Hours after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal warned private hospitals in Delhi, an FIR has been registered against Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on charges of violating ICMR testing guidelines for coronavirus, following a state government complaint.
The FIR, filed on 5 June, was based on a complaint by Deputy Secretary (Health) Amit Kumar Pamasi.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had alleged that a few private hospitals in Delhi were ‘lying’ about not having vacant beds, and indulging in ‘black marketeering.’
The complaint was filed under IPC Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), against the hospital Medical Superintendent,alleging the hospital was not following ‘mandatory’ guidelines by not using RT-PCR app while collecting COVID samples.
“The CDMO-cum-mission director (central) has mentioned that Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is still not using RT-PCR app as of 3 June, which is a clear violation of directions issued under the Epidemic Diseases COVID-19 Regulations 2020," the FIR stated, IANS reported.
The mobile-based RT-PCR app, launched by the Union health ministry in April, is for collection centres to fill data at the point of sample collection to minimise error in reporting real time data to authorities.
‘FIR is Highly Condemnable’
The FIR has drawn sharp reactions from the Delhi Medical Association (DMA).
“Hospitals are the backbone of the healthcare system. They are being penalised and the government, instead of praising their efforts, is issuing new dictatorial orders daily. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and its doctors who have saved lakhs of lives in the last decades are being penalised and threatened. The FIR against the hospital is highly condemnable and demoralising for the entire medical fraternity,” resident Dr B B Wadhwa said in a statement.
There has been no response from the Delhi government.
Testing for COVID-19 has been stopped at the hospital since 3 June, when the Department of Health issued an order to the hospital.
Kejriwal had earlier even issued a warning to private hospitals on alleged denial of admission to coronavirus patients and said that health officials will be deployed at hospitals to ensure availability of beds to every COVID-19 patient.
List of Demands from Sri Ganga Ram Hospital
“It is a simple communication gap which will be sorted out soon,” D S Rana, chairman of board, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital told The Indian Express.
He has also demanded that the Delhi government appoint DMA professionals with the Delhi government officials to look after the care facilities, provide adequate number of testing facilities for earlier detection of COVID-19 patients, a prompt and efficient system to transport and cremate bodies as per COVID guidelines and a nodal officer for every region who will facilitate overall functioning of COVID care, reported India Today.
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