Health minister tells Delhi hospitals to prepare for rise in patients with respiratory illnesses
, ET Bureau|
Updated: Nov 10, 2017, 06.21 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Health minister JP Nadda has directed all hospitals in Delhi to keep equipment for respiratory ailments “in good condition” in preparation for a higher burden of patients expected due to the city’s air quality.
The minister on Friday reviewed the situation arising due to a sudden deterioration in Delhi’s air quality and the preparations in hospitals to deal with the patient load, according to the ministry.
“They have been directed to keep nebulizers and other related equipment in good condition and to be ready to meet with any exigency,” the ministry stated in a release.
The ministry on Wednesday issued a health advisory asking people to remain indoors following a sudden spurt in air pollution levels in the capital and surrounding regions.
Higher air pollution levels are expected to result in an increase in the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and both chronic and acute respiratory disease, including asthma, according to the ministry. In the short run, higher air pollution level may result in increase in severity of symptoms of respiratory diseases, it stated citing experts present at the review meeting.
“Due to recent weather changes there has been an approximate 20% increase in the number of patients coming to the respiratory OPD. In children and elderly we have seen cases pertaining to breathing problems, cough, frequent colds, nasal allergies, eye and skin allergies,” stated Dr Prashant Saxena, Head and Principal Consultant-Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital-Saket.
“It is important to note that even short term exposure to air pollution can have long-term effects. On daily basis, I come across 3-4 pregnant ladies who are suffering from breathing difficulty, precipitation of asthma like symptoms, running nose, burning in the eyes and all due to the increased smog level and air pollution,” said Dr Archana Dhawan Bajaj, Gynecologist, Ostetrician and IVF expert at Nurture IVF Centre.
On Friday, the air pollution in Delhi continued to remain at ‘severe’ levels. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) under the earth science ministry recorded levels of PM 10 (particulate matter, 10 micrometers in size) and PM 2.5 pollutants that were several times over the safe limit. PM 10 levels, while down from 820 units on Wednesday, remained at 587. PM 2.5 levels had dropped to 371 from 517 in the same period.
The minister on Friday reviewed the situation arising due to a sudden deterioration in Delhi’s air quality and the preparations in hospitals to deal with the patient load, according to the ministry.
“They have been directed to keep nebulizers and other related equipment in good condition and to be ready to meet with any exigency,” the ministry stated in a release.
The ministry on Wednesday issued a health advisory asking people to remain indoors following a sudden spurt in air pollution levels in the capital and surrounding regions.
Higher air pollution levels are expected to result in an increase in the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and both chronic and acute respiratory disease, including asthma, according to the ministry. In the short run, higher air pollution level may result in increase in severity of symptoms of respiratory diseases, it stated citing experts present at the review meeting.
“Due to recent weather changes there has been an approximate 20% increase in the number of patients coming to the respiratory OPD. In children and elderly we have seen cases pertaining to breathing problems, cough, frequent colds, nasal allergies, eye and skin allergies,” stated Dr Prashant Saxena, Head and Principal Consultant-Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital-Saket.
“It is important to note that even short term exposure to air pollution can have long-term effects. On daily basis, I come across 3-4 pregnant ladies who are suffering from breathing difficulty, precipitation of asthma like symptoms, running nose, burning in the eyes and all due to the increased smog level and air pollution,” said Dr Archana Dhawan Bajaj, Gynecologist, Ostetrician and IVF expert at Nurture IVF Centre.
On Friday, the air pollution in Delhi continued to remain at ‘severe’ levels. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) under the earth science ministry recorded levels of PM 10 (particulate matter, 10 micrometers in size) and PM 2.5 pollutants that were several times over the safe limit. PM 10 levels, while down from 820 units on Wednesday, remained at 587. PM 2.5 levels had dropped to 371 from 517 in the same period.
