The Union Health Ministry on Saturday revised the national policy for admission of Covid-19 positive patients to Covid health facilities, making it more "patient-centric". In the revised policy, the government has done away with the requirement of a Covid-19 positive report for admission to a Covid health facility. Under the revised rules, no patient will be denied services at a health facility.

According to the health ministry, no patient will be refused services on any account. "This includes medications such as oxygen or essential drugs even if the patient belongs to a different city," the health ministry said in a statement. The new measures aim to ensure "prompt, effective and comprehensive treatment of patients suffering from Covid-19".

The new guidelines issued by the health ministry are as follows:

1. Requirement of a positive test for Covid-19 virus is not mandatory for admission to a Covid health facility. A suspect case shall be admitted to the suspect ward of CCC, DCHC or DHC as the case may be.

2. No patient will be refused services. This includes medication such as oxygen or essential drugs even if the patient belongs to a different city.

3. No patient shall be refused admission on the ground that he/she is not able to produce a valid identity card that does not belong to the city where the hospital is located.

4. Admissions to a hospital must be based on need. It should be ensured that beds are not occupied by people who do not need hospitalisation. Further, the discharge should be strictly in accordance with the revised discharge policy.

The health ministry has advised the chief secretaries of states/UTs to issue necessary orders and circulars, incorporating the above directions within three days, which shall be enforced till replaced by an appropriate uniform policy.