Tamilnadu - Healthcare, Public Health and Medical Tourism [Archive]

TShyam

January 22nd, 2011, 06:33 PM

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00296/25IN_MEDTOURISM_296240f.jpg
Health Minister M. R. K. Paneerselvam and Transport Minister K. N. Nehru (right) looking at the newly installed digital X-ray machine at Annal Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchi on Thursday. Photo: M. Moorthy

Tamil Nadu has emerged as the preferred destination for medical tourism in the country, with the government prioritising the improvement of health care services in the State, said Health Minister M. R. K. Paneerselvam in Tiruchi on Thursday.

The State government has been upgrading facilities in government hospitals on par with private hospitals to extend top class health care. Expensive liver and heart transplant surgeries were now being performed at the Stanley and the Madras medical college hospitals free of cost.

Tamil Nadu is now being looked up to for its affordable and quality health care services and even foreigners were coming here for treatments, Mr. Paneerselvam observed, speaking at a function to mark the inauguration of a digital X-ray unit and the renovated neo natal ward at the Annal Gandhi Government Hospital attached to the K. A. P. Viswanatham Government Medical College in the city.

The government has sanctioned Rs. 600 crore for purchase of equipment in government hospitals. It has sanctioned the establishment of digital X-ray units in 40 medical college and government hospitals in the State. Ten have already been established and the remaining would start functioning soon.

The government has also decided to set up neo natal wards in all district headquarter hospitals and the first was opened in Tiruchi on Thursday. Construction was underway in the hospitals, and the wards would start functioning in 10 district hospitals next month. Similarly, all district headquarter government hospitals would also be provided with MRI scans and the equipment has been provided to government medical college hospitals already.

Prompt measures undertaken by the government to control the spread of diseases such as the AH1N1 influenza ensured that the State stood in the forefront in preventing loss of human lives due to such new diseases.

Appealing to government doctors and para-medics to discharge their duties sincerely and efficiently, Mr. Paneerselvam reminded the doctors that the DMK government had enacted the Hospital Protection Act to protect their interests. The salaries of government doctors and stipend of house surgeons have also been increased by the government, he said.

Transport Minister K. N. Nehru, District Collector Mahesan Kasirajan, MLAs Anbil Periyasamy, K. N. Sekaran and A. Soundarapandian, Mayor S. Sujatha, District Panchayat Council Chairperson V. Sangeetha, Corporation Commissioner T. T. Balsamy, and Dean of K. A. P. Viswanatham Government Medical College A.Karthikeyan were present.

Rs. 50 crore for Tiruchi medical college hospital

The Annal Gandhi Government Hospital would be upgraded soon and Rs. 50 crore would be sanctioned in the first phase for infrastructure development at the hospital, the Health Minister announced here on Thursday.

A new six-storey building would be built utilising the first instalment of funds. Ten super-speciality wards, each with 30 beds, would be established at the new building, which would have a total floor area of about 8,000 square metres, Mr. Paneerselvam said.

The Minister’s announcement comes in the wake of long pending demand from the city residents for upgrading the hospital, which turned into a public movement after a project to upgrade the hospital on par with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences by the Union government was mooted a few years back.

Transport Minister K. N. Nehru, who represents the Tiruchi II Assembly segment, indicated that the new building would be located in the medical college campus at Periya Milaguparai in the city.

Neo natal ward

The digital X-ray unit at the hospital has been set up at a cost of Rs.1 crore and Rs.12.12 lakhs has been spent for the renovated neo natal ward. About Rs. 25 lakhs worth of equipment are to be provided to the neo natal ward. The establishment of the 24x7 neo natal ward was intended to bring down the mortality rate of newborns.

TShyam

January 22nd, 2011, 06:37 PM

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00303/06VBG_HEALTH_303229f.jpg
Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad (C) flanked by Suneeta Reddy, Executive Director-Finance-Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd and Well known Cardiac Surgeon and CMD, Medanta-The Medicity Dr. Naresh Trehan during "7th India Health Summit 2010-Healthcare 3.0", in New Delhi December 2, 2010.Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

As part of efforts to promote medical tourism, the Tamil Nadu government is planning to bring out tourism brochures in consultation with medical institutions with some useful tips on health care.

Citing the “availability of super speciality hospitals in the State, providing quality services affordable cost,” the State would adopt the strategy to achieve its primary objective of making Tamil Nadu a favoured domestic and international tourist destination, according to a report of the State’s eleventh five year plan.

A slew of good hospitals are located across Tamil Nadu, with patients, especially from the Middle East, Pakistan and some African countries, thronging the state for medical services.

The Tourism department staff will be specifically trained to attend to the needs of the people, it said.

Chennai, for instance, boasts of some of the big names in India like Apollo Hospitals and Harvey Super Speciality, with local players such as Aravind Eye Care and PSG Hospitals in Madurai and Coimbatore respectively remaining popular.

Further, publicising and marketing festivals such as Pongal and dance festivals at Mahabalipuram and Chidambaram are also part of the strategy to achieve the said objective, it said.

The harvest festival `Pongal’ (in January) could well assume more significance as the Tamil Nadu government recently rescheduled the Tamil calendar, announcing that Pongal will mark the birth of the Tamil new year.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had urged people of the State to celebrate the festival with pomp and fervour, as it would henceforth coincide with the new year too.

The Tourism department was also considering roping private and corporate players and oil companies for developing some areas like Golf clubs, adventure tourism, cruises, star hotels and heli-taxi, among others.

TShyam

January 22nd, 2011, 06:40 PM

430 CRORE MEDICAL COLLEGE TO START IN 2012 IN E.S.I^^^^
http://tm.dinakaran.com/pdf/2011/01/19/20110119a_003102010.jpg

Fully air conditioned state of art ESI hospital to come up at Varadharajapuram.

TShyam

January 22nd, 2011, 08:00 PM

*Lecturer in Tourism Management, Tagore Government Arts College, Pondicherry. murugan_33@hotmail.com

This is an excerpt from a research paper written by Dr. A.Murugan presented at the Conference on Tourism in India – Challenges Ahead, 15-17 May 2008, IIM Kozhikode

Medical Tourism in Tamil Nadu
Envisioning the potential of medical tourism in the state. Tamil Nadu has come a long way in carving a niche for itself in this field. Today, medical tourism in India is synonymous with Tamil Nadu, and Chennai, Vellore, Madurai and Coimbatore have a stellar role to play in the burgeoning medical tourism industry. Tamil Nadu is a pioneer in providing the best healthcare. Ultra-modern corporate hospitals, talented medical professionals, and battalions of paramedics and the best practices of Government hospitals the states, have attracted people to the state to receive excellent treatment, convalesce in enchanting locals, and recuperate swiftly. Hospitals in Tamil Nadu cater to the treatment of various disease, like MIOT for orthopaedics (joint and bones) and traumatology, Shankar Netralaya for ophthalmology (eye procedures); Christian medical college for open-heart surgery; Madras Medical Mission for heart surgery; Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital for arthroscopicm Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgeries. Apollo for hip and total-knee replacement, liver, multi-organ and cord blood transplants, to name a few. The government medical college- Stanely Medical College – is well known for its gastrointestinal procedures. Also the Government-led General Hospital is well known for providing services for up to 7,000 in patients. The investment in public sector hospitals is substantial, which they are able to offer state-of-the- art operation theatres and technology at cost-effective prices. Healthcare in Tamil Nadu has earned a good reputation in the country because both the private as well as the government hospitals are so professionally run. With almost all government-run and private hospitals introducing newer technologies and better services in the healthcare sector, it has fallen upon the medical sector to benchmark medical standards in the country.

In fact, the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation has an excellent tract record for its streamlined processes for the distribution of drugs. The all- computerised system of the corporation allows the procurement to be 25-30 per cent less than the market rate. The quality, too, is ensured, as private
laboratories test every batch of medicines independently. The system is totally supportive and foolproof, which is how it is able to leverage competitive rates. As a result, all government hospitals are free from the hassle of procurement of drugs and equipment. In a bid to promote medical tourism, the government has identified 25 city hospitals to help showcase
medical tourism as well as inaugurated an exclusive Medical Tourism Desk at the Tamil Nadu Tourism Complex. The medical tourism desk would be manned by trained hospital staff to help tap the vast potential of medical tourism.

Further, Indonesia is showing interest in medical tourism initiatives of Tamil Nadu Government and has requested Tamil Nadu Tourism to organise a Medical Tourism Fair with participation from super speciality hospitals of the state at Jakarta. The request was put forward during the four-day Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart held at Bali, where Tamil Nadu Tourism had a stall at the Incredible India pavilion. The Government of India is so taken with this high level of competence that it would like the other states to emulate the Tamil Nadu model.

Some of Tamilnadu’s most reputed Multi specialty Hospitals and Health Care Centre
Hospitals Website
1. Lifeline Multi Specialty Hospital, Chennai www.lifeline-hospital.com
2. Spot Hospital, Chennai www.spothospital.com
3. Cholayil Sanjeevanam, Chennai www.cholayilsanjeevanam.com
4. Rajan Eye Care Hospital, Chennai http://lasikpavilion.com
5. Prasanth Multispeciality Hospital, Chennai www.pfrcivf.com

Some of Tamilnadu’s most reputed Health care facilities:
1. Apollo Hospital, Chennai
2. Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre (SRMC), Chennai
3. Madras Medical Mission, Chennai
4. M.V. Diabetes Speciality Centre (MVDSC), Chennai
5. MIOT Hospitals, Chennai
6. Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai
7. Frontier Lifeline, Chennai
8. Dr. Aggarwal’s Eye Hospital, Chennai
9. Vijaya Hospital, Chennai
10. Dr. Mehtas Hospital, Chennai
11. Solace Meditour Private Limited
12. Ayush Therapy Centre
13. K.G. Hospital, Coimbatore
14. Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital, Coimbatore
15. Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore
16. PSG Hospitals, Coimbatore
17. CMC, Vellore
18. Gandhiji Nature Cure Centre, Elagiri & Chennai
Source: Tamil Nadu Tourism News letter.

5.1. The Wining mix for Health Tourism Ingredients for success
Beyond the professionalism and technical expertise of medical staff or Travel agencies and Tour operators, the range of high quality healthcare and medical care products and services available at highly affordable prices and value for money, there are several other pluses that add to the attractiveness of the destination as a health tourism centre.

5.2. Tamil Nadu’s winning marketing mix includes

A welcoming destination with an appreciation of the needs of different cultures and the availability of support services to serve diverse needs.
Service Quality - Par Excellence with International Standard.
Tamilnaduness and Enchanting Tamil Nadu traditions: Patients and users of other hospitals and allied services are welcomed as “guests”. Gracious and courteous reception is characteristic of traditional Tamil Nadu hospitality
Destination diversity Tamil Nadu offers a myriad of enjoyable ways in which one can achieve a speedy recovery. Take life at a more leisurely pace at any of the hundred of Temples around Tamil Nadu enjoying the fresh mountain air or sun, sea and sand. Or simply indulge on a diet of delicious Tamil Nadu cuisines and health-restoring rejuvenating herbal therapies offered by Tamil Nadu resorts combined with mesmerising massage. Recuperating has never been more pleasurable.
Attractive prices. Value for money, Guests and visitors are of the view that Tamil Nadu Medical Tourism offers value for money. There is no doubt that visitors seeking treatment in Tamil Nadu get more for only a fraction of what it costs back home leaving them with extra to spend on their favorite leisurely pursuits such as sight-seeing, shopping, Pilgrimage, Hill resorts, Sandy beaches and beauty treatments, and other treats.

5.3. State Involvement and Implications
It has to be done in Five major ways. First, tax incentives should be given to support the growth of healthcare corporations. Second, creating institutional infrastructure for upholding standards and quality – the accreditation system, standardization guidelines, fee packaging guidelines, etc. And third, the Tamil Nadu Tourism should directly lead in the marketing of medical tourism overseas through trade missions and other promotional event activities. Fourth,Travel agencies and Tour Operators Co-ordination as selling the Brand of TamilNadu as Prime Medical Tourism Destination and Fifth, as forming Core Committee of Medical experts with field specialist to study the lacunae in enhancing the commodity of healthcare Internationally.

5.4. Additional FSI for hospitals will bring down healthcare cost in Medical Tourism in Tamil Nadu:
"The Government of Tamil Nadu should hike the Floor Space Index (FSI) for hospitals and healthcare institutions from the current 1.5 to 5 to bring down the rising healthcare cost, increase number of beds and healthcare talent pool of the State," "The relaxation in FSI will allow hospitals and institutions create more infrastructure in the same premises. They do not have to invest as much as 40-50% of the project cost in acquiring new lands. Instead they can invest directly in healthcare equipments or human resources and
reduce healthcare cost,"

In a press release issued by CII , the increasing land prices in the State means that the land cost constitutes about 40-50% of a hospital project and with low FSI, hospitals are not able to increase beds in the same premises. They are not able to keep the healthcare cost at affordable level, when they acquire land to increase the number of beds. At present, there is only one bed for 1,100 people in Tamil Nadu, whereas the World Health Organisation recommends at least 1:500 ratio. The additional FSI of 5, as in Mumbai, would increase the number of hospital beds by approximately 20-30 %. FSI in Delhi and Karnataka is 3, as compared to just 1.5 in Tamil Nadu.

FSI should be same across the State to benefit especially the small 20-bed hospitals - "the frontline brigade in the battlefield for saving lives of people in need of emergency treatment". These small hospitals constitute 80% of the total healthcare services provided in the State. At national level, India needs to double its bed strength of 7 lakhs to meet the WHO recommendation of 1 bed for 500 people. As the country adds 25 million children every year, India needs to invest Rs. 80,000 crore to create one lakh additional beds every year for the next 20 years, he said. In comparison, Japan has one bed for 90 people, while Russia and Western nations have one bed for 110 and 250 people respectively.

"We cannot import healthcare like cement or steel. Hence, we have to improve our healthcare infrastructure on war footing."
The Government should provide healthcare sector incentives that are equal to those provided to the IT sector, as healthcare has the potential to create employment opportunities five to ten times more than what the IT industry can do. The healthcare sector has the potential to increase its direct employment from 4 million to 30 million and generate an equal number of indirect employment opportunities. Healthcare is also a major foreign exchange earner with the inevitable growth of medical tourism. "In addition to that, over 10% of Indian medical professionals - including paramedical staff, who are working abroad, send, home about 60% of their earnings,"

There is acute manpower shortage in the people-intensive healthcare industry. Tamil Nadu produces 2000 doctors a year and for every doctor, there is a need for 5 Para medical staff - the State alone needs to produce 10,000 nurses per year. India has about 7 lakh doctors and 1.1 million nurses but the country needs at least 17 lakh doctors and 37 lakh paramedical staffs to meet the local demand. Manufacturing sector continues to downsize but hospitals world over continue to generate more employment. At US$ 3 trillion, it is one of the largest sectors of world economy. Other States to follow the healthcare model of Andhra Pradesh, which intends to cover 5 crore people - over 80% of its population - with its new universal healthcare scheme, Arogya Sree. AP too has a very liberal FSI to increase its healthcare infrastructure.

5.5. Challenges to the Industry
Tamil Nadu is emerging as an attractive, affordable destination for healthcare But there are some challenges that the country has to overcome to become a tourist destination with competent health care industry:

A. Infrastructural facilities

Roads
Sanitation
Power Backups
Rest/ Guest Houses
Public Utility Services

B. The Foreign Customer Concerns and Expectations:
The biggest challenge that the Indian hospitals face is assuring the foreign patients that they will receive quality care with no hidden costs. The industry experts need to develop the decision making models through a thorough study on the factors that motivate the patients to choose India as a health care solution spot.

The basic expectations that the industry feels are important to be concerned about are:

Hygiene
Staff ( trained technically as well as in soft skills)
Customization
Insurance Cover
Stability
Connectivity
International standard certification
Para – Medical Ambulance facilities (to and fro from Airport).

C. The Image of India needs to be enhanced (Standardization)
The only one quality that Indian health industry lacks in is Health standards and hygiene. Indian hospitals lack accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organisations (JCAHO), suffer from a lack of standards in terms of quality and rates for healthcare procedures, have no gradation system and a far from perfect insurance sector. In addition, top Indian hospitals have high infection and mortality rates, and are unwilling to disclose data regarding these. Even if we were having the best of quality standards as has Indraprastha Apollo Hospital we will still be perceived as inferior in standards. This can be avoided by getting Quality standards .Apollo group of hospitals which has become the first hospital in India to get a JCI certification, the gold standard for US and European Hospitals. The same has to come to more hospitals of India.

