Tamil Nadu Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam on Friday sought Rs. 16 crore from the Centre for “various activities to control the A(H1N1) influenza [swine flu] in Tamil Nadu.”
Speaking at a conference of State Health Ministers and Health Secretaries in New Delhi, Mr. Panneerselvam said “the situation of A(H1N1) [was] well under control [in the State].” He said there were adequate quantities of Tamiflu capsules, but that “huge quantities of N95 masks, triple layer masks and personal protective equipments and testing kits” were required.
He also asked the Union Health Minister to consider the State’s proposal to establish one more Communicable Diseases Hospital in Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs. 50 crore as the existing facility was located in a remote corner of the city.
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To “manage emergencies due to emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases,” he suggested the facility be established either at King Institute, Guindy or at Tambaram.
The Minister said that the National Rural Health mission (NRHM) had been implemented successfully in the State and asked for an additional amount of Rs. 286 crore to “strengthen the health infrastructure in the primary health centres (PHCs), health sub-centres (HSC) and rural hospitals and to establish new infrastructure in Tamil Nadu.”