Jain conducts emergency meet, lists tough steps to check dengue
14 Sep 2015 12:48 AM GMT
The Delhi government has ordered that 1,000 new beds be bought to accommodate dengue patients in the wake of suicide by the parents of a seven-year-old boy, Avinash, who died of the disease after allegedly being refused admission at several hospitals, even as the Delhi Medical Council did not rule out probing the matter that has sparked public outcry.
Health Minister Satyendra Jain, who held an emergency meeting to review the status of dengue cases in the national Capital on Sunday, emphasised on the need for immediate steps to arrest the spread of the vector-borne disease in the city. He has asked the officials concerned to accord priority to dengue cases, with civic data stating that 1,259 such cases have been reported in the national Capital this year till September 5.
While the official toll stands at two, the civic body is yet to include three other reported dengue deaths in its list. “In the view of the rise in dengue cases, I have ordered that 1,000 new beds be bought within the next three or four days. If hospitals lack space, the beds can be kept in lobbies or wherever space is available,” Jain said.
“Discussion on steps to be taken to prevent the spread of dengue in Delhi was held in the meeting. All hospitals have been directed not to deny admission to any patient,” Jain said after the meeting, which was attended by all district magistrates (DMs) and divisional commissioners (DCs).
Jain issued directions to all DMs, SDMs and tehsildars to closely monitor dengue cases in their wards and suggested that, if possible, the hospitals may postpone surgeries to free beds for dengue patients.
Jain has also accused the three municipal corporations of neglecting the work of mosquito control. “We have got several complaints from people that the MCD staff do not visit their homes (for fumigation) which <g data-gr-id="39">is</g> unacceptable. The government will take strict action against those who do not work properly,” Jain said. He said that checking the rise in dengue cases was his government’s first priority.
Earlier, alleging that the government had failed to make proper arrangements for dengue patients, some people tried to stop the minister’s vehicle when he went to conduct an inspection at the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital.
Following the case of the parents of Avinash, the government has asked the five hospitals, which had allegedly refused admission to him, to explain why their registration should not be cancelled.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said: “It is completely unacceptable that some hospitals didn’t accept a patient and he died. Strict action would be taken against them,” he tweeted. Jain said: “The number of dengue cases has increased... we do not deny that they are two patients on one bed, but hospital staff are working hard.” The aim, he added, was to “work more on prevention because not much has been done in this regard.”
More docs, paramedics to be deployed to tackle disease
With a spurt in dengue cases in the national Capital, authorities are planning to deploy more doctors and para-medical staff at tertiary care hospitals to deal with the situation. Doctors and <g data-gr-id="60">para-medics</g> from dispensaries and primary hospitals will be pressed into service at tertiary care hospitals to tackle the “huge” rush of dengue patients. “Family members of some patients have alleged that doctors are not paying proper attention to them, which is mainly due to the huge rush of people seeking treatment for dengue,” said a doctor from GB Pant hospital.
“The current strength of doctors, paramedics and technicians is proving inadequate to deal with the increasing number of patients visiting the emergency wards,” said another doctor from Lok Nayak hospital. The medical colleges in the city like AIIMS, RML, Lady Hardinge and Safdarjung have started putting their faculties on night duty to ensure proper treatment to patients. The Delhi government has issued advisories to the five regional branches-Central, East, North, West and South Delhi--for <g data-gr-id="62">re-organising</g> staff across the hospitals. With dengue cases rising, the Directorate of Health Services has issued an advisory to all government and private hospitals directing them not to deny admission to patients affected by the vector-borne disease. According to official data of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, 1,259 cases of dengue have been reported in the national capital this year till September 5.
Two dengue deaths have been officially reported and in both cases victims were from north Delhi.
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