Swine flu in Guj: High Court not happy with health infra

Gujarat High Court has again expressed its dissatisfaction on the overall situation of health facilities and infrastructure in the backdrop of rise in the cases of swine flu in the state.
"On paper it seems everything is perfect, but it clearly shows that there are lack of proper health facilities and infrastructure in the rural areas and more particularly in tribal areas," observed Justice Anant Dave today following a third report submitted by the state government on the steps it has taken to contain the spread of swine flu.
The High Court was hearing one of the several petitions filed by undertrials seeking bail on the grounds that they needed to attend to their relatives who were suffering from swine flu, malaria and dengue.

During the last hearing, on March 26 too the court had sought an explanation from the state government on why, inspite of such a rise in swine flu cases, it has still not shown seriousness by declaring it as an epidemic.
The High Court has also asked the government to provide all the details of the health infrastructure, facilities and other amenities in the state by filing an affidavit today.
Today Commissioner Health, Medical services and Medical Education P K Taneja filed an affidavit with six annexures detailing availability of isolation wards in private and government hospitals in every district, district wise human resource, consumption of drug and logistic for Influenza-A (H1N1), system of bio-medical waste disposal etc.

Following the affidavit, the High Court expressed its dissatisfaction over scant medical infrastructure in rural and tribal areas of the state.
"In nine tribal areas there are very less health infrastructure facilities. Are they not part of the state," Justice Dave observed.