Delhi LG overrules Kejriwal’s govt. order on treatment of C-19 patients for Delhiites
NEW DELHI :A day after the state government’s controversial decision, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal on Monday overruled Aravind Kejriwal’s government’s decision that all state-run and also private hospitals to admit only bonafide residents of the national capital for treatment during the COVID-19 crisis.
On Sunday, in a cabinet meeting chaired by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, the government decided that Delhi government along with private hospitals will be reserved for the treatment of residents of Delhi.
Overruling the decision of the Delhi Chief Minister, the LG today in his capacity as Chairperson of the DDMA directed departments and authorities of NCT of Delhi to ensure that treatment is not denied to any patient on grounds of not being a resident of Delhi.
This decision will bring relief to patients and their families from outside Delhi who are seeking treatment during the coronavirus pandemic.
“All government and private hospitals and nursing homes situated in the NCT of Delhi to extend medical facilities to all covid-19 patients coming for monitoring/treatment without any discrimination of being residents of NCT of Delhi,” the order issued by the LG said.
Chief Minister Kejriwal on June 7 announced that the hospitals run by his government and private players will treat only Delhi residents during the COVID-19 crisis. He had said the hospitals under the Centre will continue to operate as per the central government’s directions.
“Over 90 per cent of people want Delhi hospitals to treat patients from the national capital during the corona virus pandemic. Hence, it has been decided that government and private hospitals in Delhi will only treat patients from the national capital,” Kejriwal had told the media briefing.
Kejriwal’s decision drew huge flak from many quarters. Congress leader P Chidambaram asked Kejriwal to explain who is a Delhiite. “Mr. Kejriwal says Delhi hospitals are only for Delhiites. Will he please tell us who is a Delhiite? If I live or work in Delhi, am I a Delhiite?,” asked the senior Congress leader.
BJP Lawmaker Gautam Gambhir slams Delhi Govt’s ‘idiotic order’, praises LG Anil Baijal. Gambhir praised the LG for overruling AAP government’s order to restrict COVID-19 treatment only to Delhiites at Delhi govt-run and private hospitals.
LG Baijal overturned the Delhi government’s order on testing only those showing COVID-19 symptoms and said asymptomatic cases and high-risk contacts of a virus patient will also be tested. Any deviation from the testing rules of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) “can result in further spread of COVID-19 in the capital,” Mr Baijal said in his order.
The LG, who is a representative of the central government in Delhi, also overruled CM Kejriwal’s decision to reserve hospitals run by the Delhi government and some private hospitals for residents of the capital amid a surge in corona virus cases.
Everyone will be treated in Delhi without “discrimination”, Mr Baijal said in his order, asserting that treatment “should not be denied to any patient on grounds of being a non-resident”. He referred to the Supreme Court saying in various judgments that “Right to Health” is an integral part of “Right to Life” in the constitution.
Meanwhile, Mr Kejriwal, who is unwell and will take a COVID-19 test tomorrow, said the LG’s decision would create a huge problem and challenge for the people of Delhi. “Maybe it is God’s will that we should serve the people of the entire country. We will try to arrange treatment for everybody,” tweeted the Chief Minister, who is self-isolating at his home after a mild fever and sore throat.
