Hospitals told to add more beds to tackle dengue, chikungunya outbreak

The Delhi government has issued a circular allowing all private hospitals and nursing homes to increase their approved bed strength by 10–20% for a period of six months. The step has been taken pre-emptively to prepare the hospitals to tackle a dengue or chikungunya outbreak in the capital.

The Delhi government has issued a circular allowing all private hospitals and nursing homes to increase their approved bed strength by 10–20% for a period of six months. The step has been taken pre-emptively to prepare the hospitals to tackle a dengue or chikungunya outbreak in the capital.

Last year, Delhi had a chikungunya outbreak that affected 7,760 people and in 2015, there was dengue outbreak that affected nearly 16,000 people and killed 60, according to official figures. (Sushil Kumar/HT PHOTO)

“This duration of the bed increase will be reviewed later depending upon the load of dengue and fever cases in the city,” the circular issued by the director general of health services Kirti Bhushan read.

The city has already reported 89 cases of chikungunya and 36 cases of dengue from January to May 13, according to the weekly report released by the Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD).

Anticipating an outbreak, the Delhi government this time wants to prepare ahead of time. “On analysing data of last four months, it has been observed that this year cases of dengue and chikungunya were reported from the month of January, which is usually a non-transmission period. It is likely that the number of cases may increase in the pre and post mosoon season,” the circular by the directorate general of health services read.

Last year, Delhi had a chikungunya outbreak that affected 7,760 people and in 2015, there was dengue outbreak that affected nearly 16,000 people and killed 60, according to official figures.

The circular issued by the government has asked the hospital and nursing homes to accommodate the extra beds in existing wards, corridors or waiting areas, depending on availability of space. “The rules that fix the bed strength in hospitals and nursing homes will be relaxed for a period of six months. However, these extra beds can be used to admit only dengue, chikungunya and fever patients and the charges for these beds should not be more than 50% of the cost of their lowest price,” said a health department official.

The DGHS has also asked hospitals and nursing homes to not deny treatment or admission to any dengue, chikungunya or fever patient. “In exigency, more than one patient may be accommodated on a single bed,” the circular reads.

“Also, if a patient has to be transferred to a higher centre, it is the hospital’s responsibility to arrange an ambulance and send a doctor, who can coordinate with doctors at the higher centre,” said the official.