NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has ordered that 1,000 new beds be bought to accommodate dengue patients in the wake of the suicide by the parents of a boy who died of the disease allegedly after being refused admission at several hospitals even as the Delhi Medical Council did not rule out probing the matter that has sparked public outrage here.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain today emphasised the need for immediate steps to arrest the spread of dengue in the city and asked the officials of his department to accord priority to dengue cases with civic data saying that 1,259 cases of these have been reported in the national capital this year till September 5.
While the official toll stands at two, the civic body is yet to include three other reported dengue deaths in its list.
"In the view of the rise in dengue cases, I have ordered that 1,000 new beds be bought within the next three or four days. If hospitals lack space, the new beds can be kept in lobbies or wherever space is available," Jain told PTI after a with health secretary, divisional commissioner and directors of local bodies.
Jain issued directions to all DMs, SDMs and tehsildars to closely monitor dengue cases in their wards and suggested that, if possible, the hospitals may postpone surgeries to free up beds for dengue patients.
While urging wider efforts for containing, Jain also accused the three municipal corporations of neglecting the work of mosquito control and said "the government will take strict action against those who do not work properly".
Earlier, alleging that the government had failed to make proper arrangements for dengue patients, some people tried to stop the AAP minister's vehicle when he went for an inspection at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital.
Meanwhile, following the tragic case of the parents of the seven-year-old dengue victim committing suicide by jumping from a four-storeyed building in south Delhi's Lado Sarai, Delhi Medical Council today said that if a state government inquiry points to any negligence on the part of doctors, they will look into the matter.
The child is said to have been refused admission at five hospitals in the city.
"As of now, the role of the hospitals' administrations is in question regarding the refusal of admission to the child.
"Delhi government has already ordered an inquiry into the matter. If their report highlights the involvement of any doctor, then we will probe the matter," said DMC Registrar Girish Tyagi.
Tyagi further said that prima facie it seems that the boy could perhaps have been saved had he received timely treatment.
"He should have been admitted and put on IV fluids. That would have stabilised his condition to some extent. However, I have not seen the papers, so I cannot say with certainty," he added.