Gujarat: Separate Covid-19 Wards for Hindus & Muslims at Hospitals?

For Hindus and Muslims two separate wards have been created as per the state government order, medical Superintendent said.

Ahmedabad| At Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, the wards for novel coronavirus patient and suspected cases have been divided on the grounds of religion. This Hindus and Muslims separation is said to be in line with a state govt decision.

“Award for Hindu patients and another for Muslim patients had been created at the hospital that has 1,200 beds for COVID-19 patients,” a report in The Indian Express quoted medical superintendent Dr Gunvant H Rathod.

However, deputy CM and health minister Nitin Patel denied any knowledge of it, the report stated.

“On Sunday night, the names of 28 men admitted in the first ward (A-4) were called out. We were then shifted to another ward (C-4). While we were not told why we were being shifted, all the names that were called out belonged to one community. We spoke to one staff member in our ward today and he said this had been done for ‘the comfort of both communities’,” a patient was quoted saying.

Dr Rathod said that there are different wards for male and female patients generally. But here, they have also made separate wards for Hindus and Muslims, The Indian Express reported.

Also Read: Guj CM Vijay Rupani To Self-Isolate As Congress MLA Tests COVID-19 Positive After Meet

Dr Rathod confirmed that the decision is taken by the government, IE reported.

A suspected COVID-19 case is kept in a separate ward from those confirmed, as long as the test results are pending, as per hospitalisation rules.

At least 150 of the 186 people admitted in the hospital for COVID-19 are positive.

The Indian Express quoted its hospital sources as saying that at least 40 of the 150 are Muslims.

Deputy CM Patel told IE, “I am not aware of such a decision (onwards as per faith). I will enquire about it.”