JOIN USThe Delhi government is preparing Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital to deal with patients of swine flu in case of an outbreak, state Health Minister Satyendar Jain told Deccan Herald on Friday.
The government has earmarked beds and the infrastructure is being boosted so that patients of swine flu who need admission can be shifted there.
The RGSSH has not been fully operational with skeletal services in it. It is also fighting acute manpower shortage. Doctors from Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital attended to patients here during the dengue outbreak.
The government recently announced that the hospital will be made fully functional from March, 2016. “At this stage, we cannot ignore the threat of a swine flu outbreak. Cases of swine flu have surfaced in the neighbouring states. So the government will need to be prepared. The infrastructure has been boosted at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital. All arrangements are being made so that the hospital can treat patients in case of an outbreak,” said Jain.
All patients suffering from swine flu do not need admission. Patients suffering from mild symptoms are advised to stay in isolation at home.
“All hospitals will be equipped to treat patients suffering from swine flu. Patients who require admission can be referred to the super speciality hospital. The government had added beds at the hospital to treat dengue patients,” said Jain.
“This is a temporary arrangement for the next three months before the hospital becomes fully operational and offers other services,” he added. The government had woken up late to dengue outbreak in the capital this season. Hospitals were flooded with dengue cases as the city saw the highest number of dengue cases since 1996.
While government hospitals saw three-four patients on one bed, patients were turned away from private hospitals due to shortage of beds. “The department is well stocked of swine flu medicines and buffer stock has also been procured,” said Jain.
The Delhi government had earlier directed health authorities to make preparations for compulsory vaccination of healthcare providers and high-risk groups against swine flu virus.
Doctors, nurses and other paramedics in government and private hospitals will be given free vaccination. High-risk groups like children, senior citizens and pregnant women can also opt for free vaccination.
“In th first phase, the department has procured 80,000 vaccines against swine flu virus. The department is in the process of procuring another 80,000 vaccines,” said a senior Health Department official.