Centre helping states deal with swine flu

Swine flu continues to claim lives across the country but the Centre has reiterated there is no shortage of relevant drugs.

According to reports, the primary anti-H1N1 virus drug is being sold at an inflated cost than the usual Rs 500 for 10 pills.

After the government announced the swine flu drug as a Schedule X item (restricted drug), it should ideally not be sold over the counter. But owing to widespread panic, some chemists are selling it at a higher price, said a member of the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists.

As of Thursday, the number of deaths due to swine flu reached 663, with the number of infected people across the country crossing 10,000. The Delhi government has started a helpline number.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), under Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, reviewed the situation in some states and the reported shortage of drugs. The cabinet secretary also offered the states necessary central assistance.

The chief secretaries and medical heads of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi informed the cabinet secretary through video conferencing about the availability of drugs, testing kits, diagnostic labs, personal protective equipment, masks, etc, in their states.

All major states affected by swine flu are reporting shortage of drugs and inadequate facilities at government hospitals. But the Centre holds the stance that there was no reason to panic and drug availability was being adequately addressed. Health Secretary B P Sharma is said to be in regular touch with all the states affected by the H1N1 virus and is assisting them with the requested material.

On Wednesday, the Centre said it had ordered for additional 60,000 Oseltamivir medicines and 10,000 N-95 masks. In addition, NCDC has floated a tender for 10,000 diagnostic kits.