By IANS,
Panaji : Goa Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane Monday said the state’s nodal officer for swine flu, who last week alleged the health department was not allocating adequate funds to tackle the disease, would be replaced.
“Dr Rajendra Tamba, who has headed the state swine flu programme, will now be replaced by another epidemiologist,” Rane told reporters, adding Tamba’s “outburst” could hamper tourism in the state.
In an official pressnote last week, Tamba blamed the state government’s apathy for the lack of funds to carry out any activity related to swine flu.
“The expenses so far were made from funds under Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) received from the government of India, which are now exhausted… No money has been received from the state government despite repeated requests. The amount asked for was Rs.10 lakh (Rs.one million),” Tamba said.
However, Rane has now accused Tamba of not coordinating with the directorate of health services, even to the extent of not providing details of the existing stock of tamiflu tablets to the department.
“He even refused to coordinate with the director of health services, Dr Rajnanda Desai,” the minister said, adding that Tamba’s outburst had not been in the interest of the state.
Rane also said the state government had already released Rs.3 lakh (Rs.300,000) for the swine flu programme.