EWS patients can book beds online

The health and family department of Delhi government on Saturday launched online booking of beds for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in government hospitals.

‘Online booking of free beds will facilitate the smooth transfer of critical and non-critical indoor EWS patients to identified private hospitals,’ said SCL Das, principal secretary of the department. The system will also be accessible to nodal officers for monitoring. In the subsequent review meeting the secretary directed the concerned officers to identify private hospitals for providing 10 per cent IPD and 25 per cent of total OPD completely free of any charges, to the eligible patients of EWS category.

He further added that 78 patient welfare officers have been appointed in Delhi government hospitals for manning the help desks, identifying EWS patients and facilitating their referral and assisting the public to get information on access to health services. Revised protocol for referring/transferring  patients of EWS category from  the OPD and IPD of Government Hospitals to private hospitals is being prepared. The private hospitals will have to ensure display boards showing the provision and availability of free treatment to EWS patients at prominent locations in the hospital.