Centre revises policy: Covid-19 +ve report no more mandatory for hospitalisation

May 9: Union Health Ministry has revised national policy for admission of patients to COVID-19 facilities. From now onwards, the requirement of a positive test report is not mandatory for admission to a COVID-19 health facility. The Health Ministry on Saturday revised hospital admission guidelines for people with Covid and directed states to ensure all suspect patients are admitted and given access to oxygen and drugs like any patient who has a Covid-positive report.

The changes in hospitals admission policy notified on 8 Maystated,“The requirement of a positive test for COVID-19 virus is not mandatory for admission to a COVID health facility. A suspect case shall be admitted to the suspect ward of Covid Care centre, Dedicated Covid Health Centre or Dedicated Covid hospital as the case may be.”

Key points of the revised policy: 

• The new policy states that no patient will be refused services including medications such as oxygen or essential drugs even if the patient belongs to a different city.
• Besides this, no patient shall be refused admission on the ground that he/she is not able to produce a valid identity card that does not belong to the city where the hospital is located.
• Admissions to hospitals are required to be based on need, the policy states adding that it should be ensured beds are not occupied by persons who do not need hospitalisation.
• According to the guidelines, patients suffering from mild symptoms shall be admitted to Covid Care Centers (CCC) that have been set up in hostels, hotels, schools, stadiums, lodges. Functional hospitals – treating non-Covid cases – will be designated as CCCs as “the last resort”.

• While the Dedicated Covid Health Centres (DCHCs) – that have beds with assured oxygen support – shall attend to mild cases, the Dedicated COVID Hospitals (DCHs) shall offer comprehensive care primarily for those who have been clinically assigned as severe, the Health Ministry has stated.
• The discharge of a patient should be strictly in adherence with the revised discharge policy available.
• The Union Health Ministry has advised the Chief Secretaries of States/Union territories to issue necessary orders and circulars, incorporating the above directions within three days, which shall be enforced till replaced by an appropriate uniform policy.