MillenniumPost
Delhi

‘Hospitals which deny treatment won’t be spared’

“We are planning to come out with a law so that hospitals refusing treatment to an emergency patient can be penalised. In the next couple of days, we will call a special session of the Legislative Assembly to bring in the law,” Kejriwal said. “It is sad that some private hospitals did something so inhuman just for profit... Hospitals which refuse healthcare to patients will not be spared,” he added, referring to the death of two children after they were allegedly denied treatment by hospitals.

However, Kejriwal said that the licenses of the hospitals denying treatment could not be cancelled as there would be a shortage of hospitals if that happens. “If we cancel the licenses of those hospitals, there will be <g data-gr-id="42">shortage</g> of hospitals. But we will punish them,” he said. Kejriwal, in the Cabinet meeting, stressed the need for ensuring accountability of the private hospitals and felt the need to introduce an effective system of patient care, said a government official.

The Delhi Cabinet reviewed the preparation to deal with the situation and decided to intensify the awareness campaign to prevent any panic, which is leading to unnecessary rush in the hospitals across the city.

Before the Cabinet meeting, Kejriwal conducted surprise checks at several hospitals including Guru Teg Bahadur hospital and Dr Hedgewar Aarogya Sansthan in Karkardooma.

Kejriwal’s visit comes in the backdrop of another boy succumbing to dengue and his family alleging negligence by hospitals in the city. On September 8, 7-year-old Avinash Rout had died due to the vector-borne disease after allegedly being turned away by five hospitals which had driven his parents to suicide.

He also said that his government was exploring the idea of taking over private hospitals for a temporary period during an exigency.

Meanwhile, Delhi government summoned administrators of all private hospitals and nursing homes in the city. The meeting was said to be held by Delhi Health minister, Satyendra Jain. As per the Corporations’ fresh data released on Monday, 613 cases of dengue have been reported in the last one week and a total 1,872 patients have tested positive for the <g data-gr-id="31">vector borne</g> disease till 12 September.

Delhi health min calls up Nadda
Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain on Tuesday telephoned Union Health Minister JP Nadda to discuss the situation in the national capital in the wake of the widespread dengue scare here with the disease having claimed 11 lives so far this season. A senior Delhi government official said Nadda asked Jain to tighten the noose around private hospitals by taking strict action if they refuse to admit suspected cases of dengue. “The Delhi Health Minister discussed the dengue situation in the national capital with the Union Health Minister over the phone. Jain also apprised Nadda of the measures taken by the state government to combat the vector-borne disease,” the official said. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Jain visited GTB Hospital and Hedgewar Hospital to take stock of dengue preparedness. Warning that hospitals which refuse patients will be penalised, the Chief Minister said that his government was contemplating bringing in a law to enable temporary takeover of private hospitals during emergencies. “I appeal to everyone to donate blood as much as possible. This will be good... others will get relief,” Kejriwal said. 
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