PANAJI
The government has warned that any private hospital that fails to comply with the government’s order on admissions to Covid patients will be taken to task under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and that legal action will be initiated against its management under Section 188 of the IPC.
The State Government on Sunday notified the order announcing its takeover of Covid admissions at 21 private hospitals across the state for a period of one month from the date of issue of this order or till further orders.
The order to this effect was issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 citing a surge in Covid cases and the possibility of further aggravation of the situation. It comes into force from 7 am on Monday.
“In order to provide sufficient beds for the treatment of Covid patients, private hospitals were earlier directed to reserve a certain share of their total beds capacity for the treatment of such patients. Information has been received that private hospitals are either not admitting Covid patients as per the earlier order issued for the reservation of beds or charging exorbitant fees for treatment of Covid patients, and denying treatment to the Deen Dayal Swasthya patients.
Referring to the posts about water inundation at the newly operationalized supers-specialty block at GMC, CM stated, “The newly constructed super-specialty block at GMC did not suffer any damages. The windows had been left open in several wards and hence, water entered the sea-facing wards. GMC team succeeded in cleaning that up within two hours.”
The only major facility which sustained damage on Sunday due to the cyclone Tauktae was Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium at Bambolim where the glass windows on top of the structure shattered and cyclonic winds and rainwater made their way inside. “The damage is quite extensive and it will not be possible to repair it now. PWD has been instructed to take up the repairs. We have shifted the Covid patients from the affected area towards the dry parts,” CM said.
Pvt hospitals warned of non-compliance
Seva Yojana beneficiaries,” the order states.
Owing to these reasons, the government has decided to requisition the premises of the private hospitals for Covid patients, along with staff, vehicles and services for a period of one month from the date of issue of this order or till further orders.
While the existing hospital management will continue to operate the hospital and its services, the admission of patients for the 50 percent of private hospitals’ bed capacity will be carried out on the directions of the designated government officers.
The payment for Covid treatment of DDSSY beneficiaries will be made by the Government directly to the hospitals based on the treatment provided and upon verification of the bills as per the rates fixed by the Health Department.
The government has warned that any hospital which fails to comply with this order will be taken to task under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and that legal action will be initiated against its management under Section 188 of the IPC.
The 21 private hospitals listed under this order include Manipal Hospital, Healthway Hospital at Old Goa, SMRC Hospital, Victor Hospital, Mothercare Hospital, Imperial Hospital, Vision Hospital, Redkar Hospital, Nagzarkar Hospital, Aster hospital, Borkar Nursing Home, RG Stone Urology & Laparoscopy Hospital, Galaxy Hospital, Horizon Hospital, Classic Hospital, Savaikar Hospital and Trimurti General Hospital.
It may be recalled that through a notification dated April 30, the state government had directed 27 premier private Goan hospitals with ICU facilities to dedicate 50 per cent of their bed capacity, 778 beds in total across the state, for admission and treatment of Covid-19 patients.
