Apollo faces govt ire for refusing H1N1 patients

The Delhi government will take action against Indraprastha Apollo Hospital for refusing to admit H1N1 patients.

Apollo authorities had said the hospital cannot create the mandatory separate isolation wards for such patients. “The mortality rate of H1N1 cases is 1% in normal population but is significantly higher in people who are immuno-compromised. We are, therefore, not in a position to provide facilities for H1N1 flu screening, sample collection and in-patient treatment on our campus for fear of cross infection. We are committed to providing the highest quality of medical care. We would like to do everything possible with respect to the H1N1 pandemic. However, we cannot put our patients, many of whom are immuno-compromised, at risk by exposing them to the infection,” the hospital said in its statement. The hospital clarified that it had offered its laboratories for testing samples collected outside its campus if they meet the government standards and specifications.

However, the Delhi government feels that this may become a trend and more hospitals may refuse to admit swine flu patients. Directorate general of health services (DGHS) RK Srivastawa said the government was equipped with the Epidemic Control Act under which it can force any hospital to take part in public health measures.

With the number of government hospitals limited, the government has asked the private sector to join the battle against swine flu. The Delhi government had on Tuesday asked all private hospitals with 200-bed or more capacity to create an isolation ward and reserve at least 10 beds for H1N1-infected patients.  It has given private hospitals 15 days to create the required infrastructure to tackle the influenza pandemic.

“We have given them 15 days to keep at least 10 beds with isolation facilities. The law is inherent in such situations and private hospitals have to comply with it,” Delhi’s health minister Kiran Walia said.