District collector V. Vinay Chand has warned private hospitals against serious legal action if they violate orders from the state government.
At a review meeting with management and coordinators of COVID-19-enabled private hospitals, Mr. Vinay Chand said the government issued a notice on Thursday dividing 40 private hospitals into ‘A’ and ‘B’.
He urged staffed private hospitals to use the experience gained over the past year to better serve COVID-19 patients in the face of the surge in the second wave. The prime minister is keen to offer free COVID treatment to poor patients, he said.
The prime minister had expressed his displeasure in some private hospitals where COVID patients were turned away despite the availability of beds. He wanted hospitals that indulged in such activities to be closed. The collector said that vaccination was given priority to health workers and should now provide better service without fear and work with commitment.
Mr. Vinay Chand said that hospitals should not require bail from patients. They would be reimbursed by the government at the rates set in the past. He also instructed that help desks should be opened at the entrance to the hospitals to provide information to patients and their families.
Surveillance cameras should be installed on all stations, and footage should be sent to the Collectorate and State COVID Center from time to time. According to the collector, private hospitals should have the fire safety audit carried out.
The joint collectors P. Arun Babu and R. Govinda Rao, GVMC commissioner G. Srijana, DM & HO P. Suryanarayana, AMC boss PV Sudhakar and ZP CEO Nagarjuna Sagar were among the participants.