D. Market accessibility
The next challenge for the Indian industry is to make the Indian market accessible by tourist travel agents and websites of Indian health tourism. The government can play a vital part as the same can bring in lots of foreign revenue.

The major ways of promoting our health tourism could be:

Tour operators and Travel agencies of India
Doctors of India visiting foreign countries- Pre/Post treatment.
International websites on Indian tourism with True Perceptions.
Globalisation of marketing activities by Indian Tour & Travel Agents
Tying up with foreign Travel Agents for promotion
Insurance companies abroad who target customers

E. Excess Glamourisation of Health Care
It has been seen that the doctors and key player hospitals in India emphasis more on glamorization of health care than its actual advantages or research uniqueness. We need to work more on our research in medical field to be competent enough to beat our international competitor. In other words SERVICES should be given more attention and importance than PACKAGING.

F. State Intervention
As this is a product which needs international tie-ups and international marketing, the state should help in the same. It should help the companies, hospitals and states in promoting health tourism abroad so that we can tap a wider range of customers.

G. Infrastructure
Indian hospitals must create exclusive infrastructure for corporate medical tourism
Chartered flight services, attractive tourism packages could be part of infrastructure
There's growing pressure on U.S. corporate to reduce expenditure on healthcare

H. Competition (Neighbouring countries)
Countries that actively promote medical tourism include Cuba, Costa Rica, Hungary, India, Israel, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia and Thailand. Belgium, Poland and Singapore are now entering the field. South Africa specializes in medical safaris-visit the country for a safari, with a stopover for plastic surgery, a nose job and a chance to see lions and elephants. Thus India has enough competition from the international market.This will be one of our major threats in bringing up and developing the health tourism industry.

I. Insurance Backup
One good way of tapping the foreign customers is tying up with Insurance companies abroad who could provide a genuine database of target customers. They can benefit from us by our services. Thus this would become a way of mutual marketing tacit cs between the Indian health tourism industry and the foreign Insurance agencies.

J. Local Demand vs. Global Demand
It can be seen in case of hospitals like Apollo and Escorts that the Local demand itself to be catered to is vast. We should remember that we should have the facilities enough to manage the foreign customers not neglecting the local markets. Thus it is a challenge for both the Alternate therapy industry and Corporate Health Care Service Providers to cater to this vast market efficiently without compromises in quality on either side.

Conclusion
Tamil Nadu has long been a centre of ancient healing traditions based on herbal medicine and holistic treatments that have evolved from folk knowledge as well as Asian well-being therapies such as Indian Ayurvedic and Allopathic practices. With the growing popularity of holistic healing techniques that restore balance and rejuvenate mind, body and spirit, in addition to conventional medical treatment, Tamil Nadu offers a one-stop shop that leaves you looking good and feeling great from hospital to hospitality.

TShyam

January 22nd, 2011, 08:41 PM

M.V. Hospital for Diabetes, Royapuram, on Saturday, signed a memorandum of understanding with Wound Healing Group, University of Southampton, UK, to promote diabetic wound care methods, research and training in India.

The agreement was signed by Vijay Viswanathan, managing director, M.V. Hospital for Diabetes and Prof. M. Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre, and Raj Mani, faculty of medicine and health and life sciences, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK.

Mike Nithavrianakis, Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission was present at the meeting.

Dr. Viswanathan spoke of the socio-economic impacts on wounds in diabetes patients.

There were 285 million people with diabetes in 2010, according to the Diabetes Atlas, 50.8 million of who were in India. The deaths due to diabetes in 2007 were about 3.7 million, he said.

Wound care is very expensive in India, and especially so with the diabetic population, Dr. Viswanathan said.

The challenge was not only to improve wound care and treatment facilities but also stress on prevention among the population and heath care practitioners.

Finn Gottrup, Professor of Surgery, Copenhagen Wound Healing Centre, stressed on the importance of wound care for senior citizens.

There are going to be more older people in the coming years, and if they have conditions such as diabetes, the chances of wounds are higher. The quality of life decreases and the costs are tremendous for patients and society, he added.

Some of the key aspects he stressed are optimal wound care, using standardised and evidence-based procedures, registering patient data, spreading awareness among patients and health care professionals.

Mr. Nithavrianakis said universities in the UK were keen to work with Indian institutions, on a partnership of equals. Saturday's MoU would bring together two equals and result in a win-win situation for them.

Prof. Mani spoke of the key strengths of the University of Southampton, and said the MoU would facilitate an exchange of scientific, academic and technical information between the two partners.

They would together identify opportunities for exchange, joint research and development, promote education and training in wound healing and improve skills of practitioners committed to it.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article1116703.ece

TShyam

January 23rd, 2011, 11:56 PM

http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/24/images/2011012453080901.jpg
Prevention: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi administering polio drops to an infant in Chennai on Sunday. M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Health Minister and Chennai Mayor M. Subramanian are in the picture.

CHENNAI: This year's Intensive Pulse Polio Immunisation programme began on Sunday with the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, administering the first dose to a child at his residence in Gopalapuram.

The State Government proposes to administer the oral polio vaccine to 70 lakh children below the age of five in the State.

2 lakh volunteers

Around two lakh persons including those from government departments, Rotary clubs and non-governmental organisations, participated in the vaccination drive.

On Sunday, the vaccine was administered in 40,399 special camps at government hospitals, primary health centres, health sub-centres, noon meal centres, schools, bus stands, railway stations, places of worship and tourist spots.

Mobile camps were set up to administer the vaccine to children of migrants from North India and Sri Lankan refugees.

Marker

The right little finger of children who received the vaccine dose was marked with marker pens to help identify them.

Second round

In the second round, the pulse polio vaccines will be administered on February 27, an official press release said.
http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/24/stories/2011012453080900.htm

TN has the highest immunization coverage among all states in India.

TShyam

January 27th, 2011, 12:07 AM

CHENNAI: The night before a transplant, theatre technician R Gowrishankar makes sure he's at the hospital doing all the groundwork right into the early hours. "I live in Red Hills and come to work by bus every day. On days when there is a transplant scheduled early in the morning, I come in the previous night to help set up the theatre," he says.

It is because of employees like Gowrishankar that Chennai-based Stanley Medical College and Hospital has achieved the distinction of being the only government hospital in the country to perform successful liver transplants -- it has already carried out 20 liver transplants over the past two years. The record is more noteworthy considering liver transplants are among the most expensive surgical procedures available and cost between Rs 30-35 lakh. Beneficiaries at Stanley have all been patients from the working class who would otherwise never have been able to afford the operation.

Celebrating the second anniversary of Stanley's first successful liver transplantation on Wednesday, director of the institute of surgical gastroenterology Dr R Surendran said it was the combined effort of technicians, doctors, nurses and other hospital staff that made the feat possible.

"The journey to this achievement has been a tough one with many difficulties in the way at every step. Two years back, I thought we would never do a liver transplant, but on January 27, 2009, we got the first liver and performed our first successful transplant. There has been no looking back ever since," he said.

Dr Surendran said that Deiva Sigamani, a sub inspector of police, was the first policeman in the country to get a liver transplant. "A liver transplant costs anywhere between Rs 30-35 lakhs. Most poor people cannot afford this," he said.

"I was a poor domestic worker and was suffering from chronic liver disease. I got a transplant two years back and I am perfectly fine now and able to cook and clean," said Sayed Ali Fathima, the first person to have undergone a liver transplant at the hospital who was also present at the event.

Speaking about the success of liver transplants, Dr Surendran said they had a 75% success rate with 15 out of the 20 patients alive and healthy now. The time taken to complete each surgery has also reduced from 18 hours in 2009 to just eight hours now.

"After having done 20 liver transplants, we are more proficient now and know exactly what to do. We would like to do more transplants but shortage of matching donor livers is a problem. We have 20 patients in every blood group waiting for a donor," he said. He however said there was an increasing awareness about transplants, with more people coming forward to donate the organs of their loved ones who had died.

The hospital has also brought down infection rates by 80% not only for liver transplants but also in other wards. "We make sure to disinfect the operation theatre and the wards and we hold a transplant meeting every morning at 10 to review various aspects like cleanliness," said Dr Rosie Vanilla, a microbiologist.

Deputy inspector general of police of Kancheepuram Ramachandran said it was a great feat for a government hospital to achieve. "I am also very happy because the last person who got a new liver was a policeman who had been suffering from chronic liver disease for an year. Thanks to Stanley hospital, he has got a new lease of life," he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Liver-transplants-at-Stanley-make-the-cut/articleshow/7368433.cms

Please donate your body and that of your loved ones. Your grief in equal measure will translate in to joy of another family. Please educate others you know too about donating their body. There are lot of useful organs (heart, liver, kidney, eyes) which can be used for transplantation and save lives as well as improve their quality of life. You are not going to attain moksha being burnt in the pyre. But you might just do it by donating your body.

Body donation form - Tamilnadu government. (http://www.mmc.tn.gov.in/Body-donation-Form-Final.pdf)

satishanu

January 27th, 2011, 12:19 AM

Some photos taken in January 2010
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Courtesy: Keeran, SSC

TShyam

February 1st, 2011, 11:19 PM

CHENNAI: In a 14-hour surgery, doctors in the city removed the small intestine of a 30-year-old patient, left it in a preservative for four hours and removed a large tumour from his abdomen before putting the bowel back in its place.

The patient name withheld who under went the auto-bowel transplant three months ago at the Global Hospitals in Chennai, is now back home in West Bengal. Doctors who operated on him said he is doing fine but will have to be monitored for a few more months.

"He came to hospital after being turned away by several hospitals," said liver transplant surgeon Dr Mohamed Rela. Reports showed that he had a large tumour in his pancreas, the organ that produces insulin. It was a slow growing lump called neuroendocrine tumour, which extended up to his stomach, crushing the vital artery that supplies blood to the bowels. If the tumour wasn't removed, the patient's bowels could have become dysfunctional, proving fatal.

"It was a complicated surgery. There was very little space to work on," recalled Dr Rela. The transplant team decided to go ahead with an auto-bowel transplant. They cut open the abdomen and removed the small intestine from the body and placed in a special preservation solution. Doctors then carefully removed the tumor, which looked bigger than a tennis ball. They then put the small intestine back into the abdomen.

During the post surgical period, doctors ensured that the patient developed no complications. A few weeks later, the patient was discharged from the hospital.

Transplant surgeons in the city said the surgery was rare and required skill. "In such surgeries, it extremely important to do anything to save the patient," said senior surgical gasteroenterologist Dr J S Rajkumar, who heads Lifeline Hospitals.

So how far are doctors from doing a bowel transplant? Can transplant surgeons now successfully replace ailing bowels with the ones that are donated by relatives of brain dead patients? "Not yet," said Dr Rela, who has done bowel transplants in the UK. "A bowel transplant is more challenging than the surgery we did. Here the bowel is patient's own and chances of rejection is very low. But for a bowel transplant, we need a bigger team of experts and a better environment."

End-stage bowel disease patients are extremely weak and malnourished; the chances of rejection are extremely high and patients are put on immune-suppressing medications to prevent this. The post surgical ward has to be sterile enough to prevent infection and death. "We are not there yet to see success," Dr Rela said.

But Dr Anil Dhawan of King's College Hospital, London, who was in the city to address a scientific session on liver diseases, said it would not take too long. Ten years ago, India did not see big success in liver transplant when countries like UK were doing it efficiently. At that time, doctors in the UK failed in bowel transplants. Now, we see a fair amount of success. Surgeons here will find a way to do it," he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/In-rare-surgery-doctors-take-out-small-intestine-to-remove-tumour/articleshow/7399894.cms

Madurai gilli

February 2nd, 2011, 11:33 AM

Nice thread..

VELAMMAL to set-up a Rs.300 Crore Medical College and Hospital in Ring road,Madurai..

MMHRC-Meenakshi mission is setting up another 300-bedded start of art Hospital near Melur, along with Paramedical Institutions.

Sampathkumar

February 7th, 2011, 06:10 AM

Cancer can be cured if detected in early stage.

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1409/07022011154028.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/i/07022011154028.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

TShyam

February 22nd, 2011, 08:53 AM

Now Indian hospitals need no longer depend on imported ventilators for critical care of its patients. ‘Inventa', India's first indigenous critical care ventilator, has started rolling out of Coimbatore.

A joint project of the Society for Bio-Medical Technology (SBMT), a division of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), National Institute for Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, and the PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, ‘Inventa' is gaining entry into Indian hospitals, albeit slowly.

The ventilator, manufactured by a Coimbatore-based firm, can be used by patients admitted to Intensive Care Units and all those who require assisted breathing.

“The work, which began in 2003, has borne fruit and commercial production has begun. The first lot of 100 units has been sold out. It is a fully indigenous product that is sleek, portable and cost-effective,” W. Selvamurthy, Distinguished Scientist and Chief Controller of Research and Development, DRDO, said here on Monday.

As against the imported ventilators, which cost approximately Rs.13 lakh, the indigenous version costs Rs.4.5 lakh. With the country's annual requirement being 2,000 units, it is expected that mass production of ‘Inventa' will address this need in the most cost-effective manner.

Speaking to The Hindu, P. V. Mohan Ram, Principal Investigator, ‘Design and Development of Indigenous Critical Care Medical Ventilator', PSG College of Technology, said the SBMT approached the college to submit a proposal for a ventilator that was initially proposed for use by soldiers working at high-altitudes.

“In 2003, we came out with a bench model. The SBMT suggested changes and based on these a prototype of a ventilator was designed with the help of medical advice from NIMHANS. The final prototype and its operation were shown to SBMT in 2007. It was approved and accordingly the technology transfer was made to Pricol Medical Systems Limited here,” Mr. Mohan Ram said.

When the DRDO found the final prototype suitable for medical use, ethical clearance was obtained from Drug Controller General of India before handing it over for commercialisation.

The first 100 units have been procured by government hospitals and medical colleges. Since it is a viable product, the DRDO is seeking patronage of Central and State governments for promoting its use.

“We are approaching the Director-General Armed Forces Medical Services for using the ventilator in military hospitals and government officials for installing them in Government hospitals,” Mr. Selvamurthy said.

Since the design of ‘Inventa' has been a success, the PSG College of Technology has been entrusted with the project of developing paediatric ventilators too. These are for critical care of premature babies and children.

According to Mr. Selvamurthy, the first prototype will be ready for demonstration in June 2011.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article1478371.ece

TShyam

February 26th, 2011, 10:40 AM

CHENNAI: The two-and-half-year-old state cadaver registry saw one of its most legally intriguing cases on Thursday.

The family of a 36-year-old brain dead patient, Radhakrishnan, who works in a lathe, was keen on donating his organs. The hospital where he was admitted sent the request to the state cadaver organ registry. But since he sustained head injuries during a tussle with his friend, the registry insisted on a no-objection letter from the police. The Triplicane police, which is probing the case, turned down the request.

The question they posed was: "Is a patient who is clinically dead really dead?" If the organs are retrieved before he is dead, should the case be one of murder or of attempt to murder? Also, should the person responsible for the victim's injury be charged with murder because the victim is brain-dead or attempt to murder because brain-death has not been overtly covered by Section 302 of the IPC.

"We will not be able to allow doctors to harvest the organs until we have all the papers," said Dr J Amalorpavanathan, convenor, state organ transplant registry.

According to the police, Radhakrishnan sustained head injuries after one of his friends pushed him down after a fight on Tuesday. He was taken to the Government General Hospital the same day, but was moved to a private hospital on Wednesday. On Thursday, doctors attending to him declared him brain-dead.

The patient's wife told the doctors that the family was keen on organ donation. Not aware of the legal recourse available to them, a relative of the family even landed in the Madras high court to meet the Chief Justice and place a special request before him. But he could not meet Chief Justice M Yusuf Eqbal, who had left his office by then.

When the patient's brain loses functional ability, doctors declare brain death. The organs, however, are kept functional with life-support systems. The patient, according to the Transplant of Human Organs Act, is eligible to donate vital organs if his family agrees. The Tamil Nadu government in its order also said that if the investigating officer agrees and if the forensic experts record the post-mortem, the organ donation can be carried out.

"We have sustained the functioning of the organs with ventilator. But we are losing time," said a senior doctor at Global Hospital.

Most doctors working for promoting cadaver organ donation said that the state needs to create more awareness. "Police should be convinced that donation will not come in the way of investigation. They will be able to conclude this only if they consult with forensic experts," said Dr Sunil Shroff, who runs MOHAN foundation.
He also pointed out that in the US, definition of death comes under the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA). This includes both natural and brain death; hence switching off the ventilator does not become an issue. "In India too, we should pitch for this," he said.

The Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA) in the US says: An individual who has sustained either 1) irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions, or 2) irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem, is dead.

