The government has decided to revoke permission of conducting PCR tests of those private hospitals that do not allot 20 percent of beds for COVID-19 patients.
Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr Jageshwore Gautam made the decision public during the daily press briefing on Wednesday. He added that medical colleges and academies not allotting one-third of their beds for COVID-19 patients will also lose the testing permission.
The Health Emergency Operation Center at the ministry issuing a statement on Friday had appealed to the private hospitals to keep 20 percent of beds for COVID-19 management citing lack of hospital beds with cases rising in recent times. The designated COVID-19 hospitals have been stretched due to the surging cases in recent times.
But private hospitals have said they cannot allot 20 percent of beds stating that the government decision is not practical and treating the COVID-19 and other patients together in a single hospital will increase risks.
The ministry has taken the latest decision following refusal of the private hospitals to comply with its instruction of allotting 20 percent of beds for COVID-19 patients.
The government has currently allowed Star, Mediciti, HAMS and KMC hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley to conduct PCR Tests. Academies to get the permission include Patan Academy of Health Sciences, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences and Karnali Academy of Health Sciences.
