In Nagpur, Hotels, marriage halls, and similar establishments operating as Covid Care Centres (CCC) can now charge only up to INR 4,000 per day as an all-inclusive tariff for room rent plus specific medical assistance. This order by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) came late on Friday evening, a day that saw a flurry of decisions at the district and state level to prepare for the apparently inevitable Covid-19 third wave.
NMC's order makes it clear that all step-down facilities (non-hospitals) being used to treat asymptomatic or mild cases of Covid-19 have to follow the upper limit on the charges. The order says that Rs4,000 upper limit must include "routine monitoring and investigations, oxygen charges, consultation, bed charges, nursing charges". At the same time, the order does clarify that these step-down facilities can charge actuals to the patient for any other services. However, the 'extra' services must be provided only with the patient's consent.
In Hyderabad, The Jain Relief Foundation (JRF) has set up five isolation centres—including Tourist Hotel at Koti, Hotel Lemon Tree at Banjara Hills, Central Park at Hyderguda and MetroPolis at Secunderabad, and Platinum Hotel, at Himayathnagar—where over 300 patients have already been treated and recovered.
Shortage of beds, oxygen cylinders and rising Covid-related deaths inspired us to do something to help people in these desperate times," said Prashant Kocheta, one of the directors of the JRF. "First we started with the isolation centre at Platinum Hotel. Subsequently, we opened centres at four other hotels. These facilities have 250 beds, medical infrastructure, including oxygen cylinders, ventilators and a team of expert doctors," added Prashant.
"Round the clock surveillance by a team of doctors and paramedical staff. Providing proper diet and medication helped the patients recover fast. Almighty had given our community this opportunity to serve the needy," Prashant said.
JRF is also planning to arrange plasma donors. "JRF has also tied up with other private hospitals to provide medical services," Prashant said.
News Courtesy: ET
