Guwahati: State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday stated that Government of Assam had taken the initiative to overcome the Japanese Encephalitis situation in the state with minimum facilities.

All costs of ICU care including hospital charges, drugs & diagnostics will be made free of cost

The health minister informed that in order to ensure that JE patients needing ICU critical care are not deterred from getting timely medical treatment, all costs of ICU care including hospital charges, drugs, and diagnostics will be made free of cost to the patient at the point of care in all Government hospitals operating ICU facilities.

Consolidated ICU treatment allowance upto Rs 1 lakh per patient will be paid directly to private hospital: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also mentioned that the Government of Assam is aware of the fact that the ICU facilities in Government are limited, therefore, in order to overcome the same, where a JE positive patient is admitted to an ICU in private hospital within Assam, due to non-availability of Government ICU beds, a consolidated ICU treatment allowance upto Rs 1 lakh per patient will be paid directly to the private hospital in the name of the treatment patient.

“To avail the benefit, the attendant accompanying the patient shall inform the same with details to the JE central control room or the Joint Director Health Services of the district concerned immediately on admission,” said Himanta Biswa Sarma in a press statement.

Central Control Room Number 6913347770/1/2/3 has been established to monitor the situation on 12 hourly basis

It is to be noted that the central control room number 6913347770/1/2/3 has been established to monitor the situation on a 12 hourly basis along with all kinds of patient support and feedback.

The Health Minister also mentioned that leaves for all doctors and paramedical staff including surveillance workers will be kept on hold. “Any kind of emergency leave will be granted only with the prior approval of the Deputy Commissioner of District Administrations. Unauthorized absence from the place of posting even after duty hours will be treated seriously amounting to criminal dereliction of duty,” added Himanta Biswa Sarma.

A dedicated help desk for guiding through, the suspected JE patients will be set up in all the medical colleges in Assam to ensure faster service delivery.

It is to be noted that the Government of Assam has also introduced a special transport allowance for JE patients. JE confirmed patients who reach any Government Hospital for treatment using own means of Transport due to non-availability of 108 Mritunjoy Ambulances/ 102 Inter-facility transfer ambulances, a consolidated transport allowance of Rs 1000 shall be paid from the hospital management society on confirmation of the positive status of JE.

Furthermore, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and FW, Government of Assam will hold weekly review confirmation over VC with all DCs and JDs concerned to ensure the vigil continues.

Also Read: Japanese Encephalitis: Death Toll mounts to 28 in Assam