32 new dengue, two chikungunya cases reported from district

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 19

The district Health Department confirmed 32 new dengue cases here today. Now, the total number dengue patients in the district has gone up to 320.

Meanwhile, the Health Department confirming two new cases of chikungunya today the number patients in the district has risen to four.

District epidemiologist, Dr Madan Mohan, said the department had instructed all government and private hospitals to report any suspected case of chikungunya to them. He said they expected that the number of dengue patients would come down if the weather conditions changed.

Initially, the local administration failed to check spread of the disease as it was unable to carry out fogging on time. The health authorities claimed that dengue virus would become weak with decrease in temperature.

Dr Mohan said suspected dengue patients could also file complaints with the Health Department if any private laboratory or hospital charged more than Rs 600 for diagnosis of the disease.

He said the local chapter of the Indian Medical Association had already been asked to communicate the government decision regarding cap on diagnosis fee to its members.

However, even after four days of the announcement on fixing diagnosis fee no patient filed any complaint with the department in this regard.

Sources in the department claimed due to absence of any check few private hospitals and labs were still charging more fee. “There is no mechanism to find out if the fee is being charged in excess. The government cannot expect a person, who is suffering from the disease to come and file a complaint instead of getting treatment,” said an official.

He said inspection teams should be formed to interact with patients at laboratories and ask them about amount they paid for tests so as to successfully implement the instructions of the Health Department.

Congress protests outside MC office

Former Congress MLA Jasbir Singh Dimpa staged a protest along with his supporters outside the Municipal Corporation (MC) office here today against authorities failure to check the spread of dengue and chikungunya.

Dimpa said, “The local administration has failed to maintain basic hygiene and cleanliness in the city.” He alleged that seven people in the city died due to dengue, but the facts were being concealed by officials concerned.

He said contaminated water was being supplied in many areas due to which people were falling sick.

“The government’s claims of free diagnosis and medicines are a farce. These are not available at government hospitals,” he added. Later, the Congress workers submitted a memorandum to officials of the civic body.