The Delhi High Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the matter in which the Delhi government is to reconsider the reservation of ICU beds for Covid-19 patients.
A single-judge bench comprising Justice Navin Chawla while hearing the petition through video conferencing noted that the matter will be reviewed further.
The court was hearing the petition filed by the Association of Healthcare Providers, which had challenged the orders passed by the Delhi government by which it had directed private hospitals to reserve 80% of their total ICU/HDU beds for Covid patients. The petitioners contended the order has been issued without any discussion with private hospitals and without understanding the current demand-supply situation of critical care beds.
Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain submitted, “We need more time keeping in mind the weddings, air quality and on the condition of the infection in the city.”
Whereas Senior Advocate Maninder Singh contended, “Why does the state create for infrastructure because you are virtually nationalising everything.” In government hospitals, 1,782 ICU beds are vacant. The data means nothing, she added.
The Director-General of Health Services submitted a short affidavit seeking 10 days time to effectively carry out a periodic review of the occupancy status of the 33 hospitals, vis-a-vis the then prevailing COVID-19 status, and submit the updated response before the Court.
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The bench has listed the matter for further hearing on December 23.