A determination of death must be made with accepted medical standards. Most US states have adopted the UDDA. Several states have added amendments regarding physician qualifications, confirmation by a second physician, or religious exemption.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Organ-donation-loses-to-minutiae-of-law/articleshow/7567183.cms

TShyam

March 5th, 2011, 10:40 AM

s per latest reports, a rare heart surgical operation utilizing a robot was recently carried out at the Chettinad Health City, Chennai.

The operation was conducted on 23-year-old D Vijayakanth, a resident of Vellore, on February 21 by a group of expert physicians headed by Dr. R Ravi Kumar, Director, Institute of Cardio Vascular Disease.

Vijayakanth had rheumatic valvular illness, owing to which he complained of shortness of breath and could not walk properly.

Dr. R Ravi Kumar stated that the robotically-assisted surgery entails the replacement of both the mitral as well as the aortal valve concurrently.

The surgical procedure, which cost Rs 2.25 lakh, was performed by a three armed robot.

"The best part about using a robot in cardiac surgery is that the patient's heart need not be opened and the surgery can be done using a small 4cm incision. This is not possible with normal surgeries without a robot," Dr. Ravi added.

Whilst the single valve surgical procedure was conducted in 2000, the double valve procedure happened after 11 years, Dr. Ravi also said.

He added that robotic surgical operation, which is quite new in India, can be utilized for a range of medical procedures.

The major benefit in this arena, said Dr. Ravi Kumar, was the recovery time. He forecasted that by the next 10 years about 80% of the surgical procedures in India would be done using robots.

http://www.topnews.in/chennai-doctors-conduct-rare-robotic-surgery-2316804

TShyam

March 5th, 2011, 02:02 PM

The same news appearing in Xinhua - a Chinese news agency :)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2011-03/05/c_13763006.htm

Madurai gilli

March 10th, 2011, 10:02 AM

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8409/10032011001010.jpg

TShyam

March 11th, 2011, 01:13 PM

தமிழக அரசின், கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டத்தில் இருந்து, 30 சதவீத தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகள் விலகி உள்ளன. அதனால், நோயாளிகள் சிகிச்சை பெற முடியாமல் மிகுந்த சிரமப்படுவதால், ஆளும் கட்சிக்கு பாதகமாக, காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம் மாறும் நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழக தேர்தலில், தி.மு.க., கூட்டணி, இலவச திட்டங்களை மையப்படுத்தி, பிரசாரத்தை மேற்கொள்ள திட்டம் வகுத்துள்ளது. ஆளும் கட்சியினரின் பிரசார அஸ்திரங்களில் ஒன்றான, கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம், இரண்டு ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் துவக்கப்பட்டது. இத்திட்டம் துவக்கப்பட்ட காலத்தில், தமிழகத்தில் உள்ள, 17 மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனைகள், மாவட்ட தலைமை மருத்துவமனைகளில் மட்டுமின்றி, முக்கிய நகரங்கள், தாலுகாக்களில் உள்ள தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளிலும் சிகிச்சையளிக்கப்பட்டது. தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளும் போட்டி போட்டு, திட்டத்தில் தங்களை இணைத்துக் கொண்டன. 2010 மே மாதம் வரை, தமிழகத்தில் 1,01,150 நோயாளிகளுக்கு, 179 கோடி ரூபாய் சிகிச்சைக்காக செலவிடப்பட்டது.

திட்டத்தைச் செயல்படுத்தும் தனியார் இன்சூரன்ஸ் நிறுவனங்கள், நாளடைவில், பல்வேறு கெடுபிடிகளை அமல்படுத்தின. அதனால், சிகிச்சைக்கு வரும் நோயாளிகளில் பலருக்கு, சிகிச்சைக்கான தொகைகளில், குறிப்பிட்ட சதவீதம் வரை பிடித்தம் செய்யப்பட்டது. அதனால், தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகள், இன்சூரன்ஸ் நிறுவனம் வழங்கிய தொகை போக, மீதி தொகையை, நோயாளிகளிடம் இருந்து வசூலிக்கத் துவங்கின. இது, மருத்துவமனைகளின் நிர்வாகத்துக்கும், நோயாளிகளின் உறவினர்களுக்கும் மோதலை ஏற்படுத்தியது. இதனால் பல மருத்துவமனைகள், காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டத்தில் இருந்து விலகிக் கொண்டன.

2010 ஆகஸ்ட் மாதத்தில், தமிழகம் முழுவதும், 1,152 தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகள் இத்திட்டத்தில் பதிவு செய்து இணைத்திருந்தன. அக்டோபர் மாதத்தில், 125 தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகள் முதல் கட்டமாக, விலகிக் கொண்டன. தற்போது, மாதத்துக்கு சராசரியாக, 25 மருத்துவமனைகள் இத்திட்டத்தில் இருந்து விலகி வருகின்றன. தற்போதைய நிலவரப்படி தமிழகத்தில், 875 தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளில் மட்டுமே காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம் நடைமுறையில் உள்ளது. மேலும் பல மருத்துவமனைகள், இத்திட்டத்தில் இருந்து விடுவித்துக் கொள்ள கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளன. இத்திட்டத்தில் இருந்து விலகிய தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளின் விவரங்களை, அந்தந்த மாவட்ட நிர்வாகத்தின் மூலம், பொதுமக்களுக்கு தெரிவிக்கவில்லை. திட்டத்தில் சிகிச்சை பெற தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளில் சேரும் நோயாளிகள், சிகிச்சைக்குப் பின், திட்டத்தில் இருந்து, சம்பந்தப்பட்ட மருத்துவமனை விலகியிருப்பதை அறிந்து அதிர்ச்சி அடைகின்றனர்.

திட்டத்தை நம்பி சிகிச்சை பெற்றவர்கள், பின் மருத்துவமனைக்கு பணம் செலுத்த முடியாமல், மிகுந்த சிரமத்தில் தள்ளப்படுகின்றனர். அரசு மருத்துவமனைகளிலும், இத்திட்டத்தில் ஆபரேஷன் மேற்கொள்ளும் டாக்டர்கள் உள்ளிட்ட ஊழியர்களுக்கு சேர வேண்டிய ஊக்கத் தொகையும் நிறுத்தி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இது டாக்டர்கள் மத்தியில் கடும் அதிருப்தியை ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது. இப்படி அடுக்கடுக்கான பிரச்னைகள் தொடர்வதால், தேர்தல் நேரத்தில் கைகொடுக்கும் என்ற எதிர்பார்ப்பில், தி.மு.க.,வால் துவக்கப்பட்ட இத்திட்டம், ஆளும் கட்சிக்கு எதிராக அமையும் நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.

Short Translation: Govt's health insurance scheme in limbo as 30% of private hospitals which initially enrolled under the scheme have deregistered themselves citing insufficient compensation from the insurance company. This has lead to discomfort for patients who are surprised to know that they have to pay from their own pockets either because of inadequate compensation from the insurance company or because they weren't aware of the fact that the particular pvt hospital have deregistered themselves. The govt has spent 179 crores on over 1 lac patients till May 2010.

Although I am a proponent of free market, there are three areas where it doesn't apply - education, healthcare and defense. In these areas, the interests of the end user (students, patients and national security) should be the over riding priority among all stake holders. Although private sector and free markets may be allowed to participate, it should be strictly regulated.

Health care ensured by insurance is the costliest form of healthcare. A recent article in the medical journal Lancet assessed and ranked the quality of health care provided and the cost of providing the service in the 7 most advanced countries in the world (US, UK, Australia, NZ, Japan, Germany and France). US was the the country which spent the most per capita on health care ($7700) but was ranked last (7th). Infact no other country spent more than $4300 per capita on health care. NZ which was ranked 3rd spent a measly $2800.

The lower ranking of US was because it was the insurance companies rather than the treating physicians who decides what treatment the patient should get leading to lower quality of health care the end user (patient) receives. This was a damning indication of the way US healthcare with its emphasis on free market and insurance companies works. Whereas all the other countries have a set up similar to ours where the government provides free healthcare (not through insurance). It is alright for private insurance to be available for people who can afford it (afterall not everyone will be willing to go to the government hospital) but it should not be backed by the government for all its citizens. The insurance company just adds a layer of extra expense without adding any value to any of the stakeholders.

My friend who is pursuing Ortho in MMC says that his profs are shifting cases to their hospital to be operated under the insurance scheme. As a result, the number of cases available for PG students have decreased dramatically. Its not even as if the doctors themselves are benefiting. They are now squeezed of their profit by the insurance companies resulting in substandard treatment for patients. Further the company has started demanding cheaper treatment (for eg: they want the doctors to try conservative medical management for urinary stone of larger size where ideally lithotripsy - surgery to remove the stone should be done. This info is given by a friend whose father is an urologist. Whatever I am saying here is true. I am not making any of these things up).

Stakeholder analysis:
As a result of this scheme,
1) The patients are losing because they are receiving substandard, less than ideal treatment.
2) The doctors end up losing because at the end, neither the company nor the patient (who are mostly people who cannot pay) is paying him. These people who are law abiding and soft dont confront anyone and just deregister themselves to avoid any further losses.
3) The medical students have lesser no of cases to study.
4) Not but not the least, the government and the tax payer is losing close to 250 crores per year (the government doctor is anyway going to get his salary - money lost to insurance companies is just extra). This money can be invested in the healthcare system to make it world class and attract even wealthier people to the public healthcare system.
To put it in perspective, AIIMS have an annual budget of 300 crore rupees. By discontinuing the insurance scheme and deploying that money in MMC, the government can turn it into AIIMS standards. So simple but yet needs political will.
5) The only stakeholder who comes out the winner making a mockery of the system is the insurance company who are exploiting everyone to their benefit. They dont add any value whatsoever but make money due to hard labour of the healthcare workers and the misery of the poorer section of the public.

I hope better sense prevails in the government ranks and they cancel this scheme with immediate effect.

I would give a dozen examples of how people getting fooled but then I have to tell about doctors and anyone who knows me will immediately recognize whom I am talking about. All these persons are some of the finest in the art and who have a high standing in the society. They would feel wounded and let down if I explain how they are exploited and fooled by a bunch of financial cronies with no human value enhancement skill but are just a bunch of blood sucking leeches feeding on their toil and effort.

TShyam

March 21st, 2011, 01:05 PM

COIMBATORE: Absenteeism among girl students in Corporation schools in the city has come down significantly in this academic year, and it is all because of a fancy new machine that has been installed on campus.

It is not a chocolate or soda machine as many might assume, but a sanitary napkin vending machine that is encouraging girls to attend school on a regular basis.

About 6% of students in corporation schools do not attend classes during their menstrual period. But after the vending machine was installed, the absenteeism has come down to 2% in the last one year.

The napkins are given free of cost to students. When girls are in need of them, they get 3 one rupee coins from the teacher, drop them in the allotted slot and avail the napkins. At least 150 napkins are picked up daily in corporation higher secondary schools and about 50 in high schools.

According to S Somasundari, Education Officer, Coimbatore Corporation, many girls felt uncomfortable attending school during their menstrual cycle, and thus they often gave excuses to miss school.

The corporation also found that girls hesitated to discuss the issue with their teacher or classmates. Invariably, they were distracted from their lessons. It was then that the corporation decided to introduce the napkin vending machine in schools.

The machine was first introduced in a government school in backward Krishnagiri district. Inspired by its success, a similar machine was installed at the Siddhapudur corporation higher secondary school by the old students association.

Given its success, the corporation installed vending machines in other corporation high schools and higher secondary schools.

Each machine with a vending unit and an incinerator costs `30,000. The objective of installing these machines was to ensure hygiene and prevent absenteeism, corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra said.

Currently, machines have been installed in 11 higher secondary schools and 9 high schools. The corporation will soon introduce these machines in the remaining 5 higher secondary schools and 15 middle schools as well, he added.

A senior official in the corporation said that there are 10,416 students studying in corporation schools.The Corporation is also teaching personal hygiene to students of primary schools.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Machine-reduces-school-absenteeism/articleshow/7750227.cms

satishanu

March 24th, 2011, 10:38 PM

It was a case of Pakistan trusting India, specifically the expertise in the Indian healthcare sector.

Doctors in her hometown of Karachi felt that 54-year-old Bano Sabira could be relieved of pain in India and she was referred to V.G. Hospital at Thudiyalur in Coimbatore.

Ms. Bano had pain on the right side of the abdomen for long and was diagnosed with choledochal cyst (congenital dilatation of the Extrahepatic Biliary System).

Left untreated, it could cause cancer of the duct, severe jaundice, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and other related complications, said hospital Director V. Venkatesh, who led the surgery team.

This rare problem occurs at birth and in 30 per cent of the cases, the first symptom surfaces only during adulthood. And, these can be jaundice, fever, vomiting and severe pain on the right side of the abdomen.

Congenital cyst of the biliary tree has high incidence of turning cancerous, which calls for its complete removal. Ms. Sabira underwent a complicated and technically demanding laparoscopic surgery to correct the problem.

Ms. Sabira had undergone a coronary artery bypass graft in Pakistan ten years ago and this made her a high risk patient for the recent surgery. It was done under the guidance of Interventional Cardiologist S. Balaji. The patient had left for Pakistan where she would undergo periodical review, Dr. Venkatesh said.

src: http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article1565484.ece

ganie006

March 25th, 2011, 05:23 AM

Soon, autopsy in private medical college hospitals

CHENNAI: From the next academic year, the state government would consider allowing private medical college hospitals do post-mortem examinations, senior health department officials said.

Presently, post-mortems are done by the government medical college hospitals and district headquarters hospitals across the state. The only private hospitals authorised to do post-mortem examination is Sri Ramachandra University.

However, the announcement is being withheld as the election commission has enforced the model code of conduct. "When private hospitals can treat victims of road accidents, assault or murder, they should be able to handle post-mortems as well. This will also help the students in the medical colleges as forensic science is part of MBBS syllabus in the second and the third year," the official said. The private colleges willing to do post-mortems have to apply and permission will be granted after inspection, the official said.

The department had so far rejected applications from private colleges. But with shortage of forensic experts in the government sector, it has decided to reconsider the decision. The Karnataka government has already permitted private hospitals to conduct post-mortems.

Presently, for the 17 government medical colleges, there are just 20 qualified forensic surgeons. Eight of them are in the city colleges and hospitals. Madras Medical College has five, Stanley Medical College has two and Royapettah Government Hospital has one. There are two forensic surgeons each in Madurai, Thoothukudi and Theni, and one each in Chengalpet, Coimbatore, Kanyakumari and Vellore. In the government medical colleges in Tiruchi, Thanjavur and Dharmapuri, there are no qualified persons.

In the government hospitals, a MBBS or post-graduate doctor with any specialty is deputed to the forensic department for conducting post-mortems. A forensic expert is given only cases where the cause of death is a mystery or suspected murder. Doctors deputed to the department mostly handle accident cases. They will hand over the case to forensic experts if they think it deserves expert opinion. "Private hospitals can also do this," the official said.

Forensic experts at the government hospitals feel that this will bring down the work load in government hospitals and also offer medical students in private colleges a better learning environment. "Most students in private colleges do get to see a real-time post-mortem," he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/7783682.cms

TShyam

April 7th, 2011, 04:57 AM

COIMBATORE: He cares for the health and well-being of those around him. He believes that a healthy nation needs healthy people. So, Amith Kumar, a physiotherapist and fitness consultant based at Kovaipudur here, has launched a initiative, offering health tips as mobile alerts on a daily basis. And he does it absolutely free of cost.

Amith Kumar's treatment centre named 23 Physia Clinic is now embarking on a unique mission of mobile alerts on heath tips to Coimbatoreans on a daily basis, free of cost. Once you subscribe, you can get health alerts on a daily basis. The alerts mainly pertain to major diseases like diabetics, cancer, AIDS, hypertension etc.

"Prevention is better than cure. So I am encouraging people to lead a healthy life to reduce the time and money spent on medical treatment. The health sector is largely money oriented and even minor consultations are very expensive," says Amith Kumar, who was born in Mannargudi and has worked in Singapore and Mumbai.

"It is not a business. I set aside about Rs 5,000 from my earnings every month to provide health education to residents through this mobile alert service. I feel it is my responsibility," says Amith, who has decided to settle down in Coimbatore permanently.

Getting enrolled in Amrit's mobile SMS list is easy. All you have to do is send the following message, 'HEALTHYLIVING NAME' to the mobile number 9488545655. "This is free of cost," says Amith, who has availed the free services of half a dozen medical practitioners in his efforts to supply health tips.

Dr M Aarthy, Dr V Lakshmy, Dr Rashmi Desai, Dr M Sarmila and Dr P Sruthi and Dr M V Parthipan are now helping Amith to prepare his tips.

