New Delhi: 1000 extra beds at govt hospitals for dengue, chikungunya patients

New Delhi: The Centre will reserve 10 per cent beds at all its hospitals in the national capital for dengue and chikungunya patients, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said after meeting Union Health Minister J P Nadda.

Jain said there will be 1,000 extra beds for dengue and chikungunya patients at the government-run hospitals in Delhi.

The city health minister said that for the convenience of patients coming from NCR region, he has suggested Nadda to ask Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to set up fever clinics so that people don't have to come to Delhi hospitals.

"In the meeting, I demanded reservation of 10 per cent beds at all Centre-run hospitals including AIIMS, RML and Safdurjung for treatment of dengue and chikungunya patients. Nadda ji has agreed to it following which there will be additional 1,000 beds at Centre-run hospitals," the Delhi Health Minister told reporters here after meeting Nadda.

Chikungunya and dengue continued to wreak havoc in the capital with the death toll from the two vector-borne diseases climbing to 30 till yesterday even as the number of affected people crossed 2,800.

Yesterday, Jain had written to the Union Health Minister requesting him to convene a meeting of the health ministers of the neighbouring states in order to prepare a strategy to deal with dengue and chikungunya "outbreak" as many of the patients are coming to Delhi due to "lack" of proper healthcare facilities there.

"In view of most patients coming from NCR, I have requested Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to set up fever clinics. According to an AIIMS report, 80 per cent of the patients are coming from NCR," Jain said.

He, however, clarified that Delhi government has not refused any patient coming from neighbouring states for admission at its hospitals.

"If neighbouring states set up fever clinics, there will be convenience to people who have to travel to Delhi. Delhi government hospitals have already been directed not to refuse admission to any patient.

"At our hospital, about 1,500 beds are lying vacant. The situation in Delhi is under control," he added.

In the letter to Nadda yesterday, Jain had said due to lack of proper healthcare facilities in neighbouring states, there is pressure on medical infrastructure in Delhi and hence, there should be a meeting of Health Ministers of the NCR region to review the state-wise action required to augment the healthcare facilities for effective tackling of the issue.