Zagade invokes special powers to make Tamiflu mandatory, collate data

Zagade said it had been observed that the patients who first visit the nearby private clinics faced serious issues if not prescribed Tamiflu tablets. He noted that Tamiflu was freely available at all civic hospitals and screening centres besides select pharmacy shops.

He also directed the private medical practitioners to furnish detailed information of their clinics and hospitals at the nearest ward office. The information should comprise addresses and contact numbers and it can be sent at h1n1pmc@gmail.com.

PMC health chief RR Pardeshi said the intention behind using the special powers was to ensure that there was no lacklustre approach from private practitioners in treating any suspected patient. “This way, we will be able to understand the number of patients getting affected and the treatment received. It will also help us in locating the area where more are getting infected, so that the PMC can take steps to tackle the situation.” He said training would be provided to those practitioners registering more suspected swine flu cases.

Pardeshi said the details of private practitioners would be used to create a database of hospitals and clinics in the city. “There is no database available at present; the exercise will help the civic administration to study the health facilities being made available to citizens and reach out to the practitioners during a crisis.”