Delhi LG remarks 'COVID treatment made affordable' as Home Ministry caps hospital charges

Delhi LG Anil Baijal remarked that COVID treatment has been made 'affordable' in national capital with guidance of Home Minister. This comes after Ministry of Home Affairs informed that Amit Shah had constituted a committee under Member of Niti Aayog to fix rates charged by private hospitals for isolation beds, ICUs without ventilator support and ICUs with ventilator support.

Home Ministry informed on Friday that committee recommended Rs 8000-10000, Rs 13000-15000 and Rs 15000-18000 including PPE costs for isolation bed, ICUs without and with ventilator respectively to all hospitals as compared to current charges of Rs 24000-25000, Rs 34000-43000 and Rs 44000-54000 (excluding PPE cost). 

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Delhi: Testing capped at Rs 2400

Delhi government has also directed to cap COVID testing rate at Rs 2400, as per Home Minister Amit Shah's directive. Moreover, testing too has been doubled from 4000-5000 daily to 16,618 samples in two days - June 15 and 16, stated MHA. While reports of 6510 have been received, remaining will be received by 18 June. Delhi is third to cap testing rates after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

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MHA has also stated that from 18 June, Delhi will be given priority to test COVID-19 patients via Rapid Antigen method, approved by ICMR. apex science council has stated that negative results of antigen must be confirmed by RT-PCR tests.

Baijal revokes 5-day quarantine order 

In face of stiff opposition from Delhi government on his '5-day institutional quarantine', Delhi's Lieutenant goverr Anil Baijal, on Saturday, rolled back his order. decision was taken in second meeting held between L-G and ministers on Saturday. Baijal stated that only those people who 'do t have adequate facilities for home isolation' will undergo institutional isolation.

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