New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS): Health Minister J.P.Nadda Wednesday said there is no shortage of swine flu medicine and the people need to be alert but there is no need to panic.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday, Nadda said the central government is in touch with all states and a regular review of the situation is being done. "There is no need to panic but we need to be alert."

The minister said the states have been supplied stock of medicine and other equipments like masks and vaccines and reserve stock is with the government.

"There is no shortage of medicine. We are also maintaining stock of drugs to meet sudden requirement. A panic is being created by reports I have informed states.
Told them they should have reserve stocks," Nadda said.

The minister's statement came as a clarification of his Tuesday's statement that he made in both houses of the parliament.

"Central government has been very serious about it and all precautionary measures were taken. It's a continuous process, health ministry goes for review meeting before flu season starts.

"We did a review meeting in December and instructed states and our hospitals. Doctors were trained, isolation wards were made, they were told how to protect health workers and how are the patients to be treated," he said.

"By and large the state governments made preparations. Drugs, doctors, isolation wards were put in place. Both center and state governments also issued advertisements," he said.

The minister said the number of deaths were because of ignorance. "Co-morbidity cases are high in number. Patients are coming late to doctors after taking medicine themselves."