Mamata asks private hospitals not to refuse treatment to Covid-19 patients

Kolkata, Apr 29 () West Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged private hospitals of thestate not to refuse any patient approaching them for treatmentof coronavirus infection.

The chief minister's appeal came after allegationswere raised that some private facilities are refusing to treatpatients with symptoms of coronavirus.

"We have collaborated with 51 private hospitals (totreat Covid-19 patients). Do not forget that the stategovernment is bearing all the expenses of their treatment. Butother hospitals also can treat coronavirus cases by takingnecessary precautionary measures. I appeal to everybody toprovide treatment to them," she told reporters at the statesecretariat.

"But we also have to look after the vaccination of thechildren, dialysis of patients, pregnant women and cardiacpatients. We will soon issue an advisory for private hospitalsso that they keep their facilities operational and do notrefuse the patients coming for treatment (of Covid-19)," sheadded.

Banerjee also urged doctors to reopen their chambersand start providing treatments strictly following the socialdistancing norms.

Meanwhile, in order to normalise services at hospitalsafter the lockdown is revoked, the health department hasissued a directive asking the state-run facilities to draw upa blueprint for crowd management.

"While there is lack of clarity on when and how thelockdown will be lifted, it is certain that we will have tonormalise hospital services in a phased manner, commensuratewith the evolving situation," the directive said. SCHNN NN