COVID positive report not mandatory for admission to coronavirus health facilities in J&K

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has now said that a positive test for COVID-19 is not mandatory for admission to a COVID health facility.

This announcement was made as per the revised National Policy for Admission in hospitals for a suspect or confirmed COVID-19 patient by the Government of India.

An order issued by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam on Sunday, directed all hospitals, under the Government of Jammu and Kashmir including private ones to ensure that they do not ask for a positive test report for admission to a Covid-19 health facility.

"Requirement of a positive test for coronavirus shall not be mandatory for admission to a COVID health facility. A suspect case shall be admitted to the suspect ward of COVID Care Centre (CCC), Dedicated COVID Health Centre or Dedicated COVID Hospital, as the case may be, depending on the medical condition of the person based on a medical assessment," read the order.

As per the order, no patient will be refused services on any count, which includes medications such as oxygen or essential drugs even if the patient belongs to a different city.

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, said the order.

It further said, "Admission to a hospital must be based on need. It should be ensured that beds are not occupied by persons who do not need hospitalisation. Further, the discharge should be strictly in accordance with the revised extant discharge policy in vogue presently."