BS RAWAT
Facing flak over alleged 'under-reporting' of Covid-19 deaths, the Delhi government has issued show cause notices to several hospitals including the central government-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdarjung hospital, and Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, for enquiring about the delay in reporting death cases.

Other designated Covid-19 facilities that have received notices include Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital of Delhi government.

The notices ask them to explain reasons for the delay in reporting cases of Covid-19 deaths and violation of directions of the Delhi Health Department as well as the Delhi Disaster Management Authority.

Earlier, Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev had directed all government and private hospitals in the capital to communicate each coronavirus related casualty every day to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme and also to the special committee set up to audit such fatalities with case summary, medical files and other relevant information.

The chief secretary has asked hospitals to send the report daily, even if there is no death, or else they would be liable to face punitive action.

Private hospitals treating Covid-19 patients were not issued such notice by the government.