THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Arrangements have been made for rendering free treatments to Covid patients in private hospitals once they are referred by government hospitals, according to government sources.
The CASP beneficiaries and government-referred COVID-19 patients will get free treatment from empanelled private hospitals. A temporary empanelment facility has been set up exclusively for COVID-19 treatment.
For those who reach private hospitals directly, charges for COVID-19 treatment in private hospitals fixed by the state government in consultation with the private hospitals.
The per-day charges for treatment in private hospitals are Rs 2,300 in general ward, Rs 6,500 in ICU and Rs 11,500 in Ventilator ICU.
In Kerala, treatment for COVID-19 is provided completely free of cost in government hospitals. COVID hospitals and COVID First-Line Treatment Centres also provide free meals to patients.
The other day the chief minister had said that “as of now, 44 non-functioning hospitals and 42 partially functioning hospitals in the private sector have been identified for taking over and will be converted for coronavirus treatment. More hospitals are coming forward to join hands with the government for coronavirus treatment as part of the Karunya Suraksha scheme."

The government will refer patients to private hospitals only when there will be lack of in-patient facility for them in a government hospital. As the number of patients increases, the priority will be given to elderly people and people with other diseases.

As part of an understanding with the government 54 private hospitals in 12 districts have come forward to give treatment to Covid patients referred by government hospitals. They include
Thiruvananthapuram: 17

Kozhikode: 11

Malappuram: 7
Ernakulam: 5
Alappuzha: 4
Kottayam: 4
Kollam: 3
Kannur: 3
Pathanamthitta: 2
Thrissur: 2
Palakkad: 1
Wayanad 1