To reduce panic among people, the private hospitals have been educating the patients regarding the symptoms and the preventive measures.

The total confirmed swine flu cases in India So far are 1,556 and the death toll is 25.

The FICCI said these numbers are insignificant when compared with consequences due to other communicable diseases. In 2006 the total Malaria cases had been 1.67 million and death toll was at least 1,487.

According to FICCI, what private hospitals require from the government is the supply of personal protective gear for the hospital and laboratory staff, supply of Tamiflu, sample collection kits, viral media and transport containers.

This support would help in keeping the cost of treatment and diagnosis in private hospitals and laboratories down considerably, it said.