Sir,
Another senior Govt employee, a senior pediatrician died being suspected case of swine flu before reaching hospital at Delhi.Few days back a senior police officer also died of swine flu which was confirmed later on that he was suffering from swine flu on receipt of report from Delhi. Laboratory report of deceased doctor is also awaited from Delhi.It is understood that reports are received after 4-5 days.It is very surprising that the facility of testing swine flu cases is not available in Jammu inspite of tall claims of the Govt that there is no discrimination with Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The facility of testing swine flu cases exists in SKIMS Srinagar but in spite of opening of Super Speciality Hospital in Jammu such facility has not been created and samples are sent to Delhi and by the time the report reaches Jammu the condition of the patient suffering from this decease deteriorates further.
Few days back it was told by the medical department authorities that the sufficient stock of medicines and N95 masks exist in the hospital but on 26th Feb it alleged that masks have been provided to doctors but not to other employees who are performing their duties in the hospital at their own risk.It has also been said by DAK (Doctors Association of Kashmir) that health officials have failed to vaccinate health care workers.
It is pertinent to mention that vaccination to health care workers is most essential. It is also learnt that a case has been registered against a chemist of Jammu who was charging exorbitant rates from customers for purchase of N95 masks.It is not fair to say that all the chemists are charging exorbitant rates for masks. In fact Govt should notify the rates of N95 mask and Temiflu for the information of the general public so that they may not pay extra money. Concerned authorities may depute their teams in the city to check that the patients are not overcharged.
In view of the above it is requested that a special arrangements be made for testing swine flu samples in Jammu.
Yours etc…..
Sham Singh Jamwal, SAO (Rtd)
New Plots Jammu
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