Delhi govt reduces ICU beds reservation to 25 pc for COVID-29 patients in pvt hospitals, HC told

Delhi High Court was informed on Tuesday that Delhi government has reduced reservation of COVID-19 ICU beds in private hospitals here to 25 per cent, from 40 per cent earlier.

Justice Navin Chawla listed matter for furr hearing on February 2, after counsel for petitioner Association of Healthcare Providers said he is waiting for instructions from member hospitals on this development and sought some time.

organisation has sought quashing of government's September 12, 2020 order to reserve 80 per cent ICU beds for COVID-19 patients in 33 private hospitals which are its members.

reservation percentage has been grually reduced by government after reviewing pandemic situation. With COVID-19 infection number reaching at its peak of over 8,000 in a day in November, 2020 in Delhi, numbers are now declining and 161 fresh cases were recorded on January 18, 2021.

vocate Sanyam Khetarpal, representing petitioner, informed court that government has issued an order on January 15 reducing reservation to 25 percent in hospitals which have over 100 beds. He said he requires some time to get instructions from member hospitals on this.

As per government’s order, a review meeting was held by competent authority on January 15, in which data with respect to pattern of COVID-19 beds and COVID-19 ICU beds occupancy on that date in 115 private hospitals providing coronavirus treatment was analysed.

Keeping in view low occupancy of COVID-19 beds/ ICU beds in private hospitals, it was decided in review meeting to furr lower reservation of total bed capacity from 30 per cent to 15 per cent, and of ICU beds from 40 per cent to 25 per cent of total bed capacity in 45 hospitals having more than 100 beds and providing coronavirus related treatment, government order said.

It was also decided in meeting that or 70 hospitals which have up to 100 beds shall have option of reserving COVID-19 beds/ ICU beds re.

Earlier, Delhi government counsel h said not a single non-COVID-19 patient has come to court that he was denied treatment in hospital due to 80 per cent of ICU beds reserved for COVID-19 patients.

He h stated that not even a single private hospital has approached high court claiming that y suffered financial loss due to this reservation order.

petitioner organisation’s counsel h contended that ICU beds were kept vacant and even no payment was me by government to hospitals which were facing financial losses. He h furr argued that re was no validity or permissibility to continue with September 12, 2020 order.

Delhi government h told high court that it has decided to de-escalate to 60 per cent number of ICU beds reserved for COVID-19 patients in 33 private hospitals here as was recommended by a De-escalation Committee.

September 12, 2020 order of Delhi government was earlier stayed by high court on September 22 last year. However, a division of high court on November 12, 2020 vacated stay order taking into account change in circumstances since time stay order was passed.

petitioner association h told high court that 33 private hospitals are its members and Delhi government’s order shall be quashed as it was passed in an irrational manner and is ex-facie perverse.

government, however, h contended that situation of COVID-19 infection in Delhi has become critical recently and COVID-19 cases are spiralling and it was critical that 80 per cent of ICU/ HDU beds be reserved for COVID-19 patients in 33 private hospitals. 

(Photo Credit: Twitter/CMODelhi)