Amith started the project on an experimental basis this January, sending out his tips to his list of patients. Initially, he had 256 members. "Now we have about 1,320 subscribers, only through word of mouth. We have a few from other cities too," says Amith.

"As a physiotherapist, I am dealing with pain on a daily basis. Through this project, I am hoping for a painless world," he says.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Free-health-alerts-from-a-city-doctor/articleshow/7894117.cms

Arul Murugan

April 22nd, 2011, 04:16 AM

Salem tops in body parts donation:

உடல் தானம் செய்வதில் சேலம் முதலிடம்:அரசு மருத்துவமனை கண்காணிப்பாளர் தகவல்

சேலம்: ""தமிழக அளவில் உடல் தானம் செய்ய அரசு மருத்துவமனைகளில் பதிவு செய்துள்ளவர்களின் எண்ணிக்கையில் சேலம் மாவட்டம் முதலிடம் பெற்றுள்ளது,'' என, சேலம் அரசு மருத்துவமனை கண்காணிப்பாளர் டாக்டர் மோகன் தெரிவித்தார். சேலம் அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனையில் அகரம் காலனியை சேர்ந்த, 45 பேர், நேற்று தங்களின் உடல்களை தானம் செய்வதாக கூறி, அதற்கான உறுதி மொழி ஒப்பந்த பத்திரத்தை கண்காணிப்பாளர் டாக்டர் மோகனிடம் வழங்கினர். ஆர்.எம்.ஓ., டாக்டர் ஜெகதீஸ்வர், டாக்டர் தண்டபாணி ஆகியோர் உடனிருந்தனர். உடல் தானம் குறித்து கண்காணிப்பாளர் டாக்டர் மோகன் கூறியதாவது:
உடல் தான செய்திகளால், மக்கள் மத்தியில் விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. தங்களின் உடலை மாணவர்களின் படிப்பு, ஆய்வுகளுக்கு தானமாக வழங்க மக்கள் முன் வருகின்றனர். இதில், சேலம் அரசு மருத்துவமனையில் சேலம் மாவட்ட மக்கள் மட்டுமின்றி நாமக்கல், தர்மபுரி மாவட்ட மக்களும் தங்களின் உடலை தானமாக வழங்க பதிவு செய்துள்ளனர். கடந்த 1991ல் துவக்கப்பட்ட சேலம் அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனையில், இதுவரை, 700 பேர் தங்களின் உடலை தானம் செய்ய பதிவு செய்துள்ளனர். அவர்களில், 28 பேரின் உடல் தானமாக பெறப்பட்டு, மாணவர்களின் படிப்புக்கு பயன் படுத்தப்பட்டு வருகிறது. உடல் தானம் செய்வதற்காக பதிவு செய்துள்ளவர்களின் எண்ணிக்கை அடிப்படையில் சேலம் மாவட்டம் தமிழக அளவில் முதலிடத்தை பெற்றுள்ளது. கடந்த 1994ல் முன்னாள் எம்.பி., கிருஷ்ணன், முதன் முதலாக தன் உடலை தானமாக வழங்கி, இந்த சேவையை துவக்கி வைத்தார். இந்த ஆண்டு இதுவரை, 76 பேர் தங்களின் உடலை தானமாக வழங்க முன் வந்துள்ளனர். இவ்வாறு உடல் தான ஒப்பந்தத்தை எங்களிடம் வழங்கியவர்கள், இறந்த நான்கு மணி நேரத்துக்குள், எங்களுக்கு தகவல் கிடைக்கும் பட்சத்தில், எங்களின் கண் மருத்துவக் குழுவினர், உடலை எடுத்து வந்து, முதலில் கண்ணை எடுத்து மருத்துவமனை கண் வங்கியில் பராமரிப்பர். பின், இந்த கண் வேறொருவருக்கு பொருத்தும் பணிகள் துவங்கும். உடல் தானம் செய்துள்ளவரின் மூளை செயல் இழப்பு ஏற்படும் பட்சத்தில், அவரின் உடலில் இருந்து சிறுநீரகம், கல்லீரல், கணையம் ஆகியவற்றை எடுத்து மற்றொருவருக்கு பொருத்தலாம். இதற்கு மருத்துவர்களிடம் முறையான சான்றிதழ் பெற வேண்டும். அவர்களின் இறந்த உடலை பயிற்சி மற்றும் ஆய்வுக்கு பயன் படுத்தலாம். இது போன்ற உடல் தானம் செய்பவரின் உடலுக்கு பதப்படுத்துதல் மற்றும் பக்குவப்படுத்துதலுக்காக அரசு, 25 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் வரை வழங்குகிறது. உடல், உறுப்புகளை தானம் செய்ய முன்வரும் பொதுமக்கள் மருத்துவமனை நிர்வாகத்தை நேரடியாக தொடர்பு கொண்டு தங்களின் பெயரை பதிவு செய்து கொள்ளலாம். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

Kaalaikathir news appeared in Dinamalar.

kongutamizhan

April 22nd, 2011, 06:23 PM

Election time arrived. After all he is also a politician...

Source (http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/Americas/US-healthcare-obama-talks-to-curb-medical-tourism-to-India/Article1-687425.aspx)

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday said his aim was to change the US healthcare system to discourage Americans from seeking medical treatment in India and Mexico. His healthcare reforms - called Obamacare by critics - is being opposed by Republicans on the ground that it will add up to the country's expenses, thereby worsening the debt situation.

"My preference would be that you don't have to travel to Mexico or India for cheap healthcare," he said in response to a question about why US health insurance won't cover medical expenses incurred abroad.

"I'd like you to be able to get it right here in the United States of America that's high quality."

Obama also said that prices of prescription drugs must be brought down "so that you don't feel like you're getting cheated because you're paying 30% more or 20% more than prescription drugs in Canada or Mexico."

In the run up to the elections in November, Obama had repeatedly brought up off-shoring to India and how he intended to change rules to keep US jobs from going to India.

Sampathkumar

May 23rd, 2011, 02:09 AM

கோவையில் அறுவை சிகிச்சை: சிங்கப்பூருக்கு நேரடி ஒளிபரப்பு
கோவை:அகில இந்திய லேப்ராஸ்கோப்பி அறுவை சிகிச்சை நிபுணர்களின் சர்வதேச மாநாடு சிங்கப்பூரிலுள்ள ஸ்விஸ் ஓட்டலில் நேற்று துவங்கியது; வரும் 25ல் நிறைவடைகிறது. இதுகுறித்து, டாக்டர்கள் பிரஷாந்த் ராவ்(மும்பை), லூகிபோனி(இத்தாலி), ஆகியோர் கூறியதாவது:அகில இந்திய லேப்ராஸ்கோப்பி நிபுணர்கள் சங்கத்தின் சர்வதேச மாநாடு சிங்கப்பூரில் ஐந்து நாள் நடக்கிறது. முதல் நாளான நேற்று கோவை,ராமநாதபுரம் ஜெம் மருத்துவமனையில் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்ட அறுவை சிகிச்சைகளை வீடியோ கான்ப்ரன்சிங் (ஹை டெபனிஷன்) முறையில் சிங்கப்பூரில் நடக்கும் மருத்துவ மாநாட்டு வளாகத்தில் நேரடியாக ஒளிபரப்பப்பட்டது. காலை 7.00 மணிக்கு துவங்கிய அறுவை சிகிச்சைகள், பகல் 3.30 மணி வரை இடைவேளையின்றி நடந்தன.வயிறு சம்பந்தப்பட்ட அனைத்து நோய்களுக்கும், தொப்புள்கொடி ஓட்டையின் மூலம் மருத்துவ கருவி பயன்படுத்தி குணமாக்கப்படும். "சிங்கிள் போர்ட் அம்ப்லிக்கஸ்' முறை குறித்து மாநாட்டில் பங்கேற்றுள்ளவர்களுக்கு செயல்முறை விளக்கம் அளிக்கப்பட்டது. இந்த முறையில் அறுவை சிகிச்சை மேற்கொள்ளும்போது, வயிற்றின் வேறு எந்த பகுதிகளிலும் தழும்பு ஏற்படாது. 2007ம் ஆண்டு இச்சிகிச்சை முறை இந்தியாவில் அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. துவக்கத்தில் மக்களிடம் இச்சிகிச்சை முறை குறித்த விழிப்புணர்வு இல்லாமல் இருந்தது; தற்போது அதிகரித்துள்ளது.கோவை, ஜெம் மருத்துவமனையில் அகில இந்திய லேப்ராஸ்கோப்பி அறுவை சிகிச்சை நிபுணர்கள் கூட்டமைப்பு நிறுவனர் டாக்டர் பழனிவேலு தலைமையில் அறுவை சிகிச்சைகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டன. சிங்கப்பூரில் நடக்கும் மாநாட்டில் இந்தியாவின் பல்வேறு பகுதிகளிலிருந்து 400க்கும் மேற்பட்ட அறுவை சிகிச்சை டாக்டர்களும், மலேசியா உள்ளிட்ட சர்வதேச நாடுகளை சேர்ந்த 100 அறுவை சிகிச்சை டாக்டர்களும் பங்கேற்றுள்ளனர்.இவ்வாறு, அவர்கள் தெரிவித்தனர். டாக்டர்கள் ரமேஷ் அர்த்தனாரி, ராஜன் உள்ளிட்டோர் உடனிருந்தனர்.

http://www.dinamalar.com/district_detail.asp?id=244513

Arul Murugan

May 24th, 2011, 04:36 PM

Kalaignar Insurance scheme will be renamed as MGR Insurance scheme.

Star Insurance which is very close to Kalaignar's family will be removed from this scheme.

எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., மருத்துவ காப்பீட்டு திட்டமாக பெயர் மாறுது கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டு திட்டம்

ஆட்சி மாற்றத்தால், கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம், எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., மருத்துவ காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டமாக பெயர் மாற்றம் செய்யவும், அந்த திட்டத்தை செயல்படுத்தும் இன்சூரன்ஸ் நிறுவனத்தை மாற்றம் செய்யவும், தமிழக அரசு முடிவு செய்துள்ளது. இதற்கான அறிவிப்புகள், இன்னும் சில தினங்களில் வெளியாகும் என, மருத்துவத்துறை வட்டாரங்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன.

கடந்த தி.மு.க., ஆட்சியில், கடைசி இரண்டு ஆண்டுகளில், கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம் துவங்கப்பட்டது. இத்திட்டம் துவக்கப்பட்ட காலத்தில், தமிழகத்தில் உள்ள, 17 மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனைகள், மாவட்ட தலைமை மருத்துவமனைகளில் மட்டுமின்றி முக்கிய நகரங்கள், தாலுகாக்களில் உள்ள தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளிலும் சிகிச்சையளிக்கப்பட்டது.திட்டத்தை செயல்படுத்தும் தனியார் இன்சூரன்ஸ் நிறுவனங்கள், பல்வேறு கெடுபிடிகளை அமல்படுத்தியதால், சிகிச்சைக்கு வரும் நோயாளிகளில் பலருக்கு, சிகிச்சைக்கான தொகைகளில், குறிப்பிட்ட சதவீதம் வரை பிடித்தம் செய்யப்பட்டது. அதனால், தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகள், இன்சூரன்ஸ் நிறுவனம் வழங்கிய தொகை போக, மீதி தொகையை நோயாளிகளிடம் இருந்து வசூலிக்கத் துவங்கின. இது, மருத்துவமனைகளின் நிர்வாகத்துக்கும், நோயாளிகளின் உறவினர்களுக்கும் இடையே மோதலை ஏற்படுத்தியது.

இதன் காரணமாக, பல்வேறு தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகள் இத்திட்டத்தில் இருந்து விலகின. அரசின் கொள்கை முடிவு திட்டம் என்பதோடு, தேர்தல் நெருங்கியதால் இத்திட்டத்தில் இருந்து விலகிய தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளின் விவரங்களை மாவட்ட நிர்வாகமும், சுகாதாரத் துறையும் மக்களுக்கு தெளிவு படுத்த வில்லை. இதன் காரணமாக, இத்திட்டத்தின் கீழ், தனியார் மருத்துவமனைக்கு சென்ற நோயாளிகள் சிகிச்சை பெற முடியால் அவதிப்பட்டனர். அரசு மருத்துவமனைகளில், இத்திட்டத்தில் செய்யப்பட்ட ஆபரேஷன்களுக்கு, டாக்டர்கள் உள்ளிட்ட ஊழியர்களுக்கு சேர வேண்டிய ஊக்கத் தொகையும் நிறுத்தி வைக்கப்பட்டதால், அவர்கள் மத்தியில் கடும் அதிருப்தி ஏற்பட்டது.
தமிழக தேர்தலின் போது, அ.தி.மு.க., தேர்தல் அறிக்கையில், "மருத்துவ காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம் மேம்படுத்தப்படும்' என தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது. தற்போது அ.தி.மு.க., ஆட்சி பொறுப்பேற்றுள்ளது. தமிழக முதல்வர் ஜெயலலிதா, மருத்துவத் துறையில் உள்ள மருத்துவ காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டத்திலும் மாற்றங்கள் ஏற்படுத்த திட்டமிட்டுள்ளதாக மருத்துவத்துறை வட்டாரங்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன.முதல் கட்டமாக, தமிழக முன்னாள் முதல்வர் கருணாநிதியின் குடும்பத்துக்கு நெருக்கமான ஸ்டார் ஹெல்த் இன்சூரன்ஸ் நிறுவனத்தை, இத்திட்டத்தில் இருந்து நீக்க முடிவு செய்துள்ளனர். அதற்கு மாற்றாக, புதிய இன்சூரன்ஸ் நிறுவனத்தை இணைக்க முடிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மேலும், "கலைஞர் காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம்' என்ற இத்திட்டத்தை விரைவில் "புரட்சித் தலைவர் எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., ஏழைகள் மருத்துவ காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டம்' என, பெயர் மாற்றம் செய்ய உள்ளதாகவும் கூறப்படுகிறது. இதற்காக, குழு அமைக்கப்படுகிறது.இக்குழு ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டு தெரிவிக்கும் அறிக்கையின் அடிப்படையில், மேம்படுத்தப்பட்ட மருத்துவ காப்பீட்டுத் திட்டமாக செயல்படுத்தப்பட உள்ளதாக மருத்துவத்துறை வட்டாரங்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன.

- நமது சிறப்பு நிருபர் -

Dinamalar

Arul Murugan

May 24th, 2011, 04:40 PM

bonoslack7

June 29th, 2011, 05:52 PM

http://news.in.msn.com/business/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5249724

New Zealand-based MedTech Health Solutions has signed a memorandum of understanding with public charitable trust National Agro Foundation for a rural tele-health booth (RHB) project on a pilot basis in Tamil Nadu. Top executives of the two companies signed the agreement during the presence of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key recently, a company statement here said. MedTech Health Solutons has developed a tele-health screen solution providing remote connectivity between doctor and patient to provide quality-health in emergency and rehabilitation of patients. On a pilot basis, MedTech Health Solutions would establish the RHB in National Agro Foundation centre in Kancheepuram district in Tamil Nadu, it said. MedTech Health Solutions currently has a development centre in Chennai and has a presence in Delhi, the statement added.

ganie006

June 30th, 2011, 01:34 PM

Meenakshi Mission to tap medical tourism

By R Srividhya Jun 14 2011 , Chennai

Tags: Madurai, Medical tourism, Meenakshi Mission hospital, Thanjavur, Opportunities
In an attempt to redirect medical tourism opportunities from Chennai to smaller cities like Madurai and Thanjavur, which are popular tourist destinations for foreigners, Meenakshi Mission Hospital is planning to set up two hospitals, in Madurai and Thanjavur, with a combined investment of Rs 370 crore. The promoters are also looking at tapping private equity funding for the new projects.

Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre in Madurai is a 750-bed hospital with multiple specialties. The hospital clocked revenues of Rs 150 crore in 2010-11 with net profit of Rs 15 crore.

“The hospital is run by a non-profit trust, which means that we do not have much liberty on the pricing front and are also not in a position to tap the full potential of the medical tou-rism business. So, instead of expanding the existing hospital, we have planned to set up one corporate hospital each in Madurai and Thanjavur, aimed at the medical tourism sector,” Dr N Sethuraman, founder chairman of the hospital, told Financial Chronicle.

Medical tourism is expected to become a $2 billion business by 2012, according to an IBEF research report. Chennai is at the forefront here with corporate and specialty hospitals like Apollo, Sankara Neth-ralaya, Madras Medical Mission and Christian Medical College of Vellore.

