Medicines for dengue treatment: government urged to exempt import from duty

The Punjab government has urged the federal government to exempt duty on import of medicines from India and Germany to overcome dengue virus. Almost 4000 people are suffering from the virus. At least three more persons died from dengue on Wednesday.
The chief minister said a case would be filed against heads of private hospitals for not providing free treatment to dengue patients. "We are in a state of war and those private hospitals which will not provide free medical facilities to the dengue patients on our request, action will be taken against them under Section 144," he said. He has also directed the administration of private residential colonies to conduct fumigation. About eight Chinese engineers are also suffering from the virus and currently being treated at different hospitals of the city.
The chief minister on Wednesday visited Sharif Medical City Complex to inquire about the health of under treatment dengue patients. He met with all patients individually and inquired about their wellbeing. Replying to another question with regard to a report of an investigation committee set up for checking the quality of medicines, the chief minister said that a committee headed by a well reputable Addl. IG Aftab Sultan is working and as soon as its report will be received, it would be made public.
He said that dengue virus is 100 percent curable and this is not a fatal disease and media should create awareness among the people about this virus. He said that best medical facilities were being provided to the patients suffering from dengue fever as a result of which patients were recovering quickly.
He said that a taskforce headed by the chief secretary and comprising doctors and experts has also been constituted to control dengue virus. He said that medicines and machines were being imported from India and Germany on emergent basis and on our request, a team comprising experts and doctors from Sri Lanka to arrive Lahore on Thursday (today) to provide technical assistance. He said that the modern technology imported from UK would also be used to treat dengue patients. He said that the process of spray was going on at union council level in all towns of Lahore and spray would also be ensured in the houses.
He said that the schools and colleges of Lahore have been closed for 10 days because the process of spray should be completed in all rooms and lawns of these educational institutions.