Maharashtra govt issues notice to two private hospitals

"We have issued notices to Jehangir and Ruby hospitals, asking them to explain their position," Public Health Minister Rajendra Shingane told reporters at Mantralaya here today.
"We expect their reply in a day or two," he said.

Students of St Anne's school, where Rida Shaikh, India's first swine flu victim studied, will be tested for the deadly virus, the minister said.

Maharashtra Government will issue guidelines to private hospitals to deal with swine flu cases, Health Secretary Sharwaree Gokhale said.

Altogether 150 swine flu cases of swine flu have been reported in Maharashtra, Shingane said. These include -- Pune 104 (including 72 schoolchildren), Mumbai 20, Satara 23, Thane 2 and Nashik 1.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who reviewed the swine flu situation with senior health officials, said there was negligence on part of the private hospitals in dealing with the case.
The State Government has also invoked provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 in Pune and Satara districts, Gokhale said, adding that the Act enables district authorities to forcibly bring suspected patients to hospitals.