Health Secretary Holds Review Meeting on H1N1
New Delhi: The Health Secretary B P Sharma held a meeting to review the status of cases and deaths due to H1N1 in states affected with H1N1, here today. Present at the meeting were senior officers of the Ministry, S. C. L. Das, Pr. Secretary (Health), Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Dr. N K Ganguly, former DG, ICMR and other health experts, Dr. Nata Menabde, Country Representative WHO, MS of AIIMS and Dr. RML hospitals, respiratory medicine experts from AIIMS, RML, Safdarjung hospitals, NCDC, and ICMR. In addition, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr. G N Singh and Jt. Secretary, Ministry of Pharmaceuticals were also present at the review meeting.
The objective of the meeting was to review the present strategy being followed to address H1N1. The strategy followed by the Ministry was put forward and guidance was sought from the experts regarding the need for any course correction.
The unanimous opinion of the experts was that the strategy being followed by the Health Ministry in terms of the treatment protocol, vaccination policy, Schedule X status for Oseltamivir drug etc., was broadly in the right direction. Suggestions were provided for strengthening future preparedness. These included deeper analysis of the data collected on the reported cases and deaths, timely and advance roll out of a targeted IEC plan, investment in research, better coordination at the state level among the various departments involved in management of H1N1, and upgradation of the emergency response systems within states.
