THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state has been put on high alert following the increase in H1N1 cases and the death of 46 patients so far in various districts.
The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has decided to make available medicines to treat H1N1 at selected medical shops and Karunya stores to ensure easy access to the patients.
Currently, oseltamivir tablets, used to treat swine flu, are available only at government hospitals and the private hospitals are sending patients to the nearest government hospitals.
According to top officials of DHS, the mortality rate is on the rise because of lack of timely treatment, especially by private hospitals.
The health secretary has given direction to Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) to procure three lakh tablets immediately to ensure their availability at Karunya medical shops and selected private medical shops across the state.
The health authorities have curbed the sale of oseltamivir tablets as there is no alternative to treat swine flu. According to experts, patients will gain resistance easily if the tablet is consumed without prescription.
The state nodal officer – H1N1 (Directorate of Health Services) Dr Amar Fettle told DC that private medical shops having licence to sell schedule x drugs would be given permission to sell swine flu tablets.
“There are only around 400 medical shops in the state with this licence. The medicines will also be available at Karunya pharmacies,” he said.
The drugs controller has been given strict direction to ensure that medicines to treat swine flu are available at private hospitals.
“H1N1 has become endemic and it’s the responsibility of the private hospitals to stock up the medicine. We have called a meeting with all major academic bodies of private practitioners and hospital managements to ensure the availability of the medicine. They can easily purchase them directly from the manufacturers,” said Mr Amar Fettle.
He said that all district medical officers (DMO) had been directed to ensure that medicines were available at private hospitals. Around 65 percent of the population depend on the private hospitals.