The 350-bed Madurai hospital will be built with an investment of around Rs 300 crore. It would have all major specialties like cardio, orthopedic, gastroenterology and nephrology, among others. “We have already signed a Rs 150-crore loan agreement with HDFC Bank for the project,” Dr Sethuraman said. The hospital in Thanjavur would be smaller with 200 beds and entail an investment of Rs 70 crore, of which Rs 50 crore would be loan component and the promoters would fund the rest through equity investment.

murlee

July 2nd, 2011, 10:27 PM

Tamil Nadu’s efficient drug procurement system offers clues to fixing the glitches in the national health system

I t is five in the evening, but patients are still making a beeline to see Dr. N. Vijayalaxmi, the duty doctor at the district headquarters hospital at Thiruvallur, about 50 km from Chennai. The doctor patiently listens to each one of them, chides some for not coming in earlier in spite of fever, and furiously scribbles tests and medicines.

Although the hospital lacks the spiffy look of private institutions, it treats about 1,500-2,000 patients a day. “The number of patients has at least doubled,’’ says Dr. Vijayalaxmi, who joined the hospital four years ago. There are only about three doctors on duty at any given point of time.

Though the hospital staffing has not kept pace with the increase in the number of patients, she does not recall a single instance during those years when the hospital has been short of medicines. Over the years, it has also acquired modern equipment such as a CT scanner, nebulisers and those used in physiotherapy.

“Sometimes we get referrals from even private hospitals here,’’ the amiable doctor says with visible pride.

The Thiruvallur hospital is not an isolated case of a well-functioning public health care system. Tamil Nadu boasts of the best public health care system in the country. State care is so competitive that until some time ago, deliveries in private hospitals in Chennai city often cost less than those in rural Bihar. At about 9 percent of its health budget, Tamil Nadu spends the most on drugs among states. Its per capita drug allocation in 2006-2007 was Rs. 27. In comparison, Rajasthan’s was Rs. 2 in 2005-2006 and Uttar Pradesh’s was Rs. 3. Even Kerala, which boasts of reasonably robust public health care, spent only 1.5 percent of its health budget on drugs.

One of the pillars of this successful system is the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC), a state-owned company set up under the Companies Act in 1994 in the wake of a spurious drugs scam. The corporation streamlined drug procurement in the state and has helped shave costs by about 30 percent.
“TNMSC has a simple goal,’’ says R. Poornalingam, who set the company up. “It has to ensure availability of quality drugs to everyone at an affordable cost.’’ The central government is now using the TNMSC model as a national benchmark in rational use of drugs in the public sector in procuring, logistics and capacity building. The ministry has also proposed a company for the central government to manage the supply chain of centrally administered programmes such as malaria and TB eradication, pulse polio and HIV control. It has roped in Poornalingam as the chief evangelist for the project.

The Model
When TNMSC was set up, drug procurement in the state was scattered, with each public hospital sourcing drugs on its own with no standard procedures. TNMSC, which relied heavily on information technology systems and processes to streamline drug procurement, helped in dramatically bringing down drug prices. For instance, the price of 10 strips of antibiotic ciprofloxacin tablets in 1992-1994 (before TNMSC) was Rs. 525. That fell to Rs. 88 in 2002-2003. Similarly, the cost of 100 Norfloxacin tablets fell from Rs. 290 to Rs. 51.30 during the same period.

These improvements have helped bring down the average cost of drugs for inpatients in Tamil Nadu’s public hospitals to Rs. 102, according to the National Sample Survey Organisation’s (NSSO) sixtieth round survey in 2004. In comparison, the average cost of drugs was Rs. 3,268 in Haryana, Rs. 2,166 in Himachal Pradesh and Rs. 3,187 in Rajasthan. The total average cost of a patient’s hospital stay in Tamil Nadu was the lowest at Rs. 255.

http://business.in.com/media/images/2010/Jul/img_31192_tnmsc_drug_model.jpg

Infographic: Hemal Sheth

The key to TNMSC’s success is its tendering process and a passbook system for distributing drugs. It floats tenders at the beginning of every year to identify suppliers for about 250 drugs, which are the most used and usually cover the treatment spectrum. When the purchases are state funded, it follows a two-tier tendering process where first technical bids are evaluated and then price bids decide
the supplier.

TNMSC follows a stringent testing process — it currently has about 11 laboratories empanelled with it. These labs test the first batches of every drug supplied and subsequently also random samples picked from TNMSC’s 25 warehouses spread across the state. Earlier, drugs used to be supplied in bulk. The corporation put an end to it and insisted on blister packaging and special labelling for it in English and Tamil, which made it difficult to divert them.

In a 2004 paper on access to drugs in public health facilities in Tamil Nadu, Leela Visaria of the Gujarat Institute of Development Research mentions that during a survey in Kanchipuram district, several patients she spoke to could identify the drugs by name instead of colour. One woman said that the strip-packed tablets appeared more genuine and were more effective than the loose tablets given wrapped in a piece of newspaper!

Once the tests approve the drug, TNMSC places regular orders through the year depending on inventory levels in its warehouses. A computerised management information system constantly keeps track of inventories in warehouses and helps place orders and clear payments within 15 days. The system has put an end to excess as well as shortage of drugs.

Girija Vaidyanathan, mission director of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in Tamil Nadu says that the concept of passbook introduced by TNMSC was the real innovation. Poornalingam, the architect of TNMSC, says he was inspired by banks to have a similar system to keep track of inventory. Every user of the drug (government run clinics, polyclinics and hospitals) is issued a passbook. Whenever a user requires a drug, it informs the nearest warehouse, which immediately fulfills the order. The name and value of the drug issues is immediately entered in the passbook, which forms the backbone of the information system.

The two key aspects that keep TNMSC going are the transparency in processes and the ruthless dealing with suppliers, says Dr. K. Gopal, managing director of TNMSC. “Any drop in quality and the supplier is immediately blacklisted,’’ says Dr. Gopal. Currently, the blacklist has about 60-70 companies. Once blacklisted, they can’t return for four years. And when they return, they are subject to intense scrutiny. TNMSC currently sources 251 drugs, 90 pieces of surgical equipment and 80 types of sutures from about 125 suppliers.

While the system has worked very well, it still is not foolproof. Last year, a controversy broke out after media reports revealed that several batches of an iodine-based disinfectant solution used widely in surgeries was merely water or soap solution. The supplier and the lab which tested it were eventually blacklisted. Dr. Gopal declined to speak on the issue but said that it had been sorted out.

One of the reasons for such missteps could be the growth of TNMSC, though Dr. Gopal denies it, insisting that quality is never compromised. The corporation has expanded drug procurement to veterinary drugs and medical equipment.

NRHM’s Vaidyanathan says that TNMSC is the best thing to have happened to the public health care system in Tamil Nadu but increasing volumes may be putting pressure on maintaining quality. The diversification into equipment is a different issue altogether which requires a parallel system of bio-medical engineers. “That little bug is yet to be fixed,’’ Vaidyanathan says. Dr. Gopal is already trying to fix it. He admits that manpower is an issue as the company has grown. To tackle the issue of supplier pressure in equipment purchase, he is preparing a standard code of specifications for medical equipment.

Going National
Amarjeet Sinha, joint secretary in the ministry of health and family welfare, says that the government wants to set up similar corporations in at least 10 states in the next five years.

The objectives of the Centre’s rational drug use policy tie in nicely with the results shown by TNMSC. The policy is aimed at breaking the stranglehold of suppliers on the public health system, promoting correct drugs and dosage and curbing unnecessary prescription. However, its success hinges on availability and accessibility of crucial drugs.

A ministry document says that about 300-400 essential drugs are enough to treat most illnesses. Yet 70,000 formulations are available in the market. Often formulations such as cough syrups, tonics, digestives are made of drugs that have no therapeutic value, or have much less value than the generic preparation of the active ingredient.

Corporate consolidation in the drug industry is also worrying the health ministry. TNMSC manages to save costs because it purchases only generic drugs. However, the health ministry says that large companies are manipulating the prices of even generic drugs by buying up smaller generic companies and keeping prices high to discourage their use.

Poornalingam, who is the chairman of the health ministry task force on procurement and is charged with spreading the gospel to the states, says that there is resistance among states to adopt the TNMSC model because of vested interests in the governments, bad suppliers who have a grip on the system and lack of champions. He has suggested a central procurement agency too to source drugs and vaccines for national programmes such as malaria eradication, pulse polio and HIV. He expects such a company to save about Rs. 300 crore every year by setting up 50 warehouses and a chain across states at a cost of just Rs. 50 crore. So far, only Kerala has set up a functioning corporation. West Bengal has set up one and appointed the managing director, but it is yet to start functioning because the employee unions are yet to come around to support it. Chattisgarh and Bihar cabinets have approved setting up a corporation each and Rajasthan is in the process of taking it to the cabinet.

Meanwhile the district health office at Thiruvallur proudly displays a shield won for being one of the best performing under NRHM. It is a shield that TNMSC could wear with pride.

Read more: http://www.business.in.com#ixzz1QyvcIQIm

arun82

July 12th, 2011, 11:58 AM

Frontier Lifeline To Raise Rs 20 Cr For Medicity Project - Frontier Mediville

Frontier Lifeline Private Limited is looking to raise Rs.16-20 Cr through PE to invest in first phase of its Rs.1000 Cr proposed medicity project – Frontier Mediville.

The company has already arranged a term loan of Rs.90 Cr from SBI and Bank of Baroda for the first phase and may also look around Rs.500 Cr PE funding for the second phase.

Promoted by K M Cherian, Frontier Lifeline is a 120-bed specialty heart hospital. Frontier Mediville is being set up on 360 acre in Elavur Village (Tada) in Chennai. Of this, 42 acre has received SEZ status from the central government in 2009.

Frontier Mediville will be developed as a JV with Tamilnadu Industrial Developmental Corporation (TIDCO) under PPP and is expected to be completed in three phases.

The first phase will comprise a medical science park in the SEZ zone in Elavur village and also includes a research and training centre and an animal laboratory to house CROs. It will lease out the research facilities to CROs.

Phase II will include Rs.144 Cr bio hospital with 200 beds in the SEZ and 750-bed multispeciality general hospital would be developed outside the SEZ. Company may also raise Rs.500 Cr through PE for the second phase.

http://www.dealcurry.com/20110712-Frontier-Lifeline-To-Raise-Rs-20-Cr-For-Medicity-Project-Frontier-Mediville.htm

arun82

July 12th, 2011, 12:02 PM

North India's Population Growth Rising steeply: NGO

New Delhi, Jul 11 (IANS): India's four largest so-called BIMARU states -- Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh -- have been showing a steep rise in population despite effective methods of birth control in primary health care centres there, a brief by an NGO on World Population Day said Monday.

"Nearly 15 million women, mostly belonging to the 'bottom of the pyramid' in the four large North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar do not access available methods of family planning," said Devendra Kishore, professor of population programme management at the Management Institute of Population and Development (MIPD), in the brief.

The study depicted a contrast between northern states and southern states that have shown signs of population stabilisation.

"Southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka have been able to achieve the replacement level fertility, meaning a couple having only two children has kept the population growth almost stable," added Kishore.

The replacement rate in the region has been 2.1 children per women, said the brief, primarily based on the census statistics of 2011.

"Northern states have a long way to gap before they achieve the desired target. And that is a cause of concern," Kishore said in the brief.

World Population Day is aimed at increasing people's awareness on population issues such as importance of family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health, and human rights.

The brief indicates India's population will grow by 16-17 million annually in coming decades since more than 50 per cent of the population is in the reproductive age of 15-49 years.

http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=107886&n_tit=North+India's+Population+Growth+Rising+steeply%3A+NGO

ChennaiIndian

July 12th, 2011, 02:34 PM

^^

One goog thing is that they are not going to scrap it. But they have not learnt any lesson from naming the TNSTC after leaders name. Finally after lot of confusion gvt decided to name it as TNSTC!!

Like that Tamilnadu government medical insurance scheme would be enough for name instead of going for new name.
Karu wanted everything to be named after him. So many paaratu vizhas and other s**t. People got tired of that self-boasting guy and it is hard to believe that he was one of the pioneers of the Dravidian movement of the 60s. :ohno: You can't expect everyone to be perfect but Karu took it to a new low. :bash:

arun82

July 16th, 2011, 10:28 AM

INDIA: India seeks to regain lost ground on medical tourism

One of the pioneers of medical tourism, India has lost ground to many of the new entrants into the medical tourism market. Complex rules and processes have slowed its progress.

For years, India has promoted medical tourism but many agencies, hospitals and local states compete with each other for the same business at prices so low they put off many Americans and European visitors. There has been little concerted marketing, while advertising has all been of the “high quality, very cheap, we do everything’ variety that is being replaced elsewhere with more sophisticated targeted marketing.

As a pioneer, lack of official help has partly been due to the state based nature of government and partly down to guestimates totally lacking any statistical basis, that they were getting one or two million medical tourists year – a figure that generated complacency. These bloated figures may have been due to simple mistranslation with English speaking people translating 1 lakh as 1 million, when it actually means 100,000. India’s tourism authorities have come up with new figures that suggest that in 2011, there will be between 85,000 and 100,000 medical tourists going to India. Putting these figures into perspective, India enjoys 5.6 million worldwide visitors each year.

India has carried out a series of road shows to promote medical tourism for specialized dental treatment, knee transplants, neurosurgery as well cosmetic surgery. So far this year 63,000 medical tourists have traveled to India for treatment says the tourism ministry, and it is expecting somewhere between 85,000 to 100,000 medical tourists by the end of the year; tourism to India is very seasonal and concentrated in certain months.

Despite growth in the medical tourism sector, India has faced tough challenges in last few years with competitive pricing from Malaysia and Singapore. So India arranged a series of road shows to promote medical tourism. In the last few months these shows took place in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, the USA, England, Scotland, South Africa and Caribbean countries. The roadshows had presentations and one-to one business meetings between trade delegations from India and travel trade representatives in the respective countries.

According to the Ministry of Tourism 63,000 medical tourists arrived from Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, Pakistan, Denmark and the US in the first 6 months of 2011.The destinations of the roadshows and the source countries quoted, suggest that India has failed to convince Europeans to travel there for treatment.

Indian hospital groups have invested heavily in building or buying hospitals, partly with the potential of medical tourism in mind. But so far they have seen little return on their investment in India, often making more money from medical tourists when they have built of bought hospitals in other countries.

Max Healthcare is aggressively expanding nationwide and Dr Pervez Ahmed, of Max Healthcare recently accepted that they are no longer just targeting patients from the US, UK and other Western nations, but also at patients from the SAARC countries as the people of these nations do not have access to good quality healthcare; South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries include-Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Complex national and local regulations are putting off potential medical tourists. Tamil Nadu gets 150 medical tourists a month but tourism officials say they could get many more if regulations were relaxed. There is an increase in the number of foreigners going to Ahmedabad for medical treatment despite a procedure for police verification that required at least three visits to the police; and although this has been replaced by just one visit to the local police station before going home, medical tourists still have to download registration forms and submit them to the police through the hospital authorities. Any foreign national seeking medical treatment in the city has to register within 14 days after arrival, and report to the police at the special branch of the police commissioner’s office with a number of documents. These include proofs of their stay in the city, ailment for which treatment was sought, and documents from doctors, hospitals and hotels, among others. There seems a lack of understanding in India that Europeans and Americans will not put up with this unnecessarily bureaucratic, cumbersome and time consuming process-however cheap treatment is.

http://www.imtj.com/news/?entryid82=298281

TShyam

July 16th, 2011, 11:40 AM

^^
So true.. It would be great if this is brought to the notice of our bureaucrats or better still CM herself. There is too much unwanted procedures which can be done away with. Healthcare attracts big bucks, employs lots of people, is a huge boost for the local economy and it should be given top priority.

Vasu

July 16th, 2011, 12:28 PM

http://cdn.ishafoundation.org/images/stories/global/arr1.jpg
Action for Rural Rejuvenation (ARR) is a multi-pronged, multi-phased, holistic, outreach program whose primary objective is to improve the overall health and quality of life of the rural poor. ARR is a unique, well-defined philanthropic effort, which enhances existing development schemes by supporting indigenous models of health, disease prevention and community participatory governance, while offering primary health care services and allopathic treatment through its dedicated team of qualified and trained personnel..... see more (http://www.ruralrejuvenation.org/)

arun82

August 15th, 2011, 10:10 AM

TNs health policy impressive

CHENNAI: Stressing on the need for innovation in the areas of disease prevention and the adhering government policies, Thomas R Frieden, Director, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that he found the health related policies adopted by the government of Tamil Nadu “impressive”.

