Government allows Delhi hospitals to raise bed capacity by 10-20 percent

New Delhi: With the mosquito-infested national capital drowning in vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya, hospitals around the Delhi have been permitted to increase their bed count by 10 to 20 percent by the government.

Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain made the announcement, while also adding that the move will guarantee a minimum of 2,000 extra beds in hospitals.

"I have permitted all Delhi hospitals, including government and private, to increase the number of beds by 10 to 20 per cent of their existing capacity," Jain told reporters.

With the rising number of dengue and chikungunya cases – with 50 cases of dengue and 105 cases of chikungunya reported in the city between January and June – the Health Minister also said that the government was fully prepared to deal with mosquito-borne diseases.

Jain also said the government had also issued instructions to chemists/pharmacists not to sell blood thinning tablets like brufen and aspirin without medical prescriptions since these tablets reduced blood platelets count.

The Minister said the Health Department will run media campaigns to spread public awareness on dengue and chikungunya and by putting up hoardings.

He appealed to the city residents to avoid self-medication in case of suspected vector-borne diseases.

(With IANS inputs)