Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday has expressed shock & concern over seven people succumbing to swine flu in Punjab in the last four days taking the death toll due to the disease to 31. AAP Punjab Convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur criticized the Parkash Singh Badal government for its nonchalant attitude for not taking timely remedial measures to check the onslaught of the swine flu. Chhotepur said according to the media reports the death toll due to swine flu in Punjab during the current season has already risen to 31 till Wednesday. He said the patients who have died because of the H1N1 virus over the past three weeks belonged to Bathinda, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Moga and Mansa districts.Chhotepur said though first case of the swine flu death during the current year was reported on January 3 still the Badal government failed to move swiftly to take steps to check the spread of the virus among people.
Chhotepur said till January 20 the swine flu had already claimed four lives in the state. Chhotepur said it was indeed a matter of concern and shame to see the health care system deteriorating so fast in Punjab over the last many years while Badals were busy in political gimmicks. Chhotepur said the Badal government should immediately set up separate wards to treat patients with swine flu. He said an advisory must be issued to government and private hospitals to provide immediate treatment to patients suspected to be infected with the virus without conducting tests.Chhotepur said the tests for the virus should be declared free of cost in all sate run government hospitals. Besides the authorities should also ensure all medicines must be made available for the patients in adequate quantity at all health centers free of cost, added Chhotepur.