Hubballi: In order to identify suspected Covid-19 patients and to isolate them before they spread the virus, the district administration has directed all chemists to jot down names, contact numbers and addresses of those who buy paracetamol.
The aim is to spot patients with fever which is a symptom of Covid-19 and those who buy paracetamol may think they may have a common flu, but it could be Covid-19.
Early detection can curb the spread of the virus, said officials of the health and family welfare department. Chemists submit details of buyers to the department and its staff check with the ill persons why they purchased the drug and if a preliminary inquiry is not satisfactory, a surveillance team is sent.
District health officer Dr Yashwant A Madinkar said sale of paracetamol over the counter has been banned and it’s sold only against a doctor’s prescription. It means these patients have to visit fever clinics to confirm they don’t have Covid-19. Doctors have been asked to divert patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness and influenza-like infections to nearby fever clinics or the Covid-19 hospital, he said.
Dr Shivanand Hiremath, a psychiatrist, said he bought paracetamol tablets for his mother and any family member who gets a headache. He shared personal details with the chemist and he received a call from health department officials who asked about the purchase. They were convinced after listening to the reason, he said.
Ramesh Tindayal, a resident of Padmaraj Nagar, said he also received a call from the department. He welcomed the administration’s move. A few chemists said they were not selling paracetamol tablets but only painkillers.
Over 300 calls per day
Sources in the health and family welfare department said they’re getting a list every day of over 300 new buyers of paracetamol. “Five staff members have been deployed for this and they call buyers and check why they bought it,” said an officer.
In Vijayapura, which saw a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases, the administration resorted to the same exercise.
The aim is to spot patients with fever which is a symptom of Covid-19 and those who buy paracetamol may think they may have a common flu, but it could be Covid-19.
Early detection can curb the spread of the virus, said officials of the health and family welfare department. Chemists submit details of buyers to the department and its staff check with the ill persons why they purchased the drug and if a preliminary inquiry is not satisfactory, a surveillance team is sent.
District health officer Dr Yashwant A Madinkar said sale of paracetamol over the counter has been banned and it’s sold only against a doctor’s prescription. It means these patients have to visit fever clinics to confirm they don’t have Covid-19. Doctors have been asked to divert patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness and influenza-like infections to nearby fever clinics or the Covid-19 hospital, he said.
Dr Shivanand Hiremath, a psychiatrist, said he bought paracetamol tablets for his mother and any family member who gets a headache. He shared personal details with the chemist and he received a call from health department officials who asked about the purchase. They were convinced after listening to the reason, he said.
Ramesh Tindayal, a resident of Padmaraj Nagar, said he also received a call from the department. He welcomed the administration’s move. A few chemists said they were not selling paracetamol tablets but only painkillers.
Over 300 calls per day
Sources in the health and family welfare department said they’re getting a list every day of over 300 new buyers of paracetamol. “Five staff members have been deployed for this and they call buyers and check why they bought it,” said an officer.
In Vijayapura, which saw a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases, the administration resorted to the same exercise.
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