Dengue: Centre asks Delhi govt to increase hospital beds

New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI) Amidst a rise in the number of dengue cases, the Union Health Ministry today asked Delhi government to increase bed strength in state hospitals and check overcharing of patients by private hospitals.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda, after chairing a review meeting

on preparedness regarding dengue in Delhi, said that the process

of increasing bed strength in central government hospitals in Delhi

is already underway.

"Delhi government has been asked to expedite increase in the bed

strength for dengue patients in state hospitals. Health Ministry

directed Delhi government to check overcharging of dengue patients

by private hospitals," Nadda tweeted after the meeting.

The move comes after Union Health Ministry ordered an inquiry and also sought a report from Delhi government by September 14 into an incident where parents of a seven-year- old boy suffering from dengue committed suicide after he was allegedly denied treatment by five private hospitals.

Following the incident, Nadda had asserted that "guilty will not

be spared" and action will be taken against those who have not followed

Union Health Ministry protocol laid down for dengue treatment.

Nadda after the review meeting today, said, "Increase in the bed

strength for dengue patients in Central Government's hospitals already underway.