Hyderabad: Testing for swine flu can solely be carried out on the authorities’s Institute of Preventive Medication (IPM). The assessments are time-consuming in addition to costly. These are limiting components in getting full knowledge concerning the unfold of the an infection.

The well being division has recorded 31 instances of swine flu or H1N1 this 12 months. Nonetheless, personal hospitals have reported many extra instances. A preferred personal hospital in Secunderabad mentioned it had obtained about 25-30 instances of H1N1 up to now month.

In consequence, personal hospitals are treating instances based mostly on suspicion. They’ve known as for testing to be allowed at personal labs too. The federal government has not agreed, as there are considerations it might result in exploitation as was seen through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Tapaswi Krishna, pulmonologist at Gleneagles World Hospital, mentioned, “IPM must be extra accessible for testing. They’re charging Rs 3,000 odd for every pattern. It additionally takes time, as we’re getting again the studies 2-3 days after the affected person is discharged.”

Marketing consultant pulmonologist Dr Sai Reddy at Yashoda Hospitals mentioned the hospital was receiving extra instances of H1N1 than of Covid-19. He mentioned about 25 extreme instances had been being handled.

He additionally mentioned the IPM sends again outcomes after the affected person is discharted. “There are logistical points too. The IPM doesn’t do testing on Sundays. So most instances are handled solely on the idea of suspicion,” Dr Sai Reddy mentioned.

Throughout Covid, other than testing, personal labs would cost folks for PPE kits and gloves. Even when the federal government caps the price of testing, there are considerations that labs could discover different methods to fleece sufferers, sources mentioned.

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