The state health department has decided to continue the 80:20 scheme that allows state and local administration to control beds in the private hospital and nursing homes till February-end. These beds are reserved for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
On Tuesday, December 15, Principal health secretary Dr Pradeep Vyas issued an order saying the scheme would be in effect till February 28, 2021, as the state is still grappling with the pandemic.
Earlier, the scheme was extended twice and was to end on December 15. The decision to have reserve beds was first passed in the month of May, almost a month after the lockdown. Later in August, it was announced that this reservation will be extended till November 30.
However, with the post-Diwali spike in Mumbai and rise in active cases in districts like Palghar, Nashik, Nandurbar, Sindhudurg, Washim, and Nagpur since November 20, state health officials said it is wise to continue the bed reservation in private hospitals in case the active case load further rises across other districts.
According to reports, the state health department had proposed to extend the 80:20 reservation of beds in private hospitals until January, as a precaution against a possible second wave of COVID-19 infections and cap charges for beds reserved by the government.
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