Covid-19 positive test report not mandatory for admission to Covid health facility — Health minister

Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 8 (EMN): A positive test report for Covid-19 is not mandatory for admission to a Covid health facility, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

In a directive issued to all states and union territories on Saturday, the Ministry said that admissions to hospitals must be based on need and beds shouldn’t be occupied by persons who do not need hospitalisation.

“Covid-19 positive test report NOT mandatory to get admitted at Covid health facility,” tweeted Health minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan. He added that it was “a significant directive” to ensure “comprehensive” treatment for Covid-19 patients.

The directive includes private hospitals managing Covid-19 patients.

“A suspect case shall be admitted to the suspect ward of Covid Care Centre (CCC), Dedicated Covid Health Centre (DCHC) or Dedicated Health Centre (DHC) as the case may be,” a PIB update stated.

The Ministry directed that no Covid patient would be refused services including medications, such as oxygen or essential drugs even if the patient belongs to a different city.

Further, it said that no patient should be refused admission on the ground that he or she is not able to produce a valid identity card that does not belong to the city where the hospital is located.

As for discharge of patients, it should be strictly in accordance with the revised discharge policy for Covid-19 as directed by the Ministry, it added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry advised chief secretaries of states and union territories to issue necessary orders and circulars, incorporating its directions within three days and enforced till replaced by an appropriate uniform policy.