Punjab breaks protocol, fails to share info with UT

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 14

The standard protocol meant to contain the spread of swine flu is not being followed as the Health Department, Punjab, has not shared the information about its swine flu cases with the UT Health Department.

Director Health Services Dr G Dewan maintained that he had not received information about the arrival of swine flu cases from Mohali and Patiala.

A doctor at the PGI, requesting anonymity, said as per the standard procedure, the nodal officer of the Health Department accompanies the swine flu patient. But no information was shared with the PGI authorities about the ailment of the two patients from Mohali who died here.

Sources said all patients were rushed straight to the PGI Emergency and underwent primary treatment along with other patients till the time doctors diagnosed them with swine flu. Soon, the patients were shifted to the communicable disease ward.

Sources said the doctors and paramedical staff who came in contact with them were also underwent a screening test.

A UT Health Department official said the callous attitude of private and government hospitals could spread the disease.

“The neighbouring states are referring patients to hospitals in Chandigarh. Neither the health authorities of the respective states nor health officials of the UT are taken in loop before referring swine flu patients. The patient arrives at bigger hospitals such as PGI where the Emergency remains busy all the time. In such a situation, the chances of spreading of disease are relatively high,” said the official.

A PGI doctor dealing with communicable diseases said they were sharing the data of swine flu cases with the nodal officer, communicable diseases, UT.