Delay in Reporting COVID 19 deaths: Show cause notices issued to AIIMS, RML, LNJP, Safdarjung hospitals

New Delhi -  The Delhi government has recently issued show-cause notices to four leading health institutes in the national capital, including AIIMS, RML, Safdarjung and LNJP Hospitals, for the delay in reporting death cases due to coronavirus. The Delhi government said that the delay in announcing virus-induced deaths amounted to a violation of government orders and the disaster management act.

While Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital (LNJP) Hospital is a dedicated COVID-19 facility under the Delhi government, rest three hospitals- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Ram Manohar Lohia (RML Hospital) and Safdarjung Hospital are under the central government.

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"Show cause notices have been issued to AIIMS, LNJP Hospital, RML Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital to explain the reasons for delay in reporting death cases and for violation of the directions issued by the Delhi Health Department, as well as by DDMA under the Disaster Management Act," the department said in a statement.

The action has been taken after a total of 57 deaths due to coronavirus, with some even dating back to April 5, were released collectively on May 30. A detailed break-up of deaths reported on May 30 shows that only 4 casualties were recorded on the day and the remaining 53 deaths took place between April 5 and May 29, reports HT

Besides, memoranda have been issued to Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital also to explain the reasons for "delay in reporting death cases and for violation of the directions" issued by the health and other authorities.

The statement also said an advisory has been issued to LNJP Hospital "to be careful in the future" and follow the orders and guidelines issued by the department in letter and spirit so that "no anomaly" is reported in death figured by the government.

Facing criticism for "under reporting" COVID-19 deaths, the Delhi government had recently issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for hospitals and other health facilities in the city on reporting fatalities due to coronavirus.

Delhi recorded its highest single-day spike of 1,295 fresh COVID-19 cases on Sunday, taking the tally to 19,844, as the death toll due to the disease mounted to 473, authorities said.

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