Pune: With so much panic and worry, everyone wants to know why people turned away and refused swine flu tests, why can't there be more testing centres and tests on demand for those who really want it.
Some people have been refused tests, but after forcing the doctors to do the test they were found to have swine flu.
When doctors told Paras Bafna that his 16-year-old daughter did not need a swine flu test, he insisted that she get one. And he turned out to be right -- she did test positive.
"I insisted on a test and they finally did it. She tested positive. Fortunately treatment has now started," Bafna said.
But there are several other parents who are being turned away. All they want is to rule out the virus, but the central government clearly says that tests are not mandatory unless the case demands it.
And following are the reasons:
Supply of material required to conduct the tests is limited since they are imported
With 168 countries reporting H1N1 swine flu, global demand is huge and growing
Randomly testing everyone will mean acute shortage
Protocol says doctors to decide on taking throat and nose swabs after clinical examination
"It costs Rs 10,000 and so we can't test everyone who comes in. Only those who really need it will be tested," Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said.
But as swine flu cases increase by the day, many are wondering why private labs cannot be involved.
"Why the government only do it? Why can't private labs also do the testing?" said a patient's mother
The government says the private sector does not have the wherewithal to carry out these tests safely and with precision. Caught in this battle, families can only pray that the disease doesn't come home.