Delivering a lecture on how public health is integral to economic growth and national progress, Frieden said, “The state government here has made efforts to upgrade labs at a district level. This is a commendable move as it forms a very good data collection model at every level,” he said.

He indicated that such a model followed in most Indian states formed the basis of the Global Disease Detection Centre and the Epidemic Intelligence Service, set up by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with their assistance in New Delhi. The services would be expected to become a reality by the first quarter of 2012, he added. “The major function of these agencies would be to employ epidemiologists. They will track and stop epidemics by monitoring the data feed of patients at all levels.

Frieden reiterated that the Indian model of handling Tuberculosis was a model that the world could follow. And also added that the Tuberculosis Research Centre, Chennai, had made impressive contributions that have led to the continued control of the once-dreaded disease.

“A sound public health system is the basis of any progressive society. Only collective action and spreading information can make a difference in developing societies,” he said.

Quoting studies conducted, Frieden also pointed out that non-communicable diseases were the largest mortal threat for young Indians going into the next few decades. “It is estimated that by 2020, four times as many young adults will be killed by non-communicable diseases, unless smoking, diabetes and obesity were curbed effectively.”

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tns-health-policy-impressive/175704-60-120.html

arun82

August 27th, 2011, 02:00 PM

State leads the way in organ transplant

MADURAI: Tamil Nadu is a role model for other states in organ donations, according to an expert in cadaver transplantation. Speaking at an awareness programme on organ donation organised on Friday by Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre in Madurai, convenor Dr J Amalorpavanathan said that more than 200 people have donated their organs between October 2008 and July 2011 in order to save the lives of others.

"As per the current cadaver transplant census report, Tamil Nadu's contribution is about 1.3% per million donations, in 2010. The deceased donors per million population per year are that of USA -20.7 percentage, Europe 15.9 percentage, Asia-1.1 percentage including Tamil Nadu contribution is 0.8 percentages.

Tamil Nadu is the number one state in organ donation in India. However, contributions from the southern districts, have been very poor," Amalorpavanathan said.

He also said that since all major religions are now endorsing organ donations, medical administrative officials should create more awareness programmes in southern districts. "We have created three divisions for organ donation to enable speedy transplantation of organs on the patients. While the north division covers Chennai to Vellore, south division covers Trichy to Nagercoil and the west from Vellore to Coimbatore," he said. He told TOI that medical officers were often confused about the laws related to transplantationand that is why they were conducting awareness programmes in second-tier cites like Madurai

. "Only four persons have donated organs to patients in the past one year," he said. Some one brain goes steam death while four doctors confirmed it and convince the family members of the deceased and taken the organs from the body for save other persons life. The 99 percentage of organs have gotten from accident victims because their brains would be gone to steam death but other organs functions have worked very well", he said.

Dr K Samapathkumar, nephrologist said that according to the Indian Medical Tribune survey there was less than 50% overall positive response in favour of donating solid organs. "In the last 10 years, 1000 cadaver organ transplants including 900 kidney and 100 liver and heart transplants have been performed. Almost 40% of the cadaver transplants in India are done in Tamil Nadu, and its organ sharing network could become the role model for rest of the country," he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/State-leads-the-way-in-organ-transplant/articleshow/9753131.cms

murlee

August 27th, 2011, 04:08 PM

Affordable healthcare with revamped insurance scheme

The State Government plans to give a big impetus to healthcare, with accent on modernisation and accessibility of services. The Government had proposed an outlay of Rs 4,761 crore for healthcare this year, during the recent Budget session.

Key among its various initiatives are the revamped health insurance scheme and the proposal to convert the new Secretariat complex into a multi-specialty hospital and medical college.

Super specialty centres

The multi-specialty hospital in Chennai's Anna Salai proposes to provide specialty treatment free of cost to the needy, will house modern equipment; medical experts, nurses and technical staff will also be appointed. The hospital will match the facilities at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, said the Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, while addressing the State Assembly a few days ago.

In the recently presented Budget, the State Government had also announced setting up of a super-specialty centre in Annal Gandhi Government Hospital, Tiruchi, at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

Universal healthcare

The Budget proposals also talk about upgrading diagnostic services in district hospitals with supply of additional equipment at a cost of Rs 55 crore under the Tamil Nadu Health System project. Under public-private partnership, computer-aided laboratory facilities will be set up in all districts in a phased manner, the Government announced in its Budget.

Two major schemes, the National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) and Tamil Nadu Health System Project are being implemented to achieve the goal of universal healthcare in the State. During 2011-12, the Government proposes to spend Rs 900 crore under NRHM. The State Government says it will focus on improving primary healthcare facilities in urban areas as they are inadequate at present.

A ‘Hospital on Wheels' scheme will be launched by the Government to provide healthcare services at the doorstep in remote areas. The Government also proposes to distribute sanitary napkins free of cost to rural girls. A sum of Rs 46 crore has been provided in the Revised Budget estimates for this purpose.

New health insurance scheme

Ms Jayalalilthaa has proposed a new health insurance scheme in place of the erstwhile government's scheme. The scheme extends medical cover up to Rs 4 lakh (for four years) from Rs 1 lakh before. It covers 950 types of medical treatment. The new scheme also seeks to give government hospitals priority over those in the private sector. Certain types of treatments will be permitted only in government hospitals and special wards will be set up for this in hospitals approved by the Government.

Bids invited

A tender inviting bids from insurance company to implement the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme in Tamil Nadu has already been announced.

The coverage will be up to Rs 1 lakh per family per year with provision to pay up to Rs 1.5 lakh per year per family for certain specified procedures.

The Project Director, Tamil Nadu Health Systems Society, will pay the insurance premium on behalf of the eligible persons to the successful bidder. The premium will be paid every year in four quarterly instalments.

Private hospitals in the city have welcomed the State Government's health insurance scheme. Says Ms Preetha Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals: “People who need healthcare will be able to get it; the scheme is going to be something everyone will be proud of. Government hospitals are upgrading themselves so they should be given priority. The private sector should work alongside the Government.”

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-others/tp-editorial-feature/article2390417.ece

TShyam

August 27th, 2011, 04:26 PM

I was never a big fan of this insurance scheme. For me, it always looks like a conduit to bag govt's money by people who have nothing to do with healthcare by introducing an unnecessary layer of expenditure.

By including things like preference for govt hospital, setting up of special wards and having a tendering process to choose the insurance provider, atleast this govt's plan looks a little more transparent and genuine compared to the blatant looting which took place in the past 2 years in the name of kalaignar kaapeettu thittam. Lets see how it turns out.

Arul Murugan

September 4th, 2011, 03:11 AM

“Tamil Nadu's organ donation rate a model for country”

The country's target would be to reach Tamil Nadu' s rate of cadaveric organ donation of 1.3 per million people within the next two years, R.K. Srivastava, Director General of Health Services, Government of India, said here on Saturday.

At present the country's rate was 0.3 per million, and it is essential to bring the country level with Tamil Nadu, which was leading the nation in terms of cadaver organ transplantation, he added. “This is certainly going to require tremendous efforts. However if even one per cent of the patients in the hospitals who are brain dead can be declared as such, and the potential for organ donation tapped, we can reach 1.3 per million,” Dr. Srivastava said. The nation would have to go into ‘mission mode' to achieve this.

The DGHS was speaking at Samsaara (Circle of Life), a symposium on Organ Donation Awareness and Brain death organised jointly by his office, the Tamil Nadu Cadaver Transplant Programme, and Mohan Foundation.

Putting in place systems that will facilitate organ donation is at the core of increasing the number of cadaveric organs available for transplantation, he added. This is evident from Tamil Nadu, and even nations that have done much better, having reached a rate of 30/40 per million population. Even in these nations, there continued to be a scarcity of organs, with the number of people requiring life-saving organ transplantations always being higher than the number of organs available, Dr. Srivastava explained. This makes the task of spreading awareness crucial and continuous.

Earlier, he released a ‘brain-death manual' and inaugurated the one-year PG diploma course for transplant co-ordinators, to be conducted by Mohan Foundation in association with IGNOU.

Mayilvahanan Natarajan, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, said the programme would have to include bone as an organ that can be harvested and transplanted. Awareness would have to be built on this concept too, he added. Most people think donating the bone means taking away the hand or leg, but that is not so, the Vice-Chancellor clarified.

V. Kanagasabai, dean, Madras Medical College, said the momentum had to be accelerated to spread awareness on the importance of cadaver organ donation among all segments of society. V. Palani, medical superintendent, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, said organs were still being under-utilised.

There were also problems in declaring brain death.

While there was a long way to go before an organ could be found for every person who requires it, using cadaveric organs has bridged the gap to an extent

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2423083.ece

ganie006

September 4th, 2011, 07:41 PM

Paediatric day care surgery unit opened at government hospital

Day care surgery facility – admitting patients in the morning and discharging them after surgery the same day – was inaugurated at the Department of Paediatrics Surgery at the Rajah Mirasudhar Government Hospital here on Saturday.

R.Vaithilingam, State Minister for Housing and Urban Development, inaugurated the facility at a function held at the hospital. The

Minister said that congenital defects in children, and diseases like cancer, if detected early, can be cured through surgery in the new facility.

The Minister said that Tamil Nadu government has been giving importance for providing quality health care to people. Health insurance scheme envisaged by the government will provide a maximum of Rs.4 lakh worth treatment to people.

With the increased limit, people can now meet both pre-operative and post-operative expenses.

The Minister handed out gifts to five children who underwent surgery in the day care surgery facility. T.V.Sathappan, Head of the Department of paediatric surgery, Thanjavur Medical College and Deputy Superintendent of Rajah Mirasudhar Government hospital said that children will be admitted at 8 a.m. Operation will be done between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The children will be discharged by 4 p.m. Children with hernia, umbilical hernia, cancer, and cleft lips will be operated upon. Collector K.Baskaran said it was unfortunate that many children are born with congenital disorders. M.Rengaswamy, MLA, T.B.Umadevi, Dean, Thanjavur Medical College, R.Elangovan, Medical Superintendent, Thanjavur Medical College Hospital and Rajah Mirasudhar Government Hospital, G.Kolandaivelu, former head, Department of Paediatric Surgery,

C.Gunasekaran, Chief, Unit two of Paediatrics Department, M.Singaravelu, Chief, Unit Three of Paediatrics Department, S. Sorubarani, Head of the Department of Gynaecology, spoke.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle2421321.ece
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arun82

September 10th, 2011, 01:02 PM

TN to set up Medical Services Recruitment Board

Chennai, Sept 10: The Tamil Nadu Government, as part of filling up vacancies in health and family welfare department in government hospitals and primary health centres, would set up a “Medical Services Recruitment Board”.

“There are about 15,600 vacancies in the department including doctors, nurses and administrative staff. Due to lack of speedy procedures, appointing candidates in the vacancies was a major issue,” the Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, said in a suo motu statement in the Assembly.

A Medical Services Recruitment Board would be set up to fill up the vacancies and also to identify the vacancies that will be created in future, she said.

“The Health and Family Welfare Department Additional Secretary will head the Board. A person in the cadre equal to that of Medical Department Deputy Director will be its Member and an officer equal to the ranks of District Revenue Officer will be appointed as its Member-Secretary,” she said.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/government-and-policy/article2441922.ece

ganie006

September 11th, 2011, 07:32 PM

Workshop on interventional neurology

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Three persons with Brain Aneurysm (ballooning of artery in brain) were treated with the Interventional Neurology procedure at KSDC Hospital here on Saturday in the third interventional neurology workshop.

Shakir Hussain, Director, Interventional Neurology, Max Institute of Neuroscience and Max superspeciality hospital, New Delhi, S.Vanchilingam, Retired Professor of Neurology and Somesh Vanchilingam, fellow in Interventional Neurology and Stroke, conducted the procedures which lasted for one to two hours for each patient.

Later explaining the procedure to presspersons, Dr.Shakir Hussain said that Interventional Neurology is one of the newest sub specialities in neurology which has been making rapid progress in the last few decades. It has enabled treating certain complex neurovascular problems with extremely low morbidity and mortality.

The procedure involves gaining a vascular access from one of the leg vessels namely the right femoral artery and passing a catheter (a fine synthetic tube) through it to reach the brain via the vessels.

Through this catheter in place various other tools can be passed to the brain and multi modal treatment of vascular lesions of the brain can be carried out, Dr.Hussain said.

Disease which can be treated by this method is the acute stroke treatment, (Intra arterial Thromboloysis), Carotid artery and vertebral artery stenting, intra cranial atherosclerosis via intra cranial stenting, sub arrachnoid haemorrhage, and neuro vascular trauma.

Ballooning of artery starts right from the birth in some cases and increases in size .

The new procedure helps patients to get well soon and walk out of the hospital the next day after the procedure is performed, Hussain said. In the open surgery followed earlier, the skull is opened and treatment is given in the deep part of the brain and clipped. Risk factor is high in the old method.

KSDC hospital at Thanjavur is well equipped to carry out the procedure, he said.

Cost of the procedure runs to Rs.3lakh because of the costly equipments involved. It can be made affordable by the government by giving subsidy and producing in India, the equipment, which are currently being imported from America and other countries.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...cle2443811.ece
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wlbkng

September 12th, 2011, 08:43 PM

State also boasts of reputed eye hospitals run by not-for-profit trusts
Tamil Nadu has become the hub for corporate eye care with the country’s largest ophthalmology chains emerging out of the state. After the recent merger with Hyderabad-based Maxivision, Medfort Hospitals has entered the third slot after Vasan Eye Care and Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital.

The state also can boast of having some reputed eye hospitals run by not-for-profit trusts.

Starting with a single eye-care clinic in 2002, Vasan Eye Care is now the largest ophthalmology chain with over 80 centres. It also has a centre in the United Arab Emirates. With $50 million from Sequoia Capital India, Vasan grew rapidly since 2007.

Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital’s growth has been rather slow and steady, as it grew to over 50 centres in the past few decades. It has a hospital in Mauritius as well.

Medfort Hospitals after the merger with Maxivision Eye Hospital has become a chain of 15 eye-care centres in one year. It has the backing of private equity funds TVS Shriram and ePlanet Ventures. With a second round of funding from the investors, Medfort Maxivision Group plans to add 50 eye hospitals in two years.

“Tamil Nadu has historically been a hub for affordable healthcare and in eye care, there have been a few reputed not-for-profit institutions like Aravind Eye Care and Sankara Nethralaya since 1970s. With Apollo Hospitals, corporate healthcare also emerged from Tamil Nadu. Apart from the historical significance, a high level of compliance has helped Tamil Nadu-based companies easily secure external funding,” said G S K Velu, chairman Medfort Maxivision Group.

Founded in 1976, Madurai-based Aravind Eye Hospital is also into research, equipment manufacturing and community outreach programmes. It has six eye-care hospitals in Tamil Nadu, around 35 community centres and five eye banks. Chennai-based Sankara Nethralaya has hospitals in Kolkata and Bangalore as well. The hospital has been conducting community eye-care programmes within the country and abroad.

“Tamil Nadu always has been a healthcare hub and now it has moved to the next level of super-specialisation. Technology and innovation has helped the hospitals make the state an eye care hub too,” said Amar Agarwal, managing director of Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital.

http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/3-top-opthalmology-chains-turn-tn-eye-care-hub-682

ganie006

September 13th, 2011, 04:39 AM

This dinamani article demand goverment to set Cancer and Neurology hospital in chennai,kovai,Trichy,Thanjavur,Salem,Tirunelveli,Madurai

இன்றியமையாத் தேவைகள்!

சித்த மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை எண்ணிக்கை குறைக்கப்பட்டதற்கு அடிப்படைக் காரணம், போதுமான பேராசிரியர்கள் இல்லாததுதான். இந்தக் குறை விரைவில் நிவர்த்தி செய்யப்படும். மீண்டும் மாணவர் எண்ணிக்கை உயரும்'' என்று அரசு அறிவித்துள்ளது.
இந்த நிலைமை சித்த மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளுக்கு மட்டுமன்றி, அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளிலும் இருக்கிறது. தருமபுரி அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி உள்பட, புதிதாகத் தொடங்கப்பட்ட மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகளில், அதன் அங்கீகாரம் நீடிக்கத் தேவையான துறைகள், மருத்துவப் பேராசிரியர்கள் பற்றாக்குறை உள்ளது. அனுமதி பெறுவதற்காக ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் இடமாறுதல் செய்து, வேறு கணக்குகள் காட்டி, மத்திய மருத்துவக் குழுமத்திடம் அங்கீகாரம் பெறுவதற்குள் நம் சுகாதாரத் துறை அதிகாரிகள் படும்பாடு சொல்லி மாளாது.

