Bangalore: Private Hospitals asked to give Free Treatment to Swine Flu Patients
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
BANGALORE, Aug 22: If Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had ticked off state governments by using unparliamentary language to remind them he did not want to hear ``bloody excuses’’ but action from them in tackling the H1NI inluenza or swine flu virus in Delhi during a conference of state health ministers, Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has now sought to pass the buck to the all private hospitals and nursing homes in the state.
The chief minister, who has chaired a high level meeting on swine flu at his hoffice Krishna, ordered all private hospitals and nursing homes in the state to provide free medical treatment to the people infected with swine flu.
However, in fairness to the chief minister, he has assured that the government would remiburse the hospital bills of patients given treatment for the swine flu
It may be mentioned that many private hospitals charge between Rs 1,200 and Rs. 1,500 for a test.
The disease has claimed 12 lives in the state so far, which is next after Maharashtra in heavy incidence. The confirmed cases in the state crossed the 250 mark in the state so far. Incidentally, Pune accounted for the largest number of cases of H1N1 influenza infected followed by Bangalore.
Yeddyurappa directed the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, to purchase equipment, believed to cost Rs 40 lakh for conducting tests for potential swine flu patients. The equipment would help doctors to conduct 300 tests a day.
The chief minister told reporters that he would also request Prabhakar Kore, BJP MP, to set up a laboratory at KLE Society Hospital in Belgaum for providing treatment to patients.
As many as seven hospitals, including Narayana Hrudayala, have decided to set up laboratories for conducting tests. To create awareness about the disease, advertisements in the electronic media and all India Radio would also be released, he said.
The chief minister claimed that Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has appreciated the steps taken by the state government to control the spread of the disease. Three central teams visited Bangalore and appreciated the preventive steps taken by the Government, he said adding: The Centre has agreed to supply to the state N5 masks and Tami Flu tablets.
Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister B Sriramulu said the police would register a criminal case against dealers who sold inferior quality of masks or masks at a higher cost.
Doctors and nurses would be posted at the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) for conducting tests passengers who come from abroad. The public can call toll free number 1056 for any help, Sriramulu said.
NIMHANS Vice-Chancellor D Nagaraj said the disease spread only in Bangalore, Mangalore, and border areas of Maharashtra. Two ventilators in each district hospital for providing treatment must be established, he suggested.
NIHMANS conducted test for 963 persons, of whom 218 tested positive. The hospital now conducts 100 tests a day. The new equipment would help to conduct 300 tests, he said.
Meanwhile, a senior executive o Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Chest Diseases said the hospital had received 5770 suspected cases so far and of them 154 tested positive. A total of 1154 people have been treated and they all now recovered. Most of the deaths occurred in the age group of 20 to 30 years and majority of them were women, he said.
Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner Bharatlal Meena said 200 hoardings would be installed in the city to create awareness about the disease. Advertisements would also be displayed in Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses and railway stations.
Karnataka’s Medical Education Minister Ramachandra Gowda, Health and Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary I R Perumal and representatives of government hospitals attended the meeting.