Delhi govt moves SC demanding 80% ICU beds for Covid-19 patients

• Delhi HC had stayed AAP government’s decision to reserve 80% of the ICU beds for Covid patients.
• Therefore, the Delhi government has moved SC against the HC order.
• AAP government has asked for the reservation of ICU beds in 33 hospitals out of the total 160

THD NewsDesk, New Delhi: After Delhi High Court stayed the Delhi government’s decision to reserve 80% ICU beds for Covid-19 patients in private hospitals, Delhi’s AAP government has appealed to the Supreme Court. The state government has moved the SC against the high court order regarding reservation of ICU beds in 33 big private hospitals for coronavirus patients. 

AAP government has contended that reserving ICU beds in 33 hospitals out of the total 160 should not be an issue. 

Moreover, an appeal filed by advocate Chirag Shroff said that the Delhi government takes care of non-Covid patients equally. In proportion to the demand, the government has also increased the number of ICU beds by 30%. 

“The number of cases recorded daily in the last fortnight has been increasing steadily, and the number of cases recorded on November 3 was 6,842, which is the highest so far. As per the recommendations in the 3rd report of the Empowered Group, a total of 20,604 beds will be required for managing the disease burden requiring an escalation of 4,891 beds from the current strength of 15,713 beds,” the petition said.

“This essentially means that the hospitals can increase their Covid ICU beds without decreasing/disturbing non-Covid ICU beds to observe the 80% criteria as mandated.”

“Delhi is known for its good quality healthcare facilities and particularly acts as a magnet for people residing in neighbouring states, who wish to avail these facilities. Covid patients from outside Delhi are regularly coming and are availing the health facilities available in Delhi. Even on November 3, of the total Covid hospitalisation cases, 14% pertained to outside Delhi. If a Covid-19 patient is referred to Delhi and does not get an ICU bed, it will be against his fundamental right to equality and access to proper healthcare and, therefore, reserving ICU beds for Covid patients was a befitting decision,” the appeal said.

In the wake of the pandemic, the Delhi government had decided to reserve 80% of ICU beds for Covid patients exclusively. There are 168 registered private hospitals in Delhi with a capacity of 25 or more beds with a total of 3,239 ICU beds. 

Source: TOI