சட்டப்பேரவையில் பேசிய தமிழக மக்கள் நல்வாழ்வுத் துறை அமைச்சர், ""மாவட்டம்தோறும் அரசு மருத்துவமனை என்பதைப் படிப்படியாக, ஆண்டுக்கு ஒரு மாவட்டத்தில் ஒரு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி என்ற வகையில், தேவையான வசதிகள் உள்கட்டமைப்புகளை வலுப்படுத்தி, மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகள் அமைக்கப்படும்'' என்று தெரிவித்துள்ளார். அவரே ஒரு மருத்துவர் என்பதால், பிரச்னை என்ன என்பது அவருக்குப் புரிந்திருக்கிறது.

இதே புரிதலுடன் அவர் கவனம் செலுத்த வேண்டிய மருத்துவத் துறைச் சிக்கல்கள் இன்னும் பல இருக்கின்றன. அவற்றில் முக்கியமானவை, புற்றுநோய் சிகிச்சை மையங்கள், நரம்பியல் மருத்துவ மையங்கள் தமிழ்நாட்டின் முக்கியமான நாலைந்து இடங்களில் ஏற்படுத்துவதும் தொற்றிப்பரவும் தன்மையில்லாத நோய்களான சர்க்கரை, உயர் ரத்த அழுத்தம் ஆகியவற்றுக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் அளித்து, அதற்கான தனி மருத்துவ மையங்களை மாவட்டம்தோறும் அமைப்பதும் இன்றைய மக்களின் இன்றியமையாத தேவையாக இருக்கின்றன.
காஞ்சிபுரத்தில் கடந்த 41 ஆண்டுகளாகப் ""பேரறிஞர் அண்ணா புற்றுநோய் மண்டல மருத்துவமனை'' செயல்பட்டு வருகிறது. சென்னை அடையாறு புற்றுநோய் மருத்துவமனையில் உள்ள நவீன ஆய்வு வசதிகள், மருத்துவ வசதிகள் காஞ்சிபுரம் மருத்துவமனையில் இல்லை. இருந்தும்கூட, பல்வேறு மாவட்டங்களைச் சேர்ந்த ஏழை மக்கள் இந்த மருத்துவமனைக்கு வருகின்றனர். இவர்களுக்குப் போதுமான படுக்கை வசதிகளும் இல்லை.

தமிழகத்தின் எந்தப் பகுதியில் உள்ளவர்களும் சென்னை பெருநகரை நோக்கித்தான் வர வேண்டும் என்கிற எண்ணமே இக்காலத்துக்குப் பொருந்தாது. சென்னை, சேலம், கோவை, மதுரை, தஞ்சை, திருச்சி, திருநெல்வேலி ஆகிய ஏழு மாநகரங்களிலும் புற்றுநோய், நரம்பியல் சிறப்பு மருத்துவ மையங்களை உருவாக்க வேண்டியது மிகமிக அவசியம். தேவைப்படும் நேரங்களில் சிறப்பு மருத்துவர்கள் இந்த மருத்துவ மையங்களுக்குச் சென்று சிகிச்சை அளிக்க வேண்டுமே தவிர, எல்லா நோயாளிகளும் சென்னைக்கு வர வேண்டும் என்பது எந்தவிதத்திலும் நியாயமாகத் தோன்றவில்லை.

சாலை விபத்துகள் எண்ணிக்கை ஆண்டுதோறும் அதிகரித்துக்கொண்டே வருகிறது. 2009-ம் ஆண்டில் மரணம் நேரிட்ட விபத்துகள் 12,727. இதில் இறந்தவர்கள் 13,746 பேர். 2010-ம் ஆண்டில் 14,241 விபத்துகளில் 15,409 பேர் இறந்துள்ளனர். 108 ஆம்புலன்ஸ் சேவை இருப்பதால்தான் இந்த மரணங்கள் குறைவாக இருக்கின்றன. இல்லையெனில், மேலும் கூடுதலாகவே இருக்கும். இருப்பினும்கூட, விபத்துகளில் தலைக்காயம் அடைந்தவர்களுக்குச் சிகிச்சையளிக்க நரம்பியல் சிறப்பு சிகிச்சை மையம் சென்னை போன்ற பெருநகரில்தான் இருக்கிறது. நெடுஞ்சாலை விபத்துகளில் பலத்த தலைக்காயம் அடைந்தவர்களை சென்னைக்கு ஆம்புலன்ஸில் கொண்டுவந்துதான் சிகிச்சை அளிக்க வேண்டும் என்ற நிலை உள்ளது.

உதாரணமாக, சுமார் 300 கி.மீ. தொலைவுள்ள சென்னை - பெங்களூர் நெடுஞ்சாலையில், நரம்பியல் சிறப்பு மருத்துவம் பெற வேண்டுமானால் பெங்களூர், வேலூர், சென்னை ஆகிய மூன்று இடங்களைத் தவிர, வேறு ஊர்களில் இந்த வசதி இல்லை. நெடுஞ்சாலைகளில் 100 கி.மீ. இடைவெளியில் ஓர் அரசு ஆரம்ப சுகாதார மையத்தைத் தேர்வு செய்து, நரம்பியல் சிறப்பு மருத்துவ முதலுதவிக் கூடமாக மாற வேண்டும். இவர்களுக்கு நரம்பியல் சிகிச்சை மருத்துவர்கள் தேவையான முதலுதவி அளிப்பதும், விபத்தால் மூளைக்குள் ஏற்பட்ட அழுத்தத்தைக் குறைக்கத் துளையிடுதல் போன்ற சிகிச்சைகளைச் செய்து, மேல்சிகிச்சைக்காக அனுப்பி வைக்க வசதிகள் ஏற்படுத்துவதும் இன்றியமையாத தேவைகள். இதனால் உயிரிழப்புகள் கணிசமாகக் குறையும்.

108 ஆம்புலன்ஸில் ஒரு விபரீதக் கட்டுப்பாடு இருப்பதாகத் தெரிய வருகிறது. விபத்து நடந்த இடத்திலிருந்து அல்லது பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர் இருக்கும் இடத்திலிருந்து அருகில் இருக்கும் ஒரு மருத்துவமனைக்கு அவரைக் கொண்டுசெல்ல மட்டும்தான் 108 ஆம்புலன்ஸýக்கு அனுமதி உள்ளது. ஒரு மருத்துவமனையிலிருந்து இன்னொரு மருத்துவமனைக்குக் கொண்டுசெல்ல வேண்டுமானால், அந்த மருத்துவமனையின் ஆம்புலன்ûஸப் பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும் அல்லது தனிவாகனத்தில் நோயாளியைக் கொண்டு சென்றாக வேண்டும்.
ஒரு பள்ளிப் பேருந்து கவிழ்ந்ததில் காயமடைந்த 50 குழந்தைகளை அரூர் மருத்துவமனைக்குக் கொண்டுபோன 108 ஆம்புலன்ஸ், அவர்களைத் தருமபுரி மருத்துவமனைக்கு அழைத்துச் செல்ல முடியாது என்று கூறிவிட்டது. மருத்துவமனை ஆம்புலன்ஸில் அனைத்துக் குழந்தைகளையும் ஏற்ற முடியவில்லை. சில சிறப்பு நேர்வுகளில், 108 ஆம்புலன்ûஸப் பயன்படுத்தவும், அதற்கான கட்டணத்தை அரசு தனியாக அவர்களுக்கு வழங்கவும் வசதி இருக்குமானால், இதற்கு ஒரு தீர்வு காண முடியும்.

மருத்துவர் ஒருவரை மக்கள் நல்வாழ்வுத் துறை அமைச்சராக்கி இருப்பதிலிருந்தே தமிழக முதல்வர், இந்தத் துறை சார்ந்த பிரச்னைகளை அதிகாரிகளின் பார்வையில் அணுகாமல் அனுபவரீதியாக அணுக வேண்டும் என்பதில் கவனமாக இருப்பது தெரிகிறது. மக்கள் நல்வாழ்வுத் துறை சார்ந்த மானியக் கோரிக்கையின்போது பேசிய அமைச்சரின் பார்வையும் நோக்கமும் சரியாகவே இருக்கிறது. மேலே நாம் குறிப்பிட்டிருக்கும் பிரச்னைகளையும் கவனத்தில் கொண்டு தமிழக அரசு செயல்பட வேண்டும் என்பது நமது வேண்டுகோள்.

arun82

September 13th, 2011, 08:18 AM

Elders, mothers to get noonmeal in Tamil Nadu

In a move aimed at improving the functioning of nutritious noonmeal centres and anganwadis in the state, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Monday announced that about 28,596 vacancies in the centres would be filled immediately.

Making a suo moto statement in the Assembly on Monday, the chief minister said the government has drawn up plans to renovate the anganwadi centres, functioning under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), at a cost of Rs 47.61 crore to ensure the safety of about 28 lakh children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and old age people visiting the centres.

To ensure the safety of these beneficiaries, 10,372 centres which had minor damages and 7,449 centres that had major damage will be repaired during this year, she said.

In addition, about 45,345 centres would be provided with power connections and given lighting and electric fan facilities so that children and other beneficiaries in the centres could spend the time comfortably during summer and winter seasons. About Rs 27.21 crore will be spent for the purpose, Ms Jayalalithaa stated.

Apart from catering to six months to six-year-old children, the ICDS centres will provide noonmeal to old age pensioners on all days in a year, a first of its kind in the country, she added. Also, children-friendly toilets will be established at 29,727 centres on an outlay of Rs 23.78 crore this year.

“Through these initiatives of the government, Tamil Nadu will emerge as first (state in the country) for improving the well-being of women and children,” the chief minister said.

Congress legislator S. Vijayadharani said the government’s move to strengthen the anganwadis would go a long way in improving the health of children and elders.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/elders-mothers-get-noonmeal-tamil-nadu-431

murlee

September 14th, 2011, 06:41 PM

Universal healthcare with modern, affordability tag

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/dynamic/00781/Mixie_chart_781959e.jpg

Universal healthcare, with emphasis on modernisation and affordability, will be the cornerstone of the Tamil Nadu Government's healthcare policies this year. Several schemes have been announced by the Health and Family Welfare Department, spanning child-care, upgradation of primary health centres and hospital facilities.

The Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr V.S. Vijay, announced thata sum of Rs 79.86 crore has been allotted for upgradation of diagnosis and treatment facilities at hospitals in medical colleges. For refurbishment and modernisation of 385 mobile hospital vehicles, Rs 40 crore has been allocated. Free ambulance service will be upgraded at a cost of Rs 3.6 crore. Under this, modern vans with facilities to transport emergency patients and new born babies and traverse mountainous terrains will be provided.

In order to provide hygienic food and high quality medicines to people, a food safety and drug control authority will be established at a cost of Rs 50 crore.

Around Rs 38 crore will be spent this year on setting up additional inpatient centres, patient waiting hall and vaccination centres at the 543 primary health centres in the State. In small towns without primary healthcare facilities, 75 primary health centres will be set up at a cost of Rs 14.27 crore.

The State government has allocated Rs 5 crore for identification and treatment of people with birth defects. HIV/AIDS prevention and care centres will be set up in select head hospitals in the state at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore.

[B]The Kilpauk Government Medical College will be given an MRI scan device at a cost of Rs 5 crore. A separate announcement will be made with regard to equipment management across districts.

Earlier, the[B] Government had proposed an outlay of Rs 4,761 crore for healthcare this year, during the recent Budget session.

The key initiatives are the revamped health insurance scheme and the proposal to convert the new Secretariat complex into a multi-specialty hospital and medical college.

The insurance scheme, for which Rs 150 crore has been allotted, extends medical cover up to Rs 4 lakh (for four years) from Rs 1 lakh before. It covers 950 types of medical treatment.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/article2453522.ece

TShyam

September 18th, 2011, 07:01 AM

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00784/TH17_AWARD_GANGA_784632f.jpg
Chairman of Royal College of Surgeons of England John Getty (right) presents the Hunterian Oration Medal to S. Rajasekaran, Chairman of Orthopaedics and Spine Surgery of Ganga Hospital in Coimbatore, in Dublin, Ireland, on Thursday. Photo:Special Arrangement

The president of the Association of Spine Surgeons of India and chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics and Spine Surgery at Ganga Hospital in Coimbatore, S. Rajasekaran, was chosen by the Royal College of Surgeons of England to deliver the Hunterian Oration for 2011.

Dr. Rajasekaran delivered the oration on Friday at Dublin in Ireland during the combined congress of the British and Irish Orthopaedic associations. John Getty, chairman of the Royal College, conducted the proceedings and awarded a medal to Dr. Rajasekaran.

The spine surgeon said that the Hunterian Committee of the Royal College elects one person every year from around the world, among all surgical specialties, as the Hunterian Professor. The chosen person is invited to present his or her work as an oration.

The Hunterian Professorship is considered one of the proudest traditional honours of the college bestowed on surgeons of eminence who had richly contributed to the field of surgery by original research or innovations.

The award was named after Sir John Hunter, the founder of scientific surgery. His approach (‘True learning is only possible against the background of research') to the study of physiology and surgery resulted in a new scientific attitude towards surgery.

Sir John Hunter died in 1793 and, in his honour, the Royal College of Surgeons of England instituted the Hunterian Professorship. A surgeon was selected for the professorship and the oration every year since 1810.

Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin, delivered the Hunterian Oration in 1919. He was later awarded the Nobel Prize.

Dr. Rajasekaran is the second orthopaedic surgeon in India chosen for the professorship and oration after 55 years. B. Mukhopadhyay delivered the oration in orthopaedics in 1956.

The work that fetched Dr. Rajasekaran the honour was “Growth modulation and buckling collapse of pediatric spine and its clinical implications.”

In a press release, he said this work had been done over a period of 15 years and was a classic example of successful “bench to bed-side research”. The research involved identifying the clinical sequence of events of massive spinal deformities.

More than two million children around the world suffered from this problem annually and this could lead to the onset of paralysis of limbs and early death due to cardio-respiratory failure, he said.

Dr. Rajasekaran's research involved methods of early identification of children who were at risk of such problems. The second stage of research involved studying the biomechanical forces across the growth plate of vertebra by the creation of a finite element model of a paediatric spine. The findings opened up the possibility of new methods of treatment of spinal deformities based on the principles of growth modulation. This research won the Tamil Nadu Government Scientist Award in 2000, the Silver Jubilee Award of the Medical Council of India in 2002, the Sofamer Danek Award of International Society for Study of Lumbar Spine, Canada, in 2002 and the Macnab LaRocca Award of the society in 2005.
http://www.thehindu.com/health/article2462602.ece

doccbe

September 18th, 2011, 08:09 AM

^^

Ganga and GEM do really bring laurels to CBE. Good...

TShyam

September 18th, 2011, 08:32 AM

And we have here some people complaining that Cbe's healthcare is substandard and doctors don't speak English. Duh!!

doccbe

September 18th, 2011, 06:39 PM

^^

They would have known the truth by now. Medicine is not like computer science: In IT people have to speak with the computers but in medicine people have to speak with the local population. Though the course is learned through English, the command over the skills is far more important than the command over the language. Subject can be learned with basic English itself. I hope you agree with this point. :)

Leo_r

September 18th, 2011, 08:21 PM

^^
A certain section of population associate good language skill in English with intelligence. A basic flaw in their perception.

ganie006

September 30th, 2011, 01:58 AM

TN govt has no immediate plan to launch DoP scheme, Jan Aushadhi

Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
Thursday, September 29, 2011, 08:00 Hrs [IST]
The Tamil Nadu government has no immediate plan to launch the Jan Aushadhi scheme launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) in 2008, as the state has its own medical shops operating under its cooperative department, said a senior health official.

He further added that the Cooperative Medical Shop (CMC) wing operating under the state cooperative department will have more outlets spreading all parts of the state soon, including those district headquarters which have so far no cooperative super markets. The government is interested to start more CMC outlets rather than launching Jan Aushadhi scheme, he said.

He claimed that Tamil Nadu was the only state where medicines, including all essential drugs, are being supplied to the patients free of cost through government hospitals. “This is the state where the perfect condition of drug distribution system is prevailing. When we have our own well established medicine distribution system, why should we bother about launching a different scheme,” he said.

The government received a letter from the union government one year before asking to take steps to start the Jan Aushadhi scheme. But so far no development has taken place in the matter, said M Rajendran, the drugs control director, when contacted.

He has confirmed the information that the government has decided to increase the number of cooperative medical shop outlets in all parts of the state with three more units in Chennai alone. Super markets under the cooperative sector are operating the medical shops and where ever the super markets function, there will emerge the CMC outlet. The stores are functioning very well and their services are also good, he said.

