4 years ago
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The Ministry of Health and Population has stated that action will be taken against the private or teaching hospitals that do not treat the patients of Covid-19.
The ministry is making such arrangements after a Covid-19 infected patient died while visiting various hospitals who refused to treat him. The ministry had earlier directed medical colleges and institutes to set aside at least one-third of beds for the treatment of Covid-19 infected people. Complaints of non-compliance with the directive have increased.
Private hospitals in other parts of the country, including Biratnagar, Birgunj and Janakpurdham in State 2, have been refusing to treat patients infected with the coronavirus.
With the growth in infections, the capacity of government hospitals does not seem to be enough. The ministry has decided to take action against private hospitals and establishments or medical colleges after a patient died without treatment in such a situation.
Ministry spokesperson Dr. Jageshwor Gautam informed that it has been decided to revoke the permission given to the private hospitals for PCR patients that do not provide 20 percent beds for Covid-19 patients.
The ministry has made arrangements for the medical college, which manages one-third of the beds for the treatment of Covid-19 patients, to allow PCR testing.
According to the Department of Health Services, there are 19 medical colleges in Nepal. Of these, four are operated by the public, 14 by the private sector and one by the Nepal Army. Each medical college has its own capacity.
The medical college hospitals have the capacity to accommodate at least 200 to 500 patients. The ministry had last week directed each teaching hospital to allocate 20 per cent beds for Covid-19 patients.
The ministry's 'Incident Command System' has decided to take action against private hospitals or teaching hospitals, said Spokesperson Jageshwar Gautam.
He said that the private hospital had foreseen that the outbreak of Covid-19 is likely to continue for the next one to two years and thus, thought about not treating them.
"Patients who come to the hospital for check-up may be infected with Covid-19 after the operation, so it is not possible to say no to such treatment," he said.
At present, there is a problem in the treatment of coronavirus infected people who come to the hospitals of the cities and states under the federal government.
The pressure of Covid-19 patients has increased in Biratnagar of Province 1, Janakpurdham of Province 2 and Narayani Hospital in Parsa. The pressure of patients is increasing even in the hub hospital built for the Covid-19 treatment by the government.
The ministry has directed the private hospital to prepare for emergencies.
According to Gorkhapatra, the ministry has already instructed to keep the blocks separate, efficient staff management and equipment ready.
