Govt to vacate some private Covid beds as cases decline

In the 1st phase, state set to release 748 beds in total out of 1,448 beds requisitioned at 13 hospitals spread across 8 districts

A designated Covid hospital in Calcutta:  File picture

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TT   |   Calcutta   |   17.12.20  :  The Mamata Banerjee government has decided to release some of the beds at private hospitals requisitioned for treatment of Covid-19 patients as the number of active cases have steadily declined in Bengal over the past one month or so, said a senior state government official.

“Now the total numbers of active cases are coming down gradually and rates of hospitalisation of Covid patients are also going down. Under these present circumstances, it has been decided that these beds of private hospitals requisitioned by government may be released in phases,” reads an order issued by the director of health services.

According to sources, in the first phase, the state government is set to release 748 beds in total out of 1,448 beds requisitioned at 13 hospitals spread across eight districts.

These beds include critical care beds, high dependency beds and general beds. Although the state government decided to reduce Covid beds in rural districts, it is still cautious about the beds in Calcutta as the city is still reporting highest number of daily cases in the state. 

That is why the state government decided to release only 100 general beds at KPC Medical College and Hospital and retain 710 beds at private hospitals.

“The number of active cases has comedown to 20,000-odd these days from 38,000-odd in the last week of October. The state decided to release some beds as the private hospitals can admit non-Covid patients to the beds to be released by the government,” said an official.

The state government has made it clear that these beds could be requisitioned again if situation demands by issuing a three-day’s notice.

According to senior government officials, the decision would release some of the pressure on the state exchequer. “So, far, the state has spent more than Rs 10 crore to requisition beds at private hospitals. If some of the beds could be released, the pressure on the struggling exchequer would be eased,” said a source.

The state government has also decided to close down some of the safe homes, which were set up at private establishments, because of lack of patients.

“Nowadays, over 90 per cent patients are either asymptomatic or having mild symptoms. Such patients are preferring home isolation. So, most of the beds at the safe homes are lying unused,” said a senior government official.