Swine flu assumed killer proportions in India claiming over 800 lives in 2009 which witnessed a surge in polio, dengue and tuberculosis cases while the health ministry gave impetus to rural health by announcing incentives for those opting for village postings.
A change of guard in the
health ministry saw the pet issues of former Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss like tobacco ban being kept on the backburner and the National Rural Health Mission and immunisation finding prominence.
Incumbent Ghulam Nabi Azad had a tough initial few months as the country reported the first case of swine flu on May 13 shortly after he took charge.
As countries tried to develop vaccines for the H1N1 virus, India too began research on its indigenous drug and decided to import 40 million of Tamiflu vaccine doses.
The government also initiated a series of steps to prevent the spread of the virus. Entry screening of passengers is on at 22 international airports and five international checkpoints. Community surveillance to detect clusters of influenza like illness is also being done through Integrated Disease Surveillance Project.
Forty-two laboratories -- 24 government and 18 private -- are testing the clinical samples. Three Indian vaccine manufacturers are being supported to manufacture H1N1 vaccine.
Without implementing Ramadoss's pet venture of compulsory rural postings for MBBS students, Azad announced for them a village attachment of at least one week to understand issues of community health along with exposure to rural health centres.