Himanta reviews Encephalitis situation, announces new initiative

Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressing concern over the rising cases of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) has cancelled leaves for all doctors and para medical staff including surveillance workers till September 30 to combat the situation.

Addressing the media at a Press Conference the Minister put forth certain new emergency measures till September 30 to overcome JE and AES situation with minimum fatality.

The new initiatives for those patients who are tested positive are as follows:

• Patients who reach government hospitals orhealth centres using own means of transport due to non-availability of 108Mritunjoy Ambulances or 102 Inter facility transfer ambulances, will be paid atransport allowance of Rs 1000 from the hospital management.
• All facilities of ICU, including hospitalcharges, medicines, diagnostics, will be made free of cost in all Governmenthospitals operating ICU facilities.
• Patients who are admitted to private hospitalswill be paid an ICU treatment allowance up to Rs. 1 Lakh. In order to availthis facility, the attendant of the patient need to provide the details to theJE central control room or the Joint Director Health Services of the districtconcerned immediately on admission. The JD of the district will verify thepatient in the ICU and immediately transfer the allowance.
• In order to detect the infection early and toensure timely treatment, special incentive of Rs.5 per blood slide collectedwill be paid to the MPW, ANM, SW and ASHA as per the slide collection.
• A dedicated help desk to guide suspected AES/JEpatients will be set up in all medical colleges to ensure faster service delivery.