Bengal Govt warns hospitals against refusing Covid-19 patients; final year medical students to be utilised for managing Covid cases

"In spite of guidelines issued by the state health and family welfare department, there have been instances of denial of admission and services in some of the hospitals," the latest notification, issued on June 23, said.

"Hence, it is once more brought to the notice of the concerned that if any report of denial of admission/services is received against any government hospital, necessary disciplinary action shall be taken against the concerned officer as per the service rules," the notification warned.

The medical superintendent of the hospital shall ensure the implementation of different government orders in this regard, the health department added.

"There have been instances of denial of admission and services by the private hospitals and patients suffer due to this lackadaisical attitude of these hospitals," another notification pointed directing  the private hospitals across the state.

"It is once again reiterated that denial of admission and services is an offence under the West Bengal Clinical Establishment (registration, regulation and transparency) act of 2017," it added.

The notification also warned of punitive action including suspension of licence if any private hospital was found denying admission and services to the Covid-19 patients.

In an advisory to all medical colleges/medical teaching institutes, the government also wanted that the final year medical students be used for containing Covid-19 across the state.

"All non-service final year post-graduate trainees (MS/MS/PG Diploma) who are appearing in the final exam in June 2020, will be engaged and may be utilized for management of Covid-19 cases and suspects in an effective manner as a requirement from July 1, 2020, onward till further order, " another health department notice said.