The state government has decided to use the power of Internet to rein in private hospitals that are denying free treatment to patients from Economic Weaker Section (EWS) of the society.

Bed networking — knowing how many beds are available in each hospital and referring patients accordingly — will soon be a click away.

In a recent meeting with medical superintendents of private hospitals — which had acquired land at concessional rates promising free treatment to BPL patients — the state health officials instructed them to update the “bed vacancy” at the end of each working day on the website of Directorate of Health Services (DHS).

“The idea is to keep government hospitals informed about the bed vacancy in private hospitals,” said JP Singh, Principal Secretary. “Most state-run hospitals are over-burdened as private players were not keeping up their end of the deal. We want government hospitals to start referring BPL patients to private hospitals as a routine,” he said.

The procedure of bed networking has already been worked out. As of now, private hospitals send a fax every morning with information about bed vacancy. This will be done online.

“With a click of mouse we will know which hospital is best suited for the patient, keeping in mind the location and the speciality required,” said Dr Amit Banerjee, Medical Superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital. The hospital is already referring seven to eight patients a day to private hospitals.

If this works as planned, it will mean that patients will no longer have to share beds, limiting cases of infections.

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