Delhi labs to halve swine flu test rates

The Delhi government Wednesday asked the 10 laboratories authorised to carry out swine flu tests to halve their prices from Rs.9,000 to Rs.4,500, officials here said.

The decision was taken after a meeting of officials of the directorate of health services (DHS) and seven private and three government laboratories.

"It was decided that the prices will be brought down as more and more people are showing the symptoms (of swine flu) and should get tested," DHS director S.K. Sharma said.

Any 100-bedded hospital -- private or government -- can treat swine flu patients if they have ventilator facilities, he said.

In addition, 40 new licenses will be given to chemists around the city Feb 19 onwards to sell Tamiflu medicine to combat swine flu.

Sharma said due to the high standards required to store the Tamiflu tablets, limited chemist store owners will be given the (schedule X )licence or permission to sell the Tamiflu tablets.

"The selected chemist stores are mostly near the 11-12 authorised hospitals that are witnessing comparatively high number of patients with swine flu symptoms," Sharma told IANS.

According to the DHS, a total of 102 positive cases of swine flu were reported Wednesday, taking the number to 1,781 this year. A total of six people have already died due to the disease.

Of the 26 designated hospitals to treat swine flu, six are private hospitals and 19 are government hospitals.

Meanwhile, to ensure availability of sufficient medicines, the health ministry has put up a list of retail outlets on its website -- mohfw.nic.in. The move is meant to ensure that requisite amount of medicine is available for patients.

Stating that though there were at times drug shortages for swine flu but the DHS always has a buffer stock and the chemist can take the supply from them any time.

There are presently four chemist associations in Delhi, with 100 chemist shop owners having the license of selling the Tamiflu tablets to the patients.

Sharma also urged the people not to panic even if they poses the symptoms of swine flu and consult the doctors at the designated hospitals.

The health ministry recently cateogorised the people suffering from seasonal influenza under three groups.

According to it, group A consisted of the patients with mild fever, cough sore throat with or without body ache, headache, diarrhoea and vomiting. They do not require Tamiflu and should be monitored for their progress and reasseed after 48 hours by the doctor. No testing was required.

"Category B consisted the patients with all the signs and symptoms mentioned under category A and along with that also diagnosed with one more flu. They shall be treated with Tamiflu. They needed to be confined at home and didn't require any swine flu test.

Cateogory C being a bit severe one with the symptoms of category A and B along with chest pain, breathlessness, drowsiness and sputum mixed with blood required testing and immediate hospitalisation and treatment.