Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: The state government has taken over the rights to admission in all the 21 private hospitals in the state treating COVID-19 patients from May 17 citing various violations of norms.
The order stated COVID-19 patients will be admitted in 50 per cent of the total beds in these hospitals as per the directions of designated officers of the government and the payment for the treatment of DDSSY (state-run insurance scheme) beneficiaries will be made by the government.
This order, applicable for one month, was issued by State Executive Committee secretary Sanjay Kumar under section 65 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
“The information has been received that private hospitals are either not admitting COVID-19 patients as per the earlier order issued for the reservation of beds or charging exorbitant fees for treatment of COVID patients, and denying treatment to the DDSSY beneficiaries,” it stated.
Explaining the rationale behind the state government’s decision, Sawant said private hospitals were not reserving 50 per cent of their total beds for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. “We have also come across the instances wherein private hospitals were not providing COVID-19 treatment under the DDSSY scheme (the medical insurance scheme of the state government),” he told reporters.
The chief minister said COVID-19 treatment in private hospitals would be covered under the DDSSY (Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana) scheme. “We will ensure that 50 per cent of beds in the private hospitals will be kept reserved for treating COVID-19 patients. This will help to ease the load on facilities like the Goa Medical College and Hospital,” Sawant added.
