From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 10: The total number of confirmed cases of H1N1 in Karnataka since January this year has touched 1184 and the number of people who died due to the disease in the State is 62, according to Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Tuesday, the minister said as many as 1183 persons have recovered after the treatment.
The State Health department has decided to conduct orientation and sensitisation programme for doctors and nurses on treating H1N1 cases. The Health Department would also come out soon with a standard protocol for treatment of H1N1 cases, he said.
The move comes in the wake of many complaints of negligence against doctors in treating H1N1 cases, the minister said.
Announcing the decision after chairing a review meeting on H1N1 with his department officials, Khader said the orientation and sensitisation programme would be first conducted for doctors and nurses from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in Bengaluru.
Similar orientation programmes would be conducted in other districts too, if necessary, he said.
Bengaluru Urban District, Bengaluru City (BBMP Limit) and Tumakuru were the worst affected, the minister said.
So far the death toll due to H1N1 in the state since January has touched 62, confirmed cases of H1N1 is 1884 and 1183 have recovered after treatment, he said.
The minister admitted that in some cases deaths have occurred due to Doctors not administering H1N1 drugs at the initial stage of finding the symptoms."We will issue a standard protocol soon for treatment of H1N1," he said.
Khader assured that there was no shortage of medicines for H1N1 patients in the state. Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health has been made the nodal agency for procuring drugs.
Asking the people not to panic, he said those in need of H1N1 medicine or syrup (for children) could contact the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health. Orders have been placed for purchase of more drugs to eliminate any shortage, he clarified.
Khader said the department has urged the chief minister to increase the allocation for the Health ministry by atleast Rs 2000 crore in the coming budget from the Rs 2921 crore provided in last budget.
The budget this time would focus more on strengthening the institutions instead of announcing any new programmes, he said.