Chile decrees emergency measures after A/H1N1 infections reach 2,337
09:04, 15 June 2009
SANTIAGO. June 15. KAZINFORM Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has signed a decree that allows the Health Ministry to buy drugs and other materials needed to fight the A/H1N1 flu without going through the normal bidding process, local newspaper El Mercurio reported Sunday, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
As the flu has killed two people and infected 2,335 others in Chile, the decree declares handling the disease as the top priority for the nation's health services.
Under the decree, the authorities will pay for those who go to clinics to seek medical treatment of the disease but whose health insurance does not cover the cost. The government can order to halt public events when the situation requires.
The decree also allows hospitals to call up students who are in their final year of medical, nursing, obstetrics and kinesiology courses to join the medical staff when necessary.
The new decree came after Bachelet Friday called on all Chileans to remain calm and to follow the instructions given by health officials after the World Health Organization (WHO) upgraded the A/H1N1 flu alert level to six, the highest for a pandemic, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.chinaview.cn for full version.