Coronavirus Pune: Private hospitals to face action if refuse to treat COVID-19 patients

Coronavirus Pune: Private hospitals to face action if refuse to treat COVID-19 patients

Pune: Henceforth, any private hospital who refuses to treat a COVID-19 patient will be facing legal action under the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) 2006. From Monday, 80 per cent of beds in private hospitals will be reserved for the same by Pune Municipal Corporation.

Usually, MESMA Act is mandatory for the government and trust hospitals, including the hospital staffers including management, doctors, nurses and other essential services. However, it will now also be implemented for private hospitals where COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment. The cases will be filed by administration officials.

In this regard, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad has issued a notification.

Speaking to Sakal Times, Commissioner Gaikwad said, "The coronavirus cases are increasing day by day and there were complaints about treatment deferred by hospital due to shortage of beds and other issues. To overcome it, we have notified all the private hospitals who are treating COVID-19 patients to give information within two days in written about their hospital facilities, including infrastructure, beds, doctors, nurses, medical staff and other employees with manpower and their shifts."

He went on to say, "Based on the report submitted to us, from Monday we will be providing 80 per cent of beds to such hospital and will be reserved for Municipal Corporation's citizens for treatment. On daily bases between 10.30 am to 4.30 pm, the hospital authority has to submit the patient's details, specific reserved bed and reason. We have maintained a dashboard on which they need to submit the report to us. We also will come to know the areas from which the patients are coming and also helpful in gathering other vital details."

He added, "If they fail to do so, or if they neglected to serve or refuse treatment, we will be prosecuting them under MESMA Act. This is usually is meant for government medical officers and staffers."

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