Beds for monkeypox started being reserved in hospitals, 32 labs are ready, MoHFW's preparations

Indeed, large-scale preparations have started across the country since the monitoring regarding monkeypox by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Union Health Ministry has started reserving beds in all major hospitals of the country to deal with this disease. Major labs have been alerted; guidelines have been issued for diagnosis of the disease. An important meeting of the Union Health Ministry was held on Tuesday, in which instructions were issued to 32 labs in the country regarding testing and diagnosis of monkeypox. Apart from this, instructions have been issued to keep beds reserved in all major hospitals, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi. Earlier, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister PK Mishra had issued an instruction that in view of 'Monkey Pox' in the country, increased surveillance should be taken and effective measures for early detection be taken. He had said that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is keeping a personal tab on the situation arising from Mpox.

On Tuesday, a key meeting on monkeypox was held by the Union Health Ministry at PMO level during continuous monitoring. In between, the Union Health Ministry took stock of the preparations regarding testing monkeypox in major labs to keep beds safe for patients in all major hospitals of the country. According to a senior officer in the Union Health Ministry, who was a part of this meeting, preparedness on monkeypox is being continuously monitored from the PMO.

This is the reason why, by taking updates from all the states of the country during the day, a complete road map for further preparation is being prepared. The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday identified 32 labs in the country to avoid this disease and also issued guidelines for testing and diagnosis of monkeypox. Health Ministry officials have requested their AIIMS and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi to be prepared for this disease, while Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Harding have also been chosen for an in-depth study of their patients and seriousness of disease. Except for this, medical protocols have also been sent in the states of the whole country to deal with this disease. Directions have been sent through the Chief Secretary of the state under this, in which directions have been given that, in addition to the medical colleges, some other major hospitals should be identified in the state capitals, and the number of beds there should be ensured.

Other than this, guidelines have also been dispatched to the hospitals in the districts to deal with this disease. In which guidelines have been given to the Chief Medical Officers regarding identifying this disease and the measures to be taken immediately after that. Earlier, Principal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PK Mishra had held an important meeting and directed that surveillance should be increased w.r.t. monkeypox and effective measures should be taken to detect the cases quickly. He had also issued directions for the preparation of a network of testing laboratories so that early treatment could be provided.

Mishra had directed in the said meeting that protocols for prevention and treatment of the disease can be disseminated on a large scale. Following this, he laid emphasis on awareness campaigns regarding signs and symptoms of the disease among health care providers and timely information to the surveillance system. The threat it poses to the country has been monitored continuously, said Union Health Secretary Apoorva Chandra during the meeting. Guidelines to take all appropriate preventive steps have been issued during a meeting of experts at the National Centre for Disease Control. Health teams are monitoring the situation at international airports. State-wise guidelines have been issued in this regard too. The Health Secretary made a reference here that two days back the DGHS had a video conference involving more than 200 participants. On this context, view health officials were sensitized at the state level including Integrated Disease Surveillance Program units in states and ports of entry etc.