The Centre on Friday sought a detailed report from the Delhi Government on deaths due to dengue and chikungunya, including medical history of the deceased, in the national Capital, where vector-borne diseases have claimed at least 30 lives and affected nearly 3,000 people.
The Centre has agreed to increase 10 per cent beds for dengue and chikungunya patients in its hospitals.
Earlier in the day, Union Health Minister JP Nadda met Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain to discuss the situation and assured all support to the State Government, even as he asserted that no patient should be turned away without treatment and there is no shortage of doctors and drugs.
The Union Minister also assured support to the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh Governments for tackling the vector-borne diseases. "We have asked for a detailed report on the deaths taking place due to the vector-borne diseases in the city. Also, we have sought medical history of the deceased patients, whether they had any co-morbid conditions," Nadda said on the sidelines of a symposium held on liver transplantation.
Chikungunya and dengue have wreaked havoc in Delhi with the death toll climbing to 30 with the number affected people crossing 2,800.
"Many of the patients diagnosed in Delhi are coming from NCR region and so fever clinics could also be set up there. We are resolving this matter with Haryana and other Governments in the NCR…I have spoken to Haryana Government (and UP) on this and our officers are working on it and in touch with them," he said.
Nadda said adequate number of fever clinics are also operating in the Central Government hospitals for treating the upsurge of patients. "I have assured all support to the Delhi Government and the Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for tackling the rising cases of dengue and chikungunya," Nadda said.
Seven of the 12 chikungunya victims belonged to Uttar Pradesh, including two from Ghaziabad, and five from Delhi.
The Health Minister during the meeting with Jain also assured that while they have adequate strength of beds in the Central Government hospitals, all measures will be taken to enhance them. "No patient is being turned away without treatment in these hospitals. There is no shortage of doctors, paramedical staff, drugs, testing kits, labs etc, for treatment of the patients," Nadda said.
Underscoring the importance of maintaining hygiene and cleanliness, Nadda asked people to ensure that their environs are not collecting water, which could be vector-breeding grounds. He also stressed on the importance of community participation to prevent vector breeding.
In a report, AIIMS had said, of the total number of patients admitted there for chikungunya and dengue from September 1-13, 70 per cent belonged to Uttar Pradesh, 10 per cent to Bihar and the rest to Delhi. "A total of 96 dengue patients were admitted to AIIMS, out of which 56 have been discharged. Of the total, 65 have been admitted for chikungunya, 62 have been discharged, while one has died," the report said.