Daily filing of dengue report must for Maha hospitals, labs

Maharashtra Government today directed all private hospitals and blood testing laboratories to submit a daily report of dengue patients to local municipal corporation or local governing body.
The decision was taken during a meeting on the issue with senior officials by state Health Minister Deepak Sawant.
"A state-level committee to investigate the cause of death (of patients) is also formed as a part of keeping a check on medical services," Sawant said.
He said of total dengue patients, 69% are from urban areas while rest are from rural areas.
"There were some 5,653 patients in the entire state by October end, out of which 941 are in Brihanmumbai Municipal corporation area alone.

"The other corporations like Nashik and Pimpri Chinchwad had 775 and 596 patients of dengue till October end. Hence the decision is taken to generate a daily report to corporation so that we will have real-time data," Sawant said.

Health department from Thursday onwards will write to all municipal corporations for submission of the required information.
Commenting on setting up of state-level investigation committee, Sawant said, "There have been instances where cause of death is suspected to be either H1N1 infection, dengue or chikungunia. In such cases, the investigation will be undertaken by state level committee."
The minister has also maintained that malaria cases in the state are not rising seriously except Gadchiroli.

"I have asked the officials concerned to undertake necessary measures. I have also asked the testing laboratory operators not to charge exorbitantly to the patients suspecting H1N1 infection," he said.