You are the Health Secretary in a state where there is an outbreak of dengue and chikungunya diseases. There have been reports of negligent attitude of some private hospitals in the city. Also, the public hospitals do not have the required infrastructure and staff to meet such increased number of cases in a short span of time. Additionally, the staff is demoralised by the increased working hours and the public outrage. Despite the efforts of the local authorities this issue emerges year after year. 1. What are the immediate steps which should be taken in such a situation? 2. Suggest some long term measures to ensure that such a situation is not repeated.

/
Society ------ Hospitals and Doctors The ethical issues in the above case study are:

1. Negligency and Complacent behaviour to not address long term solutions despite the occurrence of outbreak frequently.
2. Poor doctoral ethics (mainly private) with greater focus on profit.
3. Tackling the issue for public welfare keeping long term solutions too in mind.

Following should be the immediate steps to be taken:

1. Fogging measures ensuring no more case emerges on immediate basis and doctors to be made available without any delay. → This will ensure safety of the one's who are protected till. → Doctors will ensure the proper delivery of treatment to the needy patients.
2. Ensuring private hospitals are working in full capacity and giving assurance by the physical presence by pacifying and solving the problem jointly by taking community members, media, local politicians, Civil society in active role.
3. Contact with other states for doctoral help and the techniques to solve by forming high level committee.
4. Asking for centre's help to show cooperative federalism to ensure public's safety and health.

Following can be the long term measures:

1. Strengthening public hospitals infrastructure as well as capacity to handle patients.
2. Long term awareness generation programmes by advertisement in newspapers, television as well as by nukkad nataks and such local programmes.
3. Taking public hospital staffs concern: by paying fair wages, security as well as solve their concerns.
4. Allocation of proper amount of budget in health and ensure it is used wisely for development and strengthening hospitals as well as delivery system.
5. Make private hospitals accountable and use of fear appeal of action if negligency is shown in future.
6. Fogging measures to be taken timely.
7. Grievance Redressal mechanism and cell to tackle the issue before it grows to such a large extent.
8. Increase the capacity of staff to tackle the health cases and ensure there is no shortfall.
9. Taking help of role model who can influence public (celebrity etc) of the precaution and preventive measures.