Delhi hospitals allowed to increase bed capacities

New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) In a bid to tackle dengue and chikungunya cases in the city, the Delhi government on Friday announced that all hospitals here have been permitted to increase their bed capacity by 10 to 20 per cent.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said the move will add 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.

He said 50 cases of dengue and 105 cases of chikungunya were reported in the city between January and June, adding that the government was fully prepared to deal with vector-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.

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