Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Thursday spoke to the health ministers of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the wake of rising cases of vector-borne diseases in the national capital region.
He will meet Delhi's Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Friday.
"Have spoken to Health Ministers of UP and Haryana on dengue and chikungunya. Will meet Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain tomorrow (Friday) noon for the same," Nadda said in a tweet.
Earlier on Thursday, Jain urged Nadda to call a meeting of health ministers of Delhi and neighbouring states to review healthcare facilities.
Jain made the appeal as many of the dengue and chikungunya patients come to Delhi hospitals from other states.
In a letter to Nadda, Jain said the Delhi government was making best efforts to coordinate with the Health Ministry and its hospitals to tackle the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya.
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"Many patients coming to Delhi hospitals are from neighbouring states in the NCR. They rush to Delhi hospitals apparently due to lack of proper healthcare facilities in their respective states," the minister said.
He said this put pressure on the medical infrastructure in Delhi, particularly in government hospitals.
"It is, therefore, requested that a meeting may be convened inviting the health ministers of the NCR region to review the state-wise action required to augment healthcare facilities for effective tackling of the issue," Jain added.
Earlier, Jain praised doctors of Delhi government hospitals and said that many beds were vacant at many such hospitals even now.
"We are ready to treat all the patients. People should not panic as chikungunya doesn't kill," he said, adding that some patients may however have other complications too.
According to municipal corporation data, dengue cases in Delhi totalled 1,158, chikungunya 1,057 and malaria 21.
According to the civic bodies, the highest 15,876 dengue cases were reported in 2015, with 60 deaths.
--IANS
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