Karnataka ropes in Pvt hospitals for virus fight State govt to fix cost for testing and treatment
With Covid-19 cases on the rise, the state government on Monday decided to rope in the private healthcare sector for treatment of those infected.
The government will also fix the cost for testing and treatment across the state, Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar announced after a two-hour meeting with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.
“In a couple of days, we will fix the rates for testing and treatment at private hospitals,” Sudhakar said. “Directions will also be issued to private nursing homes and hospitals to set up an isolation ward.”
“The government’s infrastructure alone shouldn’t be used. The government and private sector should join hands,” Sudhakar said.
The decision to fix costs at private hospitals came amid complaints that patients were being fleeced. “The rates that we fix will be uniform across the state. There may be some variation for Bengaluru.” The government is also looking to bring Covid treatment under Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka health insurance scheme.
New quarantine policy
Karnataka decided on Monday that asymptomatic travellers from Delhi and Chennai will have to spend three days in institutional quarantine followed by 11 days in home quarantine. Till now, travellers from other states, except Maharashtra, had a 14-day home quarantine. The 7-day institutional quarantine and 7-day home quarantine will continue for those from Maharashtra.
No mask? Pay Rs 200 fine
Citizens who don’t wear masks or maintain social distancing will be slapped with a fine of Rs 200. The state government will also observe ‘Mask Day’ on Thursday to create awareness.
