This is the first private lab in the state to get such an approval, which came after the Centre gave its nod to the recommendation submitted by the state government.
Taking precautionary measures in the wake of the approaching winter and the subsequent fear that swine flu could take a more severe turn, the state government has appointed the Super Religare Laboratory to test for H1N1. This is the first private lab in the state to get such an approval, which came after the Centre gave its nod to the recommendation submitted by the state government.
While granting permission to the laboratory, the central government has asked its state counterpart to ensure that unnecessary tests are not conducted and that patients are not charged excessively. The government has allowed the lab to charge Rs4800 per test.
However, the permission has come at a time when both the government labs — the National Institute of Virology (NIV) and the Haffkine Institute — are least burdened and delivering reports in less than 24 hours.
“We want to take precautions before the winter arrives as there’s a possibility that we will see the worst side of the disease towards the end of the year,” said Bhushan Gagrani, secretary of medical education. “The private lab selected will follow the protocol issued by the central authorities. Although we can’t control what these hospitals charge, we have ensured that the lab does not charge patients greatly.”
Gagrani said that though 17 people across the state are on ventilators, the situation is under control. “Continuous deaths are being registered but those are due to a delay in admitting patients, like it was witnessed in the case of Pallavi Lawangare, 22, the latest to die in Nair Hospital. The disease has spread to 24 of the districts (of the total 33) in the state so far,” he added.
Gagrani said that 18 private hospitals in the city have 160 patients admitted for swine flu, with 15 of them testing positive for the same.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}