Reservation of Covid-19 ICU beds reduced from 80% to 60%, Delhi govt tells Delhi High Court

The Delhi Government on Sunday has informed that Delhi High Court that it has accepted the proposal of De-escalation committee and reduced the reservation of Covid-19 intensive care unit (ICU) beds from 80% to 60% in 33 private hospitals.

The Delhi High Court was informed on December 23 by Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain that the recommendations of the de-escalation committee under Department Of Delhi Disaster Management Authority are yet to be considered by the Delhi Government and the same will be considered duly by December 26.

Jain informed the Court that views of Dr V.K. Paul of Niti Aayog and Dr Randeep Guleria, director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), will be considered while passing an order on reservation of ICU beds for Covid patients.

The Court had said it would be inhumane to reserve 80% ICU beds for Covid patients, in almost three dozens of private hospital if the positivity rate and cases were falling in the capital city. The Court had also granted opportunity to the petitioner (Association of Healthcare Providers) to make a representation to the government in order to arrive at its final decision.

On Sunday, a meeting was convened where the Dr Paul and Dr Guleria endorsed the recommendation made by the De-escalation committee with regard to de-escalation of reservation of 80% Covid-19 ICU beds to 60%, freeing up to 20% for non-Covid patients. They have also agreed to review the situation by January 15, 2021 in view of the strain found in the United Kingdom and the impact of the New Year Celebrations that would have played out and overall pandemic condition in NCT of Delhi.

Following which, the Delhi Government issued office order on 27/12/2020 signed by the Secretary Amit Singla, Health and Family Welfare, ratifying the move to reduce reserved ICU beds in private hospitals.

The affidavit was filed in the matter of Association of Healthcare Providers Vs The Government of NCT of Delhi challenging the government’s September 12 decision reserving 80% ICU beds in 33 private hospitals in Delhi for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

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