TIRUPATI: Eleven children admitted to SVR Ruia Hospital with complaints of high fever and vomiting after being administered septran injection in the hospital on Thursday were recovering well and their condition was reported to be stable. Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, who visited the hospital and interacted with the parents of the children, told mediapersons that the injection administered to the children was having an expiry period till next December.
“We are inquiring into the incident and sought a detailed report with regard to medicine. The report is expected in another two days time. Based on the report, necessary action will be initiated,” he said.
The Minister spent 10 minutes in the hospital and kept aside the two reports submitted by the hospital administration. He directed the higher officials of Health and medical department to conduct a detailed inquiry into the entire incident.
Describing it as a wake-up call, he said all the hospitals were directed to re-examine the medicine stock to be on safe side. With regard to services in the government hospital, he said they are improving day-by-day. “It is far better than before,” he observed. On the issue of junior doctors’ strike, he said the issue has been resolved and they have withdrawn their strike. Asked about the Apollo taking over Chittoor Government Hospital, he maintained that it was not any privatisation bid. “They have volunteered to improve the services and we have allowed it. In fact, the services at Chittoor Government Hospital are better today,” he said.
The Minister said efforts are on to improve services of the government hospitals in public-private partnership mode. Later, the Minister, who underwent knee surgery last year in Government General Hospital, Guntur, said now he is perfectly fine and trekked to Tirumala to fulfil his vow.
Public health, private players
Asked about the Apollo taking over Chittoor Government Hospital, Kamineni maintained that it was not any privatisation bid
“They have volunteered to improve the services and we have allowed it. In fact, the services at Chittoor Government Hospital are better today,” he said
The Minister said efforts are on to improve services of the government hospitals in public-private partnership mode