Private hospitals in Jaipur asked to provide swine flu treatment free of cost

Jaipur: The Rajasthan government has asked private hospitals in Jaipur to conduct tests and provide treatment for swine flu free of cost. In a meeting with state health minister Kalicharan Saraf, the representatives of all major private hospitals in the city agreed to abide by the government orders.

“The hospitals have been directed to conduct swine flu tests without charging anything from the patients. The indoor units will admit swine flu patient and provide them treatment free of cost,” said a senior health department officer.

The officer said that the private hospitals will keep beds reserved in isolation wards and ICU for the flu patients.

“In order to ensure compliance with these directions, the state government is forming three-member committee which will carry out surprise inspections at private hospitals and keep a tab on the medical facilities,” said the officer.

The medical and health department had earlier directed all the government hospitals including SMS Hospital in Jaipur have to make swine flu reports available to patients within seven hours of blood tests being conducted. Rajasthan medical and health Kali Charan Saraf recently directed officials to ensure that swine flu reports are available within 7 hours of taking the blood sample, instead of 24 hours.

As the winter season was yet to arrive, the alarming death toll showcased the sorry state of arrangements made by the Rajasthan government. Out of the 99-people killed, 26 casualties were from Jaipur. It was despite the fact that the city boasts international standard hospitals.

The government only sprang into action after the death of BJP MLA Kirti Kumari, who was admitted to Sawai Man Hospital on August 26. The report detecting swine flu wasn’t available till the next day after which she was shifted to Fortis Escorts Hospital for ECMO and passed away at 7pm on the 28th.