Delhi govt orders private hospitals to increase dedicated COVID-19 beds by over 20%

As coronavirus cases in Delhi continue to rise at an alarming rate, the Arvind Kejriwal government on Tuesday ordered over 20 private hospitals to increase the number of dedicated COVID-19 beds by 20%, taking the number from 1,441 to 3,456.

An official order was issued by Vikram Dev Dutt, Principal Secretary, Health Department on Tuesday which directed the hospitals to admit COVID-19 patients as per "revised allocation of beds" and to "update on Delhi corona app immediately".

The hospitals include Apollo, Fortis, Max, Holy Family, Batra, Mata Chanan Devi and BLK.

Informing Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal about the present availability of beds, the government said that 8,821 hospital beds, 582 ICU beds, and 468 ventilator beds are available in COVID-19 hospitals in Delhi at present.

At least 500 additional beds in government hospitals have also been also reserved for coronavirus patients. 

Baijal observed that if the surge in COVID-19 cases continues unabated then at least 80,000 beds will be required by the end of July. 

He further assured that as the chairperson of Delhi Disaster Management Authority, he has been periodically reviewing Delhi's plans to fight the pandemic.

Clarifying on the decision to strike down Delhi government's order that reserved hospitals for city residents only, the L-G said that he was forced to do so as it violated constitutional right to equality and right to life which includes right to health.