Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday said the city government was “well prepared” to tackle the rising number of dengue cases in the Capital and it had planned to open 350 dengue clinics to ensure timely treatment to patients.
The Delhi Health Department has announced that like last year there will be a capping on the rates on dengue tests — platelet count test at Rs.50 and NS1 Elisa test at Rs.600. Any private hospital or laboratory found overcharging will face strict action, the Health Department announced.
The announcement came after the city reported its first dengue death at Lok Nayak Hospital. Previously, Mr. Jain had announced that around 250-300 fever clinics would be set up on the lines of mohalla clinics by September.
“Right now, we need to prevent mosquito breeding,” he added.
The Minister said that last year the Department had set-up 55 dengue clinics and people have to remember that not all patients need to be admitted into a medical facility.
“About 95 per cent of dengue cases can be treated at home, and so we have tried to reach out to people through these special clinics. Also, our government never claimed that dengue would be wiped out. No government or State can claim so. Dengue and other diseases are happening in various parts of the country. Since India is a tropical country, there would be mosquitoes, and so dengue [threat] would be there, but we are prepared,” he said.
He added that prevention and cure of vector-borne ailments were being given attention. “We are also meeting with the corporations [over the issue].”
Last year, the city saw an outbreak of dengue with State government having to pull in additional resources within days — procure around 1,000 beds, open disaster wards [in government/private hospitals] for dengue patients, and even accommodate patient rush in porta cabins.
