New Delhi, Aug 12 - The Delhi government Wednesday asked all private hospitals with 200 beds or more capacity to reserve at least 10 beds with isolation facilities for treating possible swine flu patients.

Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia said the government was empowered under the Epidemic Diseases Act to take special measures and prescribe regulations.

'Therefore, the government has directed all non-governmental medical institutions, which have 200 or more beds strength, they must set up a 10-bedded isolation treatment facility as per WHO guidelines within 15 days and intimate the Director, Health Services, and inform the public accordingly,' Walia told reporters.

She said her government believes that influenza A (H1N1) has the potential of assuming epidemic proportions unless special measures are taken to provide treatment to infected people.

The director of health services has been empowered to inspect such facilities to ensure that all necessary steps are taken by private hospitals for strict compliance of the order.