Share data on heatwave-linked hospitalisations and deaths, Centre tells States

The Health Ministry, on Wednesday, held another round of meeting – the second in two days – with officials of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana, which are in the grip of severe heat wave conditions. The Centre highlighted the lack of accurate information from the ground and urged the States to share field-level data on heatwave, including deaths and hospitalisations. With coordinated actions between the Centre and States, we can surely ensure there are no deaths due to heatwaves,” said Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The Minister said a granular status and an analysis of overall heatstroke cases and deaths in India and heat-related illness in the seven affected States was made by the Health Ministry officials covering the trajectory of total emergency OPD cases, suspected and confirmed heatstroke cases and deaths; and their reporting as per Integrated Health Information Platform portal. It was pointed out that the National Action Plan on heat-related illness released in July 2021 outlined the challenges posed by heatwave, heat-related illnesses and their management from primary to tertiary level; the standard operating procedures for surveillance of heatstroke cases and deaths; and preparedness plan before and after; during summer season, with special emphasis on heat-related illness in vulnerable sections.