JOIN USState to procure 26 ventilators
At a discussion on alternative medicines organised by the Directorate of AYUSH here on Tuesday, Principal Health Secretary I R Perumal, said, "We have ordered for new ventilators. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) will get five new ventilators, while we have given permission to Victoria Hospital along with other Government hospitals to buy as many as they need. Each hospital including district level ones will have at least two ventilators for H1N1 positive patients."
According to the Government Unani Medical College authorities, 5,540 bottles of U-viral medicine that prevents spread of H1N1 have been distributed and nearly 6,000 people have visited the college since August 22.
Medicine scarcity
However, the authorities complained that there was shortage of the medicine, as the suppliers had hiked the prices. Dr A C Patil, principal and medical superintendent of Government Homeopathic Medical College, said that they were giving Homeopathy medicines to people coming for screening at (RGICD).
"We have given medicines to around 28 patients in Category A, 43 under Category B and 9 in Category C, since August 25," he said. AYUSH has also identified certain drugs that will be available in Government hospitals and dispensaries across the State.
In Ayurveda - Amruthadi churna - will be given, in Unani - U-viral or Araq-e-ajeeb (it's older name) - will be dispatched, while in Homeopathy Arsenicum Album-200 will be distributed. In addition to this 75 lakh saplings of Amrutha (Tinospora cardifolia), vaasa (Adhatoda vacica) and Tulsi (Basil), which have been acknowledged to prevent H1N1 Influenza, will be cultivated and distributed to the public in all the districts in Karnataka.
However, all the three systems of medicines will refer patients with severe symptoms (defined as Category B and C by the Health department on August 14) to designated screening centres or hospitals and asked to undergo the swab tests.