From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 4: State Covid ministerial task force headed by deputy chief minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan has decided to hike the bed charges given to private hospitals for treating Covid patients and also immediately import 5 lac Remdesivir vials while procuring RAT kits on a fast track basis.

These decisions were taken in the first meeting held on Tuesday after Dr Ashwath Narayan assumed office as the new head of the task force.

The ministerial task force decided to fulfil the demand of private hospitals to hike the charges and has decided to increase the cost given to oxygenated bed by Rs 1,000/day, ICU bed without ventilator by Rs 1,250/day, and ICU bed with ventilator by Rs 1,500/day. The charges for the non-critical care will remain the same at Rs 5.200/day.

As per this decision, the state government will now make payments of Rs 8,000/day instead of Rs 7,000/day for oxygenated beds, Rs 9,750/day in place of Rs 8,500/day for ICU bed without the ventilator, and Rs 11,500/day instead of Rs 10,000/day for ICU bed with the ventilator.

To address the issue of shortage of Remdesivir, it was decided to import 5 lac vials by calling a short-term tender.

In order to speed up the process of testing, it was decided to immediately take measures to procure RAT kits and other necessary consumables like masks, PPE kits among others.

Goonda Act to be used

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Ashwath Narayan made it clear that those who indulge in irregularities with regard to Covid bed allotment, bed blocking and take advantage of the situation will be arrested under the Goonda Act.

The public can call number 112 and make complaints about such practices. The extortion of money from Covid patients will not be tolerated, he said.

Nodal officers from the police department will be deployed to supervise such issues, he clarified.

Blocking of beds will not be allowed. It will be made compulsory for both government and private hospitals to update the status of bed allotment in the SAST portal on a real-time basis, he said.

The deputy chief minister said officials have been directed to strengthen the helpline 1912, automate the bed allotment and create an Integrated Index App within 2 days in an effort to streamline the Covid management.

Members of the task force ministers S Suresh Kumar, C C Patil, Dr K Sudhakar and Jawaid Akhtar, additional chief secretary, department of health were present at the meeting.