Shri Nadda meets Delhi Health Minister to review preparedness for Influenza A H1N1

New Delhi, October 14, 2015: The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda met the Health Minister of Delhi Government Dr. Satyendra Jain to review the preparedness in Delhi for addressing and management of Influenza A H1N1 in the ensuing winter months. Shri Nadda assured all support and cooperation to the Delhi Government in its efforts.

The Union Health Minister emphasised that it was a joint effort between the Central Government and Government of Delhi to ensure adequate measures are undertaken by health departments of both for timely and adequate action to minimise morbidity and mortality due to Influenza A H1N1.

During the joint meeting it was decided that guidelines for vaccination against Influenza A H1N1, infection control and standard treatment protocols would be shared with the Delhi Government; hospitals of both the Central and Delhi government are to ensure adequate stock of drug Oseltamivir and other consumables; and the Government of Delhi would work out a mechanism to fix ceiling rate in a realistic manner for testing of Influenza A H1N1 samples to minimise out of pocket expenditure by the general public. It was also decided that data on cases due to Influenza A H1N1 in both Central and Delhi government hospitals would be shared, along with the media plans of both governments. Testing facilities would be started in AIIMS, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest institute and the National Institute of Malaria Research. These would be in addition to NCDC which is presently testing samples to diagnose Influenza A H1N1 in Delhi. Training programme would be carried out in AIIMS and other Central Government hospitals to train doctors from the Delhi Government on proper ventilator protocol to manage complicated cases of Influenza A H1N1 who may develop respiratory complications.

Senior officials from both the Union Health Ministry and Delhi Government were present during the meeting.