New Delhi: Delhi Health Minister Dr. A.K. Walia today stated that the city government has observed that Amarnath Tirth Yatris are facing difficulties in getting mandatory health certificates due to lukewarm response of certain private hospitals, their exorbitant charges, large number of Yatris seeking such certificates, large number of tests required for the issue of certificates and inadequate number of hospitals authorized for this purpose. Dr. Walia today discussed this issue in a meeting with Principal Secretary (Health), Director (Health Services), other senior officers of Health Department and representatives of major private hospitals.
Dr. Walia stated that the city government is deeply concerned over the delay in issuance of the certificate, hence, it has decided to reduce number of tests from six to four and has also enhanced the number of city government hospitals authorized to issue such certificates. In all, the number of hospitals has gone up from 23 to 42. Further, the Union Government on the request of the city government has agreed to provide this facility in AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital and RML Hospital.
All government hospitals would issue such certificates for free. It has been decided to bring reduction in number of tests. Earlier, the tests relating to PFT, BCTC, Homogram, Chest X-ray, Blood Sugar and ECG were being conducted, henceforth, the hospitals will conduct tests such as homogram, blood group, blood sugar and ECG. In addition to this, Chest X-ray will be conducted only in respect of Yatris who are more than 40 years of age. The doctors may also like to recommend any other test in case they feel that it is necessary.
Dr. Walia exhorted the hospitals to take it the matter of issuance of certificate on priority basis as the Yatra is scheduled to begin on 20th June, 2013. He has also exhorted the private hospitals such as Max Super-specialty Hospitals, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to cut down their charges keeping in view the importance of holyYatra.
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