Delhi hospitals told to buy 1,000 beds

 The state government has ordered hospitals to purchase 1,000 new beds to ensure their availability for dengue patients and the situation is now under control, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said here on Monday.

“The number of beds in hospitals for dengue patients has been increased by three times as compared to last year, but panic is the major reason behind people rushing to hospitals,” Jain added.

In a high-level meeting with top health officials including the health secretary and representatives of hospitals, Jain took stock of the dengue menace in the city.

He directed top administrative officials of Delhi to ensure effective preventive measures to counter the spread of dengue and make the residents of the national capital aware that there is no cause for panic.

“Dengue situation is under control and the people should not panic. Our first priority is to treat dengue patients,” he told reporters after the meeting here.

Addressing the meeting of district magistrates, chief district medical officers and regional health directors in the presence of the health secretary, director of health services and the divisional commissioner, Jain said utmost priority is to make people aware against the adverse effects of self-medication. He said he has also directed the hospitals not to deny admission to patients diagnosed with dengue.

The minister said government hospitals are dealing with the situation in an effective manner and are not turning away even a single patient.