Doctors at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) heaved a sigh of relief on Monday as several screening centres began operations across the city. Attending to hundreds of panic-stricken patients was getting on the nerves of the doctors.
From Monday, RGICD doctors were joined by pediatricians from the neighbouring Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital, to work round the clock in three shifts.
Dr Basavaraj GV, Assistant Professor of Paediatrics, Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital, said, “The Indian Academy of Paediatricians has issued a clear cut directive to refer only strongly suspect H1N1 cases for screening. This is to aim at ensuring quality of work and lessen the burden on the healthcare system. In addition, with more centres in the city, quality cannot be missed. The medical fraternity is being unnecessarily overburdened with the panic in the city.”
Referring to the delay in getting test results, he said, “It is not an easy job. Earlier, there were only three bio-safety level-three labs in India. Moreover, the testing each sample costs Rs6,000 which is now being borne by the government. Managing such an infrastructure and manpower is difficult. Thankfully, we now have 18 such bio-safety labs in India and to meet the need for manpower, more doctors are getting into the act.”
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