As the first few cases of SARS have been confirmed, the state government is preparing to frame minimum standard protocols that could be used by all hospitals around the state as precautionary measures. Apart from the minimum safety guidelines, the government is also considering the possibility of extending the treatment centers to other peripheral hospitals around the city.

Currently, only Kasturba Hospital at Arthur Road in South Mumbai and V N Desai Hospital at Santacruz, eastern suburbs, have been sidelined as the two hospitals where patients suspected or detected with SARS could be treated. But within a week from now, civil hospitals like Sion Hospital, KEM Hospital and Nair Hospital could be included in the list of treatment centers for SARS.

At an emergency meeting held in Bombay Hospital on Tuesday, top health officials joined hands with leaders of the private health sector to streamline the steps needed to be taken if at all the virus finds its grip in the city.

According to Dr Subhash Salunke, Director General, Directorate of Health Services, Government of Maharashtra, until now only one positive case has been detected in the city of Mumbai, which further has been declared 'cured' by the state health authorities. But the government is not taking chances and is busy trying to educate the masses and medical fraternity on the Do's and Don'ts of the disease.

“We have made arrangement for adequate masks form the ministry and are educating people on the disease. Any case if detected or suspected has to first be reported to the offices of the DGHS and not to any other body or institution”, he clarified.

According to him, though the virus has been identified, it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify a vaccine or any specific medication to treat, as the virus is known to 'mutate' and keep changing forms.

According to Dr Bipin Pandit, president of Association of Medical Consultants, chances of the disease being transmitted is very less at the prodormal stage and it is at such times that the cases should be picked up and sent forth for identification and treatment. “When any case is suspected, the first thing that has to be done is to inform the surveillance team present at the concerned hospital who in turn have to strictly follow the isolation and barrier nursing care using personal protective equipment. This would at least assure chances of cure of the patient”, he said.

The meeting was well attended by health authorities from the government and private sector. Among those present included Minister of State for Health, Shri Digvijay Khanvilkar, Director General of Health Services, Dr Subhash Salunke and BMC Health Officer, Dr R M Kathuria.