'Calling Ganga Ram Hospital black-marketeer is black day in medical history: Doctors

New Delhi - Calling Sir Ganga Ram Hospital a "black-marketeer" is a "black day" in the medical history of India, said hospital associations on Sunday, a day after an FIR was filed against the Medical Superintendent of the hospital for allegedly violating directions under the Epidemic Diseases Act.

Speaking to IANS, Rajan Sharma national president of Indian Medical Association alleged that the FIR against the hospital is for public consumption, and its purpose is to "make people rebel against the doctors."

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"This is a gross colossal failure of the country. FIR for not updating Aadhaar details of a person handling the Covid-19 app. Is it a crime? We condemn it. Ganga Ram Hospital is the AIIMS of the private sector", said Sharma.

Criticising the Delhi government''s action on hospitals, Sharma added, "Did the Delhi government ever call a stakeholder meeting of doctors and hospitals on the ways to manage the Covid-19 crisis. Not yet." The registration of the cases against the hospital came on a day Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal without naming any private hospital said that some private hospitals lied that there were no vacant beds available, as they intended to indulge in black marketeering.

The comments from the chief minister came in the backdrop of an unprecedented health crisis, where the growth of Covid-19 cases has attained an upward trajectory, and a 1,000 cases have begun to pop-up daily.

Narottam Puri, Advisor - FICCI Health Services Committee and Chairman - Fortis Medical Council & Fortis Healthcare, said "I am stunned, a few days ago the government showered petals on the Ganga Ram Hospital, and now it is being labelled as a black-marketeer, this is a black day in medical profession.

"The Delhi government should first fill up its own Covid-19 hospitals and then blame the private hospitals. In this hour of crisis, the government should not be vindictive and stop one of the finest institutions in the country. The politicians should act like statesmen and not use terms like ''black-markeeter''", added Puri.

Delhi has so far reported 27,654 cases and 761 people have succumbed to the viral infection. Moreover, social media has also highlighted the people struggling to find beds in hospitals, and the laxity of government hospitals in handling Covid-19 patients.

Since June 3, Ganga Ram Hospital has not conducted any Covid-19 test, following an order from the health department, which sought clarification within two days on why the hospital has not initiated sample collection through RT PCR app.

Dr Alok Roy, Chairman of Medica Group of Hospitals said calling Ganga Ram Hospital a "black-marketeer" is not the way to treat an institution which has provided great humanitarian services over the last many decades.

"There must be some misunderstandings, the government should look into it in detail to resolve and clarify this on priority. It is our appeal to the Delhi government that at this stage, both government and private institutions must work together to overcome the pandemic. Finding faults will not help, let''s work with maturity and patience to fight this disease together", added Roy.

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