40 new drug stores granted licence
20 Feb 2015 6:35 AM IST
With long queues, for screening of swine flu — a common sight in the hospitals here, Delhi government has added two more laboratories to conduct the test for the deadly disease free of cost. On Thursday, the total number of swine flu cases reached up to 1,917 with 136 new patients testing positive. The authorities have also given new licenses to 40 pharmacists for the sale of Tamiflu, a prescription medicine for treating the influenza.
“We have directed the Maulana Azad Medical College Hospital and the University College of Medical Sciences Hospital to conduct tests for swine flu in their laboratories. With these two hospitals, the number of government hospitals conducting swine flu tests free of cost has gone up to five,” said Satyendra Jain, Delhi’s Health Minister. Till now, six deaths due to flu have been reported.
Apart from the five government laboratories, there are seven designated laboratories who are also conducting tests for the swine flu. Recently, Delhi government has capped the rate of tests in private labs at a maximum of Rs 4,500, after reports that some labs were earlier charging up to Rs 12,000. With reports of dearth of medicine (Tamiflu) going around the corners, Delhi government has confirmed that medicines stock has been doubled.
Chemists make a killing on masks
With Delhi witnessing the worst outbreak of swine flu and doctors stressing people should wear masks to avoid the dreaded viral disease; chemist stores in the Capital have started selling masks at exorbitant rates. Delhi has till now recorded 1,917 cases of swine flu, while six people have died due to the disease. As per officials at the Capital’s hospitals designated to treat swine flu, masks that cost merely Rs 2 and Rs 90 were being sold at Rs 50 and Rs 350, respectively. “There are two different types of face masks to prevent influenza. The first is a one-layered ‘routine mask’ while the other is the ‘N-95’ specially made for H1N1 patients and medical teams which monitor the patients. “However, due to the epidemic and the panicky situation, people have started opting for the N-95 face mask,” Sunil Saxena, chief of the emergency department and the nodal officer for swine flu at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, said.
“We have directed the Maulana Azad Medical College Hospital and the University College of Medical Sciences Hospital to conduct tests for swine flu in their laboratories. With these two hospitals, the number of government hospitals conducting swine flu tests free of cost has gone up to five,” said Satyendra Jain, Delhi’s Health Minister. Till now, six deaths due to flu have been reported.
Apart from the five government laboratories, there are seven designated laboratories who are also conducting tests for the swine flu. Recently, Delhi government has capped the rate of tests in private labs at a maximum of Rs 4,500, after reports that some labs were earlier charging up to Rs 12,000. With reports of dearth of medicine (Tamiflu) going around the corners, Delhi government has confirmed that medicines stock has been doubled.
Chemists make a killing on masks
With Delhi witnessing the worst outbreak of swine flu and doctors stressing people should wear masks to avoid the dreaded viral disease; chemist stores in the Capital have started selling masks at exorbitant rates. Delhi has till now recorded 1,917 cases of swine flu, while six people have died due to the disease. As per officials at the Capital’s hospitals designated to treat swine flu, masks that cost merely Rs 2 and Rs 90 were being sold at Rs 50 and Rs 350, respectively. “There are two different types of face masks to prevent influenza. The first is a one-layered ‘routine mask’ while the other is the ‘N-95’ specially made for H1N1 patients and medical teams which monitor the patients. “However, due to the epidemic and the panicky situation, people have started opting for the N-95 face mask,” Sunil Saxena, chief of the emergency department and the nodal officer for swine flu at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, said.
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