In Fight Against Swine Flu, Patients' Families Rue Lack of Facilities

As more and more cases of people affected from swine flu are reported from across the country, inadequate protection against the highly contagious virus and burden on medical facilities have become a huge problem.

In Bhopal, a mother is anxiously waiting outside a swine flu ward in a hospital for four days. She still doesn't know if her daughter has contracted the disease. The test results are still awaited.

Here, several people are using a handkerchief or a cloth instead of N-95 protective masks recommended by doctors to protect themselves from the H1N1 virus.

Outside the RML hospital in Delhi, Pankaj Sharma from Muzzaffarnagar and Pushpa Kumari from Faridabad are praying for the recovery of their sons. Family members like them, who are exposed to the virus, have been prescribed Tamiflu as a precautionary measure but they are not easily available.

"Patients get taken care of as far as medicines are concerned but for relatives it's a problem. I didn't get the tablets at the shop outside," Mr Sharma said. Ms Kumari, who bought a N-95 mask for herself added, "The medicine costs Rs 500. The full family has to take the tablets. How will we manage?"

The disease has claimed 585 lives from the beginning of this year.

Keeping in mind the increasing number of cases, the central government has ordered additional stocks of medicines and diagnostic kits, and 10,000 masks. The Health Ministry is monitoring the situation and the minister is also in touch with the chief ministers of the worst affected states. Central teams have also visited states like Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

The affected states have also been told to ensure that private labs that are authorised to conduct swine flu tests do not overcharge patients. But despite the government measures, expert say awareness and early diagnosis continue to hold the key to fight the virus.