The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Nagender clarifies on absence

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Tuesday, Sep 15, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Nagender clarifies on absence

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister convened meeting on Sunday to review status of swine flu

Attributes non-attendance to Rosaiah’s “surprise visit’
Severe action against hospitals denying admission to patients

HYDERABAD: Health Minister Danam Nagender has explained his absence from the meeting convened by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah at Gandhi Hospital on Sunday to review status of swine-flu in the State, saying he had to attend several meetings in the city to condole the death of Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy.

He told reporters here on Monday that the Chief Minister had gone to Gandhi Hospital ‘on a surprise visit’, informing officials concerned only a few minutes in advance. By the time he (Nagender) came to know about it, he was already at a condolence meeting. His absence therefore should not be construed as ‘lack of respect to the elder’, he clarified.

Reviews situation

The Minister, earlier reviewed the swine flu situation with Medical Education Minister P. Sudarshan Reddy and officials before announcing some more steps to keep the disease under check.

L. V. Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Health, who was present, said swine-flu had claimed 10 lives in the State so far, while 319 out of 9,842 persons screened, tested positive. By taking effective steps such as screening international travellers at Shamshabad airport, the government was able to bring the viral disease under control though deaths were reported as outsiders, who came to the capital by road from places like Pune, turned out to be carriers of the H1N1 virus.

He said that since swine-flu was brought under the cover of Arogyasri, it was mandatory for hospitals under its network to admit patients. Severe action would be taken under the Public Health Act against any network hospital, including closure of the institution, if it refused to admit affected cases.

Mr. Nagender said certain hospitals in the Arogyasri network have been asked to open isolated wards with ventilator facility by September 25 for swine flu patients.

He made it clear that the persons with symptoms undergoing diagnostic tests at the Institute Preventive Medicine here, would have to pay Rs. 4,500 for initial tests and an equal sum for final tests that would confirm the disease.

Supply of Tamiflu

As decided earlier, across the counter sale of Tamiflu tablets will not be allowed. The government has stocked 4 lakh tablets and supply would be made to all listed hospitals without any problem.

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