• 5 lakh Remdesivir vials to be imported soon
• Those indulging in bed blocking racket to be arrested under Goonda Act
• Dr. Ashwathnarayan chairs COVID Ministerial Task Force meeting

Bengaluru: The State COVID Ministerial Task Force headed by Deputy Chief Minister Dr. C.N. Ashwathnarayan has decided to hike the bed charges given to Private Hospitals for treating COVID patients.

It also resolved to immediately import 5 lakh Remdesivir  vials and to procure Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits on a fast-track basis.

These decisions were taken in the maiden meeting held on Tuesday after Dr. Ashwathnarayan assumed office as the new Head of the Task Force.

The Task Force decided to fulfil the demand of Private Hospitals to hike the charges and has decided to increase the cost of oxygenated bed by Rs. 1,000 per day, ICU bed without ventilator by Rs. 1,250 per day and ICU bed with ventilator by Rs. 1,500 a day. The charges for the non-critical care will remain the same at Rs. 5,200 per day.

As per this decision, the Government will now make payments of Rs. 8,000 per day instead of Rs. 7,000 per day for oxygenated beds, Rs. 9,750 in place of Rs. 8,500 per day for ICU bed without ventilator and Rs. 11,500 per day instead of Rs. 10,000 per day for ICU bed with ventilator.

To address the issue of shortage of Remdesivir, it was decided to import 5 lakh vials by calling a short-term tender.

In order to speed up the process of testing, it was resolved to immediately take measures to procure RAT kits and other necessary consumables like masks, PPE kits among others.

Goonda Act

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he made it clear that those who indulge in irregularities with regard to COVID bed allotment, bed blocking and take advantage of the situation, will be arrested under the Goonda Act.

The public can call 112 and make complaints about such practices. The extortion of money from COVID patients will not be tolerated. Nodal Officers from the Police Department will be deployed to supervise such issues, he clarified.

Blocking of beds will not be allowed. It will be made compulsory for both Government and Private Hospitals to update the status of bed allotment in SAST portal on a real-time basis, the Deputy CM added.

The officials have been directed to strengthen the Helpline 1912, automate the bed allotment and create an Integrated Index App within 2 days in an effort to streamline the COVID management, he pointed out.

Members of the Ministerial Task Force S. Suresh Kumar, C.C. Patil and Dr. K. Sudhakar,   Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Karnataka, Health and Family Welfare Services, Jawaid Akhtar and others were present.