Dengue cases: Delhi Govt. directs hospitals to increase bed strength

New Delhi, Aug 1 (ANI): All hospitals and nursing homes have been allowed to increase the beds strength by 10 to 20 percent for three months as part of the preparation to deal with increasing dengue cases in the national capital. Hospitals and nursing homes will get this permission with the condition that these beds will be used only for admitting fever and Dengue patients. The order further states that no hospital and nursing home will deny treatment or admission to any patient suffering from Dengue. A dedicated Dengue control cell is already functioning at the Directorate General of Health Services to conduct dengue-related measures. To keep Dengue treatment affordable, the government has put a ceiling price on NSI Ag (Elisa based) and Elisa MAC tests at Rs 600 and for platelet count at Rs 50. Any private hospital or lab which charges more than the fixed ceiling price for dengue testing and platelet count will face action. The mohalla clinics set up by the government too have been prepared to deal with dengue cases. The government aims to increase the number of dedicated fever clinics from 55 last year to 355 fever clinics this year. All hospitals have been advised to have "fever corners" which will function at all hours. The medical staff and paramedical staff at these clinics have been sensitised about prevention and treatment of dengue. To tackle dengue, the government has decided to restrict the sale of drugs like Aspirin, Ibuprofen and Diclofenac group of medicines which cause destruction of platelets in human blood. These will now be sold strictly against prescription by a registered medical practitioner. The Delhi Government held a series of workshops at the Delhi Secretariat to sensitise doctors about Dengue. The last workshop was held on July 27, 2016. The Delhi government has stressed that emphasis should be on prevention of dengue by controlling the mosquito breeding. Students of government/private schools and colleges will be roped in to spread awareness about steps for prevention of Dengue. (ANI)