TN Health Minister dismisses fears about fever

Chennai, Oct 9 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Health Minister KKSSR Ramachandran today described a fever that affected some students and staff of the Government Stanley Medical College (SMC) here yesterday as normal.

Talking to reporters here after chairing a review meeting with the deans of all medical college hospitals in the state, he ruled out outbreak of any mysterious fever or meningitis as is being feared by the people.

''Anybody who complains of fever is being admitted to the hospital as a precautionary measure to ensure that they have not contracted any infection...There is no cause for concern as it is only an ordinary fever,'' he said.

Seven people, including four medicos, were admitted to the hospital yesterday due to a ''mysterious fever'', which broke out barely two days after the hostel and college were re-opened after carrying out vigorous cleaning operations in the wake of the death of a final year student following a fever three weeks ago.

Referring to the notice issued by the National Human Rights Commission, seeking a factual report from the state government over the death of a medico due to unhygienic conditions at the SMC, the minister said the Health Secretary would send his reply to the NHRC.

Mr Ramachandran announced that the government would take up maintenance works in all 14 Government Medical Colleges, its hospitals and hostels at a cost of Rs 33 crore.

He said he had instructed the deans to ensure that the colleges, hospitals and hostels were clean, besides removing garbage at regular intervals. A sum of Rs four crore had been allocated to dispose bio-waste from the hospitals.

Mr Ramachandran said the deans were directed to fill up vacancies in the non-medical staff categories by the month-end.

He said during the meeting, it was decided to construct new buildings at SMC, Kilpauk Medical College (KMC), Madras Medical College (MMC) and Chengalpattu Medical College (CMC). Of the Rs 100 crore allocated for construction works at SMC, Rs 18 crore would be spent on constructing new hostels.

He said new hostels at a cost of Rs 25 crore each would also be constructed at KMC and CMC. Budgetary allocations would be made next year for constructing hostels in MMC and MDU.

UNI