H1N1 patients need cash: Doctor

GUANGZHOU: Zhong Nanshan, a well-known respiratory doctor and an academician, has urged the government to provide financial help to serious H1N1 flu patients to help with the hefty cost of their treatment.

"The government should put in place a special policy to provide support and help to serious H1N1 flu patients, because there are cases in a number of provinces in which patients have faced difficulty getting treatment due to financial strain," Zhong Nanshan said at a ceremony in Guangzhou on Monday, marking the discharge of a 13-year-old girl, who was previously a serious H1N1 flu patient and has received much attention from the public.

While praising the government for the prevention of the disease and the development of vaccines, Zhong said the issue of aiding serious H1N1 flu patients should be addressed soon. He said he had raised the issue with the State Council earlier but it has remained under discussion.