Delhi: Medical students, dentists to be roped in for Covid hospitals

As per the November order, which the current one follows, the medical students, interns and dentists will be given a stipend of ₹1,000 to 2,000 depending on the shift.

With the number of Covid-19 cases on the rise, the Delhi government has allowed extending the tenure of existing resident doctors by six months and recruiting others for vacant posts to augment resources as the city is in the process of increasing the bed strength for treatment of the viral infection.

The government also ordered for the opening of a 100-bed Covid health centre for patients, who need monitoring but can manage without hospitalisation. (Biplov Bhuyan/HT file photo)

The government also allowed hiring of fourth and fifth year medical students and dental doctors, as it had done during the third wave of the infection in November, when the coronavirus cases reached its peak. The medical students and dental practitioners were to be deployed in non-core areas.

As per the November order, which the current one follows, the medical students, interns and dentists will be given a stipend of ₹1,000 to 2,000 depending on the shift.

The government also ordered all district medical officers and medical directors of hospitals to issue oxygen concentrators and pulse oximetres to severe patients in need of long-term oxygen therapy after discharge from the hospital. The pulse oximeter and oxygen concentrators are machines that selectively remove nitrogen from atmospheric air and concentrates oxygen that is administered to patients. The government also ordered for the opening of a 100-bed Covid health centre for patients, who need monitoring but can manage without hospitalisation.

Nursing homes can treat Covid patients: Govt

After directing 115 private hospitals to earmark at least 50% of beds for the treatment of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the Delhi government on Saturday allowed nursing homes with less than 50 beds and “willing” to treat Covid-19 patients to do so.

The nursing homes will have to give an undertaking that they were following all guidelines for Covid-19 isolation and ensuring no mixing of Covid and non-Covid patients.

Inspections will be conducted by district officials to ensure that all Covid-19 appropriate norms are followed.

Action will be taken against those not following the norms after giving the undertaking, the order read.

During the last surge in cases, when the Delhi government tried to rope in nursing homes there had been a backlash, with most such institutions stating that they were located in residential areas and that can potentially lead to the spread of the virus.

The government later had to scrap that order.