In the wake of increasing dengue cases in the Capital, Delhi Health Minister, Satyendra Jain, has directed the officials to purchase 1,000 new beds to accommodate dengue patients in hospitals.
At a meeting with health secretary, divisional commissioner and directors of local bodies on Sunday, he directed the officials to buy 1,000 new beds to accommodate dengue patients in hospitals.
Talking to the media after the meeting, Mr. Jain said that within four days more beds will be added in the city hospitals to accommodate dengue patients. “If hospitals lack space, the new beds can be kept in lobbies or wherever space is available,” he added.
The move comes after the tragic incident, where a seven-year old boy died of suspected dengue as he was denied bed in two hospitals and his parents committed suicide after performing his last rites. “Hospitals have been asked to postpone surgeries by one month so that beds could be freed for dengue patients...our first priority is to treat such (dengue) patients,” he said.
However, regarding the dengue outbreak, the Minister has blamed the municipal corporation for not taking measures to check mosquito breeding. “The government will take strict action against mosquito breeding checkers for not doing their work.”
As per the data given by the municipal corporations, 1,259 cases of dengue have been reported in Delhi this year till September 5.
Later, in the morning, Mr Jain’s vehicle was stopped by some people at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital, where he had gone for an inspection. They alleged that government failed in making proper arrangements for dengue patients. “The number of dengue cases has increased. We do not deny that there are two patients on one bed but hospital staffs are working hard. We are working more on prevention because not much has been done regarding this. People should get admitted to hospital only after consulting a doctor and not out of panic,” he said.
The move comes after a seven-year old boy died of suspected dengue as he was denied bed in two hospitals and his parents committed suicide after performing his last rites
