The Hindu : Front Page : 11 private hospitals in Mumbai to treat swine flu patients

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Saturday, Aug 15, 2009
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11 private hospitals in Mumbai to treat swine flu patients

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has approved 11 private hospitals here for treatment of swine flu. They will have a total of 55 beds for suspected persons and 55 beds for confirmed patients.

Additional Chief Secretary (Public Health) Sharvaree Gokhale told the media on Friday that Bombay Hospital, Breach Candy, Hinduja, Nanavati, Wockhardt and Inlaks hospitals are among those which will treat patients.

The government will provide Tamiflu stocks but the testing and hospitalisation costs will be borne by the individuals.

One hospital in Navi Mumbai, four hospitals in Pune, and one in Hadapsar have also been approved for treating swine flu. The protocol for treating patients will be sent to the hospitals immediately so that they can start taking in patients in a day or two.

The government has also decided to treat swine flu symptomatically from Saturday morning and only serious cases will be tested. “We will take only a few samples from now on, mainly to see the progression of the disease,” Ms. Gokhale said.

She refuted the criticism about the Health Department’s response to swine flu by saying the government had done its best. The disease is not yet under control, she said. However, deaths were mostly of patients who came to hospitals too late or had other complications.

People should go to hospitals immediately if they have cough, cold or fever. Deaths were mostly due to delayed treatment, she added.

One more person dies

Meanwhile, one more person died of swine flu in Pune on Friday morning. The victim, who was HIV positive, was admitted to Sassoon Hospital on Thursday.

In the State, about 20,885 people were screened in the 24 hours ended 8 p.m. ThursdayThere were 69 new positive cases, taking the State’s total to 678 cases.

Three on ventilator

Of the 104 people admitted to hospitals in Mumbai, 28 were confirmed as swine flu patients. One person was put on ventilator in Pune. Two were on ventilator support in Mumbai, Ms. Gokhale said.

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