Govt Asks Private Hospitals to Provide Free Treatment to Dengue Patients
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Aug 5: With large number of dengue and chikungunya cases being reported from different parts of Karnataka, the state government has directed all private hospitals and nursing homes to provide free medical treatment and medicines to all patients.
Heath and Family Welfare Minister B Sriramulu, who hit headlines by shaving off his head and moustache besides started wearing black cloth, eat pulses and sleep on the floor as also go barefoot as part of the Bellary Reddy Brothers’ sponsored ``Swabhimani Bellary Yatra” to counter the Bangalore to Bellary padayatra by the state Congress leaders, took a surprise decision of taking a break from the yatra and held a review meeting of his department in Bangalore on Thursday.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Sriramulu said steps would be taken on a war footing to check the spread four major diseases – dengue, chikungunya, malaria, and A (H1N1).
Private hospitals and nursing homes would be given instructions to provide free treatment and medicines for people suffering from dengue and chikungunya, he said.
An expert committee has been constituted to recommend to the Government how to clinically define suspected cases of dengue, he said indicating that the panel would give its report in two days.
The Department was unable to track the number of dengue cases on account of lack of communication between government and private hospitals, he said.
The minister said T S Cheluvaraju, Joint Director (Communicable Diseases), has been appointed as nodal officer to monitor and check spread of diseases. ``We want to ensure that the public health is protected and adequate precautionary measures are taken,” he said pointing out that the four diseases have shown no signs of decline and diseases spread widely across the State.
In 2010, as many as 1895 blood samples were examined and 857 cases have been confirmed as dengue fever. One death case has been reported this year against eight cases last year. A total of 14 sentinel surveillance centres have been functioning in the State for diagnosis dengue and all the tests are conducted free of cost, he said.
The minister said 4254 suspected chikungunya cases have been reported till July end and 679 cases have been tested positive.
A total of 17,374 malaria cases have been reported during the six-month period from January to June against 14,700 cases during the same period last year. One person has died so far this year, he said.
As per the National Health Policy, 50 per cent reduction in the incidence of malaria with 2005 base is targeted by 2010 end. As compared to 83,181 malaria cases reported in 2005, the state has achieved 44 per cent reduction by 2009.
He said 803 people received treatment for A (H1NI) and it has claimed lives of 61 people in 2010. In 2009, the disease has claimed lives of 135 persons.
“The incidence of the disease is on the decline. However, constant vigil is maintained and the situation is being monitored,” he added.