Click to play videoNew Delhi: After weeks of clamour that the private sector start treating H1N1 flu patients, the country on Thursday received a shocker from one of India's largest private hospitals, Apollo. Hospital authorities said that they will be unable to treat swine flu patients in the Capital.
The statement by Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals reads: "We cannot put our patients at risk by exposing them to the infection. We are not in a position to provide facilities for H1N1 flu screening, sample collection and in-patient treatment in our campus for fear of cross infection. We have offered our laboratories for testing the samples (collected outside our campus) if they meet with the Government standards and specifications"
However, they soon had a hasty change of stance. The hospital released a fresh statement saying: "We are exploring ways to create separate facilities for treating H1N1 patients in isolation to ensure containment of the disease. We are also in contact with other private providers and request the Government to give clear directives on how to manage the pandemic."
Dr Hari Prasad of Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals said, "We can have the isolation ward within our present facility. We are in the process of identifying separate facilities which will treat patients for H1N1, but it could take weeks."
The change of stance perhaps coming with a fear of legal action, after the Delhi government imposed the Epidemic Disease Act 1897, which empowers the state to take whatever action it deems fit to deal with the disease. The government has already asked all private hospitals that have more than 200 beds to set aside an isolation ward of 10 beds for H1N1 patients in the next two weeks.
Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia said Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals have asked for at least 15 days to make necessary arrangements for swine flu patients.
For now, across the Capital, there are 14 government hospitals catering to patients with H1N1 flu and suspect cases.
(With inputs from Parikshit Luthra in New Delhi)
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