Coronavirus positive test not mandatory for admission to Covid-19 facility

n Health Ministry said no patient will be refused services on any account, including oxygen and essential drugs

A person suspected of having Covid-19 need not produce a positive test report for admission to a healthcare facility, the health ministry said on Saturday.

The ministry revised the admission policy for Covid-19 patients and also made it clear that no person would be denied admission on the ground that he or she does not possess an identity card of a city where the hospital is located.

The ministry had received several complaints from patients who were refused admission in government healthcare facilities as they were not domicile residents of the place where the hospital was located.

“This patient-centric measure aims to ensure prompt, effective and comprehensive treatment of patients suffering from Covid-19,” the revised policy document said.

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The new guidelines will be applicable in all hospitals under the Centre, state governments/Union Territory administrations as well as private hospitals managing such patients.

“No patient will be refused services. This includes medication such as oxygen or essential drugs even if the patient belongs to a different city,” the revised policy said.

It added that no patient shall be refused admission on the ground that he/she is not able to produce a valid identity card that does not belong to the city where the hospital is located.

The policy stated that admissions to a hospital must be based on need and beds should not be occupied by people who do not need hospitalisation.

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“Further, the discharge should be strictly in accordance with the revised discharge policy,” it added.

The health ministry has advised the chief secretaries of states/UTs to issue necessary orders and circulars, incorporating the above directions within three days, which shall be enforced till replaced by an appropriate uniform policy.

The Health Ministry had outlined a three-tier policy for Covid-19 patients where in mild cases are to be admitted in Covid Care Centres, patients with moderate symptoms to Covid Healthcare Centres and severe cases to Dedicated Covid Hospitals.