NEW DELHI – The Union health ministry on Saturday revised the national policy for admission of COVID patients to various categories of COVID facilities.

“This patient-centric measure aims to ensure a prompt, effective, and comprehensive treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19,” the Centre said in a statement.

The official statement stated that as per the Union Government directive to all States and UTs, hospitals under the Central Government, State Governments and Union Territory administration including private hospitals (in States and Union Territories) managing COVID Patients shall ensure the following:

1. Requirement of a positive test for the COVID-19 virus is not mandatory for admission to a COVID health facility. A suspect case shall be admitted to the suspect ward of CCC, DCHC or DHC as the case may be.

2. No patient will be refused services on any count. This includes medications such as oxygen or essential drugs even if the patient belongs to a different city.

3. 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.

4. Admissions to the hospital must be based on need. It should be ensured that beds are not occupied by persons who do not need hospitalization. Further, the discharge should be strictly in accordance with the revised discharge policy.

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.