Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Haryana Govt has notified the amended Haryana Epidemic Diseases (Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya & Japanese Encephalitis) Regulations, 2024. Now the provisions have been made to penalise the violators of the regulations.
Sharing this information here today, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Dr. Sumita Misra said that the notification has been issued under Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, in view of the continued threat posed by outbreaks of Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya and Japanese Encephalitis (JE). The regulations have come into immediate effect and will remain in force till March 31, 2027.
Under the new framework, all government and private hospitals, clinics and laboratories are now mandatorily required to report every confirmed case of vector-borne diseases to the concerned Civil Surgeon within 24 hours of detection, along with complete patient details. The information must also be updated on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) portal to ensure real-time monitoring and coordinated response. Dr. Misra emphasized that prompt notification is essential to prevent outbreaks, reduce complications and fatalities, and enable timely public health intervention.
The notification lays down strict diagnostic protocols. A malaria case can be declared positive only after confirmation through microscopy or antigen-based Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), and full Radical Treatment must be administered as per the Government of India’s drug policy. Similarly, dengue cases can be confirmed only through ELISA-based NS1, ELISA-based IgM or RT-PCR tests. The NS1 antigen test is to be conducted in patients who have had fever for less than five days, whereas the IgM antibody test is required for those with fever for more than five days. No patient can be declared dengue positive without undergoing the prescribed confirmatory tests.
To protect patients from excessive medical charges during outbreaks, the government has capped the cost of recommended dengue tests. Private hospitals and laboratories are not permitted to charge more than Rs. 600 for ELISA-based NS1 and IgM tests. In addition, private hospitals have been directed not to charge more than Rs. 11,000 per patient for Single Donor Platelets (SDP), if required. In cases where private laboratories do not have ELISA testing facilities, they must refer patients or send blood samples to designated government laboratories for confirmation.
The regulations also empower designated Inspecting Officers, appointed by the Director General Health Services or Civil Surgeons, to enter any premises for surveillance, anti-larval measures, fogging or spraying operations. These officers are authorized to direct suspected patients to provide blood samples for examination and to ensure appropriate treatment. They may also order insecticide spraying and treatment of stagnant water bodies wherever required to prevent mosquito breeding.
She added that Non-compliance with the regulations will attract penalties. Hospitals or laboratories that fail to follow approved diagnostic protocols, do not report confirmed cases, declare cases without confirmatory testing, or submit incomplete patient details may face monetary penalties. A fine of Rs. 1,000 will be imposed for the first violation, Rs. 5,000 for the second violation and Rs. 10,000 for the third or subsequent violation. Continued non-compliance may invite further action under Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. An appeal against any penalty can be filed within 30 days before an Appellate Committee headed by the Civil Surgeon.
Dr. Sumita Misra stated that the objective of these regulations is to strengthen early detection, ensure standardized diagnosis and treatment, enhance transparency in reporting, and prevent exploitation of patients during outbreaks. She added that strict enforcement of the rules will significantly improve Haryana’s preparedness and response to seasonal outbreaks of vector-borne diseases while safeguarding public health.