Union Health Minister holds high level review meeting on Seasonal Influenza (H1N1)

Union Health Minister holds high level review meeting on Seasonal Influenza (H1N1) 

The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Shri J P Nadda has issued necessary directions related to procurement, training, issuing of advisories and guidelines for the state government in a high level meeting which took place earlier this week to review the preparedness for tackling seasonal Influenza (H1N1). 

“We are monitoring the situation on real time basis. A control room has already been set up and is fully functional now. We have also rolled out a nationwide awareness campaign on Seasonal Influenza (H1N1),” said the Union Health Minister. “We have assured full support to the state governments. In fact, the Ministry has already issued three advisories to the state governments over the last one month and held a video conference with them to review their strategy and plans,” he added.

During the review meeting, attended by senior officials of health ministry, the Health Minister was informed that 10000 PPE kits and 5000 N95 masks are being procured by DGHS and the process of procurement of at least 3 lakh tablets of Oseltamivir 75 Mg and one lakh syrups is already underway. “There is sufficient stock of drugs, testing kits and masks. We have also received information on logistics from 18 states. I am monitoring the situation closely,” said Shri Nadda.

Around 7000 diagnostic kits have already been distributed among various government laboratories and 15000 more kits will be provided to them. New revised vaccination guidelines and clinical management guidelines have been issued to the state governments.

The process for training of Master Trainers on ventilator management will be completed in the first half of November which will ensure sufficient capacity for the healthcare workers for managing critical patients. Shri Nadda directed the Central government institutions to earmark sufficient number of beds for H1N1 patients with additional capacity which may be used quickly whenever required. Four Central government hospitals in Delhi –RML Hospital, LHMC, AIIMS and Safdarjung- have already earmarked beds for H1N1 patients.