Beds in hospitals run by Delhi government will be reserved for Delhiites only, said Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi in a television address on Sunday, June 7. The orders by the government will stay in effect until the COVID pandemic subsides, he added. However, the Centre-run hospitals will remain open for all, the CM said.
Hence, hospitals like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital etc. which are Centre run will be open to all and no such restrictions apply to these. Moreover, private hospitals that undertake specialised surgeries are also exempted from the reservation, according to the CM’s address.
The orders from the CM will come in effect from Monday, June 8 and with this, the national capital reopens its borders as the fifth phase of the lockdown begin wherein the interstate movement has been allowed, offices, malls, markets, religious places have been reopened and more relaxation have been given both from the Centre and the States.
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Padmini Singla, Delhi Health Secretary signed an order in late-night on June 7Aregarding the announcements made by the CM earlier in the day. According to the order, a surge in the number of COVID patients has been observed in Delhi in the past few days and this calls for additional demand for hospital beds, consumables and infrastructure. Therefore, “…It is hereby ordered that all the hospitals operating under Government of NCT of Delhi and all the private hospitals & nursing homes shall ensure that only bona fide residents of NCT of Delhi are admitted for treatment in these hospitals. However, transplantation, oncology, neurosurgeries will continue to function for all patients, irrespective of the place of residence. Also, any medico-legal victims of road accidents, acid attacks happening within NCT of Delhi will continue for all patients, irrespective of place of residence,” read the order.
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Patient’s voter ID, bank/kisan/post office current passbook, ration card, passport, driving licence, Income-Tax returns filed or assessment order, latest water, power, gas, telephone bill on the address either in the name of the patient or that of his/her immediate relation, and the postal department’s post received in the patient’s name at the given address will be considered as the proof of residence, as per the order. For minors, the abovementioned documents should be in the name of parents, or Aadhaar card made prior to June 7, 2020, will be considered valid, it added.
The Government of Delhi made this decision of striking a balance and providing reservation for Delhiites following an appeal from the CM wherein he asked the citizens of the national capital to file suggestion regarding the issue. Kejriwal, in his address, mentioned that the decisions have been made considering the suggestions from the people of Delhi as well an expert committee headed by the vice-chancellor of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Dr Mahesh Verma.