Flu clinics begin in HP dist hospitals

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 25

The health authorities have started flu clinics in all district hospitals, including IGMC and hospitals in Tanda, Nerchowk, Hamirpur, Nahan and Chamba to check infection among patients.

But doctors and health workers said they were not getting PPE kits and N-95 masks at the flu clinics as they were exposed to the risk of infection in view of the Covid outbreak.

Dr Sonam Negi, state disease surveillance officer, said these clinics were started to isolate the flu patients so that other patients do not catch the infection.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health, RD Dhiman in his order, had stated that the PPEs, N95 masks and other essentials were being sent to the district hospitals.

Dr Negi clarified that the PPE kits were provided to health workers in the isolation wards. “We have provided tripled-layered masks to the staff and doctors at the flu clinics”, he added.

Order for private practitioners

Additional Chief Secretary, Health, RD Dhiman ordered all private practitioners to provide healthcare facilities to patients and start separate flu clinics and enforce strictly the social distancing norms.

It has come to notice that private practitioners are closing their clinics in view of Covid outbreak.

This would invite action under the Clinical Establishment Act and they should continue to give services to people in this hour, he ordered.