The stock of swine flu drug (Tamiflu) is fast depleting in the Doon hospital as only 30 tablets of the essential medicine are left with it. Currently, five patients with symptoms of the disease are admitted in the isolation ward of the hospital. The suspected patients of Swine Flu are given two doses of 75 mg tablet daily. As a preventive measure — the doctors, the staff and the attendants of these patients are also given a dose of this medicine daily.
It was learnt that due to the shortage of the medicine, the hospital staff and attendants of the patients are not given the prophylactic medication. The Principal Medical Superintendent (PMS) of Doon hospital Dr RS Aswal told The Pioneer that the hospital is having sufficient stock of Tamiflu and if need arises the drug would be procured from the market. The district communicable diseases Officer Dr Madan Bonal said that the district has adequate supplies of the drug.
He said that the Doon hospital was provided with 350 tablets of Tamiflu recently and more would be provided to it, if the hospital asks for them. Sources however revealed that the district health officials are having a small stock of Tamiflu which too is fast depleting. One of the drug supplier informed that the drug is in short supply due to huge demand. It is worth mentioning here that stock of drug vanished last month and after much effort it was procured by the district health officials.
Dehradun and Haridwar are two districts in the State from where maximum number of suspected swine flu cases are reported. In Dehradun, 52 suspected cases of the disease are reported till date. The samples of these patients are sent to National Centre of Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi for testing. The health department put the figure of Swine Flu cases at 9 in the State capital.