Private hospitals lack clarity on admitting patients

Spokespersons of a few of the hospitals agreed, but refused to explain the reason.It apparently is the lack of clarity on the treatment protocol for private hospitals that has kept patients and private hospital authorities confused.

“We approached one of the private hospitals in Teynampet for the treatment of one of my relative who tested positive for COVID-19. But they denied treatment citing lack of authority to do it. We looked for private hospitals in Tamil Nadu that are accepting those tested positive for coronavirus and are ready to treat them. However, we failed to get a response from any of them,” said the relative of a COVID-19 positive patient.

But private hospital authorities claimed they themselves were unsure as to when they would be allowed to admit patients. The chief of medical services at one of the private hospitals in Tamil Nadu said that they were not accepting any COVID-19 positive cases currently. “We are neither accepting suspected cases under quarantine or the patients who were tested positive for COVID-19,” the person said. When asked, the official refused to comment on the protocol being followed.

The spokesperson from a private hospital in Adyar said that they were not allowed to accept any COVID-19 positive cases. But they have kept an isolation ward ready at the hospital to ensure treatment to patients in case of emergency. However, officials from the State Health department said private hospitals can treat the patients who test positive for COVID-19 after following the protocol.