The government has chipped in and provides and pays for the staff, medical equipment, and medicine

Kadar Shaikh, an Indian businessman in Surat, Gujarat, has converted his office into an 85-bed coronavirus ward. The intention is to provide free treatment for the poor, said a report published in France 24.

Shaikh, who has recovered from coronavirus, spent 20 days in a Surat private hospital and was “horrified” by the bill. He was concerned about how the poor could afford the treatment, he was quoted telling wire service AFP in the report.

"The cost of treatment at a private hospital was huge. How could poor people afford such treatment?" Shaikh was quoted saying in the report.

After he tested negative, Shaikh secured approval from the local authorities to convert his 30,000 square feet office into a Covid ward.

While Shaikh has bought the beds and bears the cost of electricity and bed linen, the government provides and pays for the staff, medical equipment, and medicine, the report said.

There is no bias of “caste, creed or religion,” while accessing the facility, said the report.

The coronavirus cases in India have crossed the 1.5 million mark with the death toll crossing the 34 thousand mark.

Read the complete report in France 24