PRIVATE HOSPITALS TO RESERVE 20% BEDS FOR COVID PATIENTS AND ALSO PERMITTED TO CONDUCT COVID -19 TESTS ON SUSPECTED NON COVID PATIENT: DIRECTS DELHI HC

The order has been issued in a PIL filed by Mr. Rakesh Malhotra seeking a direction to be provided to the Delhi government in order to increase the testing capacity for both kinds of patients whether symptomatic or asymptomatic.

It has been directed by the Delhi HC that all the private hospitals who are enlisted to reserve 20% beds for COVID patients are also now permitted to conduct COVID test on symptomatic and asymptomatic person who seeks to take admission in hospital  for any surgery or treatment  and are sanctioned to do so by Indian Council For Medical Research( ICMR). The hospitals are also being equipped to conduct tests.

The Division Bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Subromonyum Prasad has also directed ICMR to file a status report with all the applications by different labs in Delhi who are seeking permission to conduct COVID tests. The status report filed by Delhi Government included 17 labs in public sector which tested around 2900 cases per day and 23 labs from private sector which conducted around 5700 tests per day. The petitioner on other hand claimed the report and stats about private sector labs to be incorrect as 6 labs were rejected to conduct test for COVID Virus. The petitioner also informed the court about phenomenal increase in number of COVID patients in Delhi.

In order to resolve the conflict of which labs have been assigned of conducting test the court has ordered the 23 private sector labs included in the status report to provide their permission letter to check or conduct COVID tests and are also allowed to mention any grievance if faced.

By: Ritika Negi of LCD