Jaipur: Rajasthan health department Wednesday directed medical college principals and chief medical and health officers across the state to set up dedicated OPDs in govt hospitals for suspected swine flu and influenza-like illness cases after 104 swine flu cases were reported since Aug 1.The department will also scale up screening and testing for swine flu across the state. Authorities have been directed to test 5% of influenza-like illness cases and all cases of severe acute respiratory infection.At the dedicated swine flu clinics, patients with cold, cough and fever will be screened using pulse oximeters, and records will be maintained for follow-up. Patient slips issued at the clinics must carry the seal of the designated clinic.Directions have also been issued to superintendents of hospitals attached to medical colleges and principal medical officers of district hospitals.A senior health department official said the measures cover prevention, control, testing, treatment and public awareness. Swine flu testing will continue at medical colleges and district hospitals upgraded as medical colleges. Officials have been asked to coordinate with the medical education department for sample collection and testing according to prescribed categories and protocols.Hospitals have been directed to pay special attention to high-risk groups, including pregnant women, infants, elderly people and patients with serious illnesses.The department has asked medical colleges, district hospitals, satellite hospitals and sub-divisional hospitals to maintain adequate stocks of oseltamivir and other essential medicines, as well as Viral Transport Media, masks and PPE kits.Sample collection facilities must be available at medical colleges, district hospitals, satellite hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals and community health centres. Isolation wards with reserved beds and necessary equipment are to be arranged for swine flu and other patients with serious respiratory illnesses at these facilities.District authorities have also been instructed to keep ICU beds, ventilators and critical-care equipment ready. Hospitals must ensure that ventilators are functional, staff are trained and the equipment is used judiciously.Free testing will be available, following a doctor’s consultation, at medical colleges, district hospitals, satellite hospitals and sub-divisional hospitals.Selected suspected viral samples will be sent for genome sequencing to SMS Medical College in Jaipur and medical colleges in Kota and Jodhpur.In serious cases, hospitals must arrange immediate free referral through 108 ambulance services to district or medical college hospitals.
