JOIN USThe State government has constituted a core-committee headed by noted pulmonologist H Paramesh to come out with guidelines for doctors for uniform treatment of H1N1 patients, Health Minister U T Khader said on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting with Health department officials, Khader said the committee will come out with an “uniform treatment protocol” in a day or two. “Doctors are practising different methodologies and approach with regard to treatment of patients with H1N1 symptoms. The committee will come out with common guidelines for doctors”, Khader said.
The minister said all hospitals and labs have been issued notices under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act to furnish rates charged for throat swab tests for H1N1 screening. The government has set an upper limit of Rs 2,500 for the tests. The minister said his department had received complaints that Fortis and Clumax Lab in Bengaluru had charged fee above the upper limit. “If hospitals and labs do not abide by the government directions, we will not hesitate to cancel their licences”, he said.
Vaccination of medical staff treating H1N1 patients in ICUs is also being done.
Khader said Sainik School in Vijayapura had been closed for a week only as a precautionary measure after it was confirmed that five students had contracted H1N1. All the five students were recovering and four of them had been discharged from hospital.
He said H1N1 deaths had touched 50 in the State this year. So far as many as 1,334 H1N1 cases had been confirmed, 40 were in ICU and 940 had recovered, he said. The government will take steps to set up more H1N1 screening labs in Hyderabad-Karnataka region, the minister added.