Signaling relief to COVID patients across the state, Rajasthan Medical and Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma issued instructions to private hospitals in Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer and Bikaner to reserve 30% of total bed and treatment capacity for COVID positive patients.

Dr Sharma said that though the role of private hospitals in the state has been significant and appreciable, there are still a few big hospitals in these districts, who are refusing treatment for COVID patients citing unavailability of relevant facilities.

The instructions issued by Dr Raghu Sharma said that private hospitals in Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Kota and Bikaner having bed capacity of 80 and above will have to mandatorily dedicate a minimum of 30% of their capacity to COVID positive patients. He added that private hospitals with bed capacity of 60 or more in Ajmer and Bikaner will also need to dedicate 30% of their capacity for COVID positive patients.

The minister's instructions detailed that these hospitals will have to separate the bed facility for COVID and non COVID patients with immediate effect and the treatment of COVID patients will have to be done as per the defined COVID treatment protocol. The rates defined by the government as per orders on 3 September will be applicable.

Instructions to this effect were issued today to all private hospitals in the given districts by Principal Secy Health and Medicine, Akhil Arora.