID. They are being penalised and government instead of praising their efforts is issuing new diktats daily,” the statement said.
The medical body also condemned the police case filed against authorities of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, a leading private facility that has been charged with violating rules for registering coronavirus tests.
In support of 15,000, the statement read, “Doctors of Delhi are already overworked and overstressed in this hour of pandemic crisis and the state government is unnecessarily putting pressure on healthcare systems.”
The medical body demanded a coordination committee for medical professionals and the Delhi government, adequate testing facilities, smoother patient transfers and cremations, and designated authorities for coordinating COVID-19 care.
The strong response from the medical body came as Delhi recorded 1,320 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, taking the total to 27,654 including 761 deaths multiple complaints of patients being refused admission in recent days and reports that medical centres in the capital were swamped.
Addressing online media briefing amid concerns of patients being turned away by hospitals, Mr Kejriwal said the Delhi Government will depute medical professionals in each private hospital to ensure patients are aware of beds available and they are admitted without any hassle.
Mr Kejriwal said, “False refusal cannot be tolerated and admitting coronavirus patients is non-negotiable… There are some private hospitals which are resorting to such means. First, they say they don’t have a bed and when patients insist, they demand a huge amount. Isn’t this black-marketing of beds?”
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
