Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday directed all private hospitals, having bed strength of 30 and above, and located within the limits of five municipal corporations, to designate minimum 50 per cent of their general beds and 80 per cent of ICUs for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
The order is applicable for Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Rourkela.
These hospitals will charge the patients at a rate as communicated by the government earlier, a notification issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department said.
Also Read: Odisha Govt Caps Treatment Costs For COVID-19 Patients In Private Hospitals
They have also been given an option to convert the entire facility into a COVID hospital.
Such private hospitals were earlier asked to reserve 10 per cent of all beds for the COVID patients.
This comes close on the heels of the government’s decision to close all COVID care facilities – COVID Care Centres, COVID Care Homes and Temporary Medical Camps- due to nil occupancy.
Also Read: COVID Care Facilities To Be Closed In Odisha Due To Nil Occupancy
There also have been reports about a massive shortage of ICU beds in the Odisha capital, which has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases in the last 15 days.
