A positive Covid-19 test report is not compulsory for hospital admissions

Bengaluru: On Saturday, the Union Health Ministry said that a positive Covid-19 test report will not be mandatory for admission to a health facility.

In the revised national policy for admission of Covid patients, the Union Health Ministry affirmed that no patient will be denied any services at any cost, including oxygen and essential drugs, even if the person hails from a different city.

The ministry said, “In a significant directive to states, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has revised the national policy for admission of Covid patients to various categories of Covid facilities. This patient-centric measure aims to ensure prompt, effective and comprehensive treatment of patients suffering from Covid-19.”

The directive to all the states and union territories said, ”

Hospitals under the central government, state governments and UT administration, including private hospitals managing Covid patients, shall ensure that requirement of a positive test for the Covid-19 virus is not mandatory for admission to a Covid health facility.

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

It stated that no patient, no matter if he/she belongs to a different city, will  be denied any services at any cost including medications like oxygen and essential drugs.

It said, “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 ministry also directed that the hospital admissions must be on the “basis of need”.

It stated, “It should be ensured that beds are not occupied by persons who do not need hospitalization. Further, the discharge should be strictly in accordance with the revised discharge policy.”

The Ministry has advised issuing the necessary circulars and orders, incorporating these directions within three days, which will be enforced till it is replaced by an appropriate uniform policy.

The Union Health Ministry has previously articulated a policy of setting up a three-tier health infrastructure for appropriate management of suspect/confirmed Covid-19 cases.

The guidance document issued in the same on April 7 anticipated the setting up of Covid Care Centre (CCC) which will offer care for mild cases. These have been set up in hostels, hotels, schools, stadiums etc.

It said, “Functional hospitals like CHC and others, which may be handling regular and non-COVID cases, may also be designated as COVID Care Centres as a last resort.”

The other facility was the Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC) which offers treatment for all cases that have been clinically assigned as moderate.

The ministry said, “These should either be a full hospital or a separate block in a hospital with preferably separate entry/exit/zoning. Private hospitals may also be designated as COVID Dedicated Health Centres. These hospitals would have beds with assured oxygen support.”

Dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH)  was set up to offer comprehensive care mainly for those who have been clinically assigned as severe.

It said, “These hospitals should either be a full hospital or a separate block in a hospital with preferably separate entry/exit. Private hospitals may also be designated as COVID Dedicated Hospitals. These hospitals would have fully equipped ICUs, Ventilators and beds with assured Oxygen support.”