Referring to the obliging function of the stores, the drug control director said the Tamil Nadu government started the co-op medical stores 40 years ago. In Chennai, the CMC outlet is operating at Chintamony super market and in Madurai it is in the Pandian Stores. There is Karpagam store in Vellore, Chintamany in Trichy and Kaveri in Tanjore. The Tamil Nadu cooperative medical shops would stock all kinds of drugs and would dispense the medicines at concessional prices. The medicine sold through this shop would not suffer any sales tax and most of these shops are functioning round the clock throughout the year, he added.

For all kinds of medicines of the Indian System, Tamil Nadu has the multi-state cooperative society, IMPCOPS, which distributes medicines in the entire area of south India.

Jan Aushadhi scheme was started by the department of pharmaceuticals under the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers in 2008 in order to sell generic drugs to the common man on concessional rates.

arun82

October 1st, 2011, 09:55 AM

TNHDA urges CM to take measures to step up public health, sanitation services

Envisaging a complete health revolution in the state, the Tamil Nadu Health Development Association (TNHDA) has in a memorandum to the Chief Minister urged that measures should be taken to avoid the maladies affecting the public health and sanitation services must be stepped up in government hospitals, especially in the Medical Colleges and district HQ hospitals.

The Association has welcomed the decision of the state government to house a multi-super speciality hospital-cum-medical college in the new secretariat complex on the Omandurar Government Estate. The secretariat complex was constructed by the previous government spending Rs.1092 crore. But the present government has dropped the plan of establishing offices in the new building raising alleged irregularities in the construction.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa told the assembly that facilities in the proposed hospital would be similar to those at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. Giving support to the government decision, Dr Rex Sargunam, president of TNHDA, said the initiative of the government has to be hailed as it has adequate facilities for a medical college. He said since the complex is located near to the railway station, it will benefit the public in a large scale.

In the memorandum, the association said instead of outsourcing health workers from other agencies, the employees in the public health and Social Preventive Medicine (SPM) departments should be involved for the new facility through which the total public health system in the state could be revamped. There should be a separate department to control and monitor the health and sanitation work of the hospital and such agencies should be appointed in the MCs and GHs in other parts of the state to look after sanitation work.

Referring to the association’s decisions, Dr Rex said controlling measures are needed in every hospital with regard to viral diseases like dengue, chikungunya, swine flu etc. The health insurance scheme should be introduced through government hospitals by upgrading their situations and private hospitals be kept apart from its purview.

He said the Association has passed a resolution that government should take steps to increase awareness among common people in the rural areas and those in the cities not to resort to unsanitary form of open defecation. He said for creating a hygiene environment and atmosphere, every house in the state should have a toilet. TNHDA is ready to submit the master plan to the government in this regard, Dr Rex told Pharmabiz.

The association has passed another resolution that the state government, under the initiative of the Chief Minister, should intervene into the cases of two public sector vaccine manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu since it is a case affecting the people of the state. Near about four years, the two units are not manufacturing any vaccine, whereas CRI in Kasauli has been producing vaccines from the day its suspension was revoked.

http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=65317&sid=1

TShyam

October 1st, 2011, 04:35 PM

doccbe

October 2nd, 2011, 01:13 PM

Oh.. No problem Shyam. Thanks for the reply :)

N.kumar

November 3rd, 2011, 11:45 PM

Chief minister J. Jaya-lalitha on Thursday urged the fresh medical graduates to serve the poor and rural population, pointing out that her ambitious plans to make Tamil Nadu the number one state in the provision of free, top class healthcare to all the people would not succeed without the support of trained doctors and nurses.

Highlighting the achievements of her government in the healthcare sector, the chief minister spoke of her plans to establish a multi super speciality hospital in the unutilized A block and a medical college in the B block of the massive construction in the Oman-durar Government estate.

“My government will also shortly launch ‘Chief Minister’s Insurance Scheme’ and the ‘hospital on wheels facility’, which will have 385 mobile medical vans, with adequate manpower equipment and lab facilities, travelling to treat patients in remote villages,” said Jayalalitha, while delivering the add-ress at the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical university’s 22nd annual convocation.

“Healthcare in small urban towns needs urgent attention. As a result, the government will be opening 75 urban primary heal-th centres, mainly to benefit slum-dwellers and the downtrodden,” she added. The other districts will soon have state-of-the-art computer aided laboratory facilities under the public-private partnership mode

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/hospital-wheels-facility-state-soon-says-jaya-629

kannan infratech

November 4th, 2011, 11:00 AM

doccbe,

A clarification needed from you - a doctor.

Union Health ministry is proposing to offer a Medical degree course with shortened time - I think 2 to 3 years.

Is it possible to finish a medical course within that period ? Para Medical may be ok, but not MBBS, in my opinion.

doccbe

November 4th, 2011, 11:47 AM

Hi Kannan,

The standard MBBS curriculum includes

1. I term - 1 year - Anatomy (includes Embryology, Histology, Osteology), Physiology and Biochemistry

2. II term - 1 and 1/2 year - Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology (includes immunology) and Forensic Medicine. Introduction to examine patients

3. III term - 1 year - Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Epidemiology and training with the patients

4. IV term - 1 year - Internal Medicine (includes Psychiatry), General Surgery, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology. Training with the patients

5. V term - 1 year - Internship at the medical college hospital (rotatory duties in all the departments of the hospital)

Still a doctor is never considered complete unless he finishes his post graduation even in tier 3 cities. (Post graduation MD - 3 years, DM - 3 years)

It is a hectic job to finish this course within 5 and 1/2 years itself. It is the training with the patients which is more important than reading the subjects. So reducing the duration of the course will increase the pressure on reading and will decrease the time spent with the patients.

So 3 years is little to complete the course (In US it is around 10 years (medical school with residency) to get the license to practice itself). In 3 years they can be trained properly to treat basic ailments, to provide basic life support during emergencies and direct the patient to a proper referral sophisticated center. They can be given license to do a restricted practice and should not be given a complete freedom an MBBS enjoys. But it is definitely difficult to complete the course in 3 years

kannan infratech

November 4th, 2011, 07:28 PM

Thanks Doc

I hope that Indian Medical Association / Council will not allow this to be implemented.

doccbe

November 4th, 2011, 09:46 PM

^^

You are welcome

Even I also think that it should not be implemented.

arun82

November 5th, 2011, 01:07 PM

Sexually transmitted infections drop in Tamil Nadu: Survey

New Delhi : The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has observed a sharp decline from 25 percent to 6 percent over a period of 8 years in Tamil Nadu among male and female sex workers, a survey said here Friday.

"In five high-HIV prevalent districts of Tamil Nadu, the prevalence of syphilis (one of the most common STIs) has come down from 16.6 percent in 2005 to 4.2 percent in 2008," Lakshmibai Ratna, project director with the Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative (TAI) said at the 12th World Congress on STIs and AIDS in the capital. Chennai, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Madurai, and Salem are some of the high prevalence district of the region considering the population of sex workers.

The survey was on the basis of Integrated Behavioral and Biological Assessment (IBBA) among the sex workers.

Interestingly, National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has observed that the total number of syphilis cases have come down to 0.8 percent. The AIDS control body says it is close to eliminating the disease.

"The programme was a great success because of the huge involvement of the local communities like Aravanis. But the main innovative work that saw the community interest was branding the clinics as TAI for females and SESA for transgender and kothi communities," Ratna added.

At present there are 22 programme clinics, apart from 39 private points and 38 health hubs in government settings in Tamil Nadu. The project has started handing over the interventions to the government in a phased manner from 2009.

STIs are infections that spread primarily through person-to-person sexual contact. With more than 30 different sexually transmissible microorganisms, some of the common STIs include gonorrhoea, chlamydial infection, syphilis, chancroid, genital herpes, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

http://twocircles.net/2011nov04/sexually_transmitted_infections_drop_tamil_nadu_survey.html

Mukkesh

November 5th, 2011, 05:19 PM

doccbe

November 5th, 2011, 07:09 PM

[QUOTE=doccbe;85379451]^^

But the condensed course is for people to work in rural areas where our doctors don t go. Problem is worse in North compared to our state.

Engineering courses have a diploma -DME,DCE etc and these people do BE later.

Why not consider this as a diploma course in Medicine only for rural clinics run by government.

Doc ur take on this.

Hi,

I think we cannot compare Medicine and Engineering as it is something being done on a living human. We cannot take chances on this. The course is already condensed and it cannot be condensed more. The condensed form is only taught in courses like Nursing, etc.,. That is the reason they are always allowed to work under MBBS and not separately. So, I always discourage the condensed course.

kannan infratech

November 5th, 2011, 09:12 PM

[QUOTE=doccbe;85379451]^^

But the condensed course is for people to work in rural areas where our doctors don t go. Problem is worse in North compared to our state.

Engineering courses have a diploma -DME,DCE etc and these people do BE later.

Why not consider this as a diploma course in Medicine only for rural clinics run by government.

Doc ur take on this.

Sorry to intervene.

What is the assurance that 2-3 year grads will work in rural areas. ?

Going by the statistics of TN Medical seats, it is mainly rural students who get MBBS seats in Govt colleges. hen why they do not serve their native rural areas ?

I smell a scam here- Allow more medical colleges to open and make more money.

kongutamizhan

November 5th, 2011, 09:29 PM

In US there is a concept of Nurse Practitioners who is an advanced practice registered nurse.

Their role is more than a nurse but they are not doctors. In other words they can perform specific duties of a doctor as defined by law. The duties that they can perform varies from state to state. At a high level they can diagnose, treat or manage acute chronic disease. And they could prescribe too for them too

May be won't that make it as condensed version of the course? Check this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurse_practitioner) for more info.

Mukkesh

November 6th, 2011, 05:25 AM

[QUOTE=kannan infratech;85407467][QUOTE=Mukkesh;85401113]

Sorry to intervene.

What is the assurance that 2-3 year grads will work in rural areas. ?

Going by the statistics of TN Medical seats, it is mainly rural students who get MBBS seats in Govt colleges. hen why they do not serve their native rural areas ?

True once any graduate comes to a city ,will settle in a city. But this condensed course is planned only in dist HQ hospitals.Don t we need medical practitioners to treat simple ailments like Fever,Diarrhoea conduct uncomplicated deliveries,hold proper immunisation clinics in rural areas where there is absolute lack of doctors.The complicated cases can be refered to Tertiary referal centers in cities .

If required Govt can pay double the pay and provide more allowances .If a guy puts in five years in a rural area he can be allowed to take up a proper M B B S course.

Or else the Govt will end up opening more Private colleges and five years from now we ll have duty doctors working for a pittance in the cities. Instead of opposing doctors community should do a proper analysis and provide valuable solutions for improving rural health care

Arul Murugan

November 7th, 2011, 07:09 AM

Chamber presses for Coimbatore healthcare city

Coimbatore, Nov. 6:

A suggestion to form Coimbatore Health Care city, on the lines of Dubai Health Care city, to promote medical tourism has been made to the Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, by the President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Coimbatore, Mr M. Krishnan.

He has also pitched in with a demand for pushing the case of Coimbatore as one of the National Manufacturing and Investment Zones (NMIZs) in the country in view of the strong presence of the manufacturing industries in the region.

In a memorandum to the Chief Minister, the details of which he shared with Business Line, the ICCI President drew attention to the presence of several super speciality hospitals in the city in the private sector that has made Coimbatore a major healthcare destination in the region. He suggested that the State Government may allocate about 500 acres of land between Avinashi and Coimbatore for formation of a Healthcare city similar to Dubai healthcare city. The government may offer land at concessional rates and invite participation by the private sector to establish healthcare facilities in the new city.

He suggested that helipads may be built close to Salem-Coimbatore stretch of NH 47 (there are also airports at Salem and Coimbatore) for airlifting patients requiring emergency care and these could also be handy for operating air ambulance services. The Government might also start a training institute to train healthcare professionals like nurses, medical technicians, etc.

Mr Krishnan said the Government might also consider establishing a 1,000-bed super speciality hospital in the city for the benefit of patients from poorer sections who could be charged for the materials used alone. Establishment of high tech diagnostic centres on PPP model and opening a chain of pharmacy stores etc. were also worth considering.
MSME sector

Adverting to the plan of the Central Government to establish National Manufacturing and Investment Zones (NMIZs) in select centres across the country, which would be incentivised like SEZs and EoUs, he said since the policy was aimed at giving a boost particularly to the MSME sector, Coimbatore was qualified to host one of the NMIZs in view of its pre-eminent position in the MSME map in the country.

He said the city played a crucial role in the supply of components for textiles, motors and pumps and automobile industries and testing facilities have also been established. It has qualified manpower and was strategically located to make best use of the NMIZ formation for which an investment of about Rs 15,000 crore each was estimated. He felt that formation of a NMIZ in Coimbatore would help attract large industries that would provide lifeline to MSME sector in the region.
Industrial estates

Referring to the absence of any initiative in the last two decades to form industrial estates in Coimbatore, he suggested that a new industrial estate for MSME sector may be established as it has now become an urgent necessity in view of stepped up industrial activity in the region.

Mr Krishnan suggested formation of integrated townships on the outskirts of Coimbatore styled ‘workers' villages' to house blue collar employees as well as skilled and unskilled workers. These villages should be self-contained offering the entire gamut of services like catering, health care, laundry, shopping, etc to accommodate up to 30,000 employees.

Referring to the phenomenon of reverse migration of workers to the region with a large number of people from the North flocking to the city in search of jobs, he felt there was ‘something amiss' in the continuation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in a region where there was no shortage of jobs but paucity of workers existed!

The ICCI President suggested that this scheme may be suitably modified, as done reportedly in a few other States, so that while it retains the benefit the rural workers get now, it also ‘ensures no artificial labour shortage is created

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article2604092.ece

kannan infratech

November 7th, 2011, 01:33 PM

Coimbatore Health Care City is a very good suggestion.

Lots of patients from other states visit Coimbatore for treatment.

Mukkesh

November 7th, 2011, 06:16 PM

Coimbatore Health Care City is a very good suggestion.

Lots of patients from other states visit Coimbatore for treatment.
^^

True, Coimbatore definitely shows the way for the entire state. Good hospitals with good doctors are available here. Hope the Govt considers this and also start a biomedical engineering poonga in the same campus for manufacturing medical equipment and instruments . In fact Dr K M Cherian was trying a similar project near Chennai along with TIDCO. I don t know what stage it s now

R2IChennai

November 8th, 2011, 08:03 AM

Mukkesh

November 10th, 2011, 04:30 AM

^^

If you go to a rural area ,due to lack of adequate doctors,you see a large number of quacks practising medicine.

So a solution has to be worked out at rural level only by the doctor s community.

But today we see medicos in TN want to reduce their pass marks .Instead of supporting an university which wants to improve the education standards the future doctors are opposing it.

:ohno:

ganie006

November 12th, 2011, 06:06 PM

Hospitals to have equipment maintenance systems

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Healthcare is given priority with enhancement in budget allotment by 20 per cent this year, says minister

frame the moment: V.S.Vijay, second from left, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, and R.Vaithilingam, centre, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, releasing the souvenir for the golden jubilee year of Thanjavur Medical College Hospital on Friday. Collector K.Baskaran, second from right, is in the picture. Photo:B.Velankanni Raj
The State government is planning to introduce medical equipment maintenance systems and put them for continuous use in hospitals, said V. S. Vijay, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, here on Friday.

At the valediction of the golden jubilee celebration of Thanjavur Medical College Hospital, the minister said every district headquarters would be equipped with this system and defects in equipment would be set right immediately. Periodical check-up of equipment on weekly, fortnight and monthly basis would be ensured.

The minister said healthcare is given top priority for which budget allotment has been enhanced by 20 per cent this year.

The allocation was Rs. 811 crore more this year compared to last year's.

The government has initiated many administrative reforms.

A medical recruitment board has been announced by the government in Tamil Nadu, the first time in India. Constitution of this board and recruitment would solve the problem of staff shortage in primary health centres, taluk hospitals, government hospitals in district headquarters, and medical college hospitals in future.

The minister assured to fill up all the vacancies.

A separate building section of Public Works Department would be created for health department. Dr. Vijay released the souvenir and distributed gold medals to meritorious students.

R.Vaithilingam, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, said nearly 17 lakh patients come to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital every year from various central districts. He appealed to the health minister to take steps to upgrade the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital into a super speciality hospital.

He said it was during the previous AIADMK regime during 2001-06, Rs. 38 crore was sanctioned by the government and 300-bed hospital was constructed at the medical college.

T.B.Umadevi, Dean, Thanjavur Medical College, said the college intake was 100 MBBS students initially. Now, 150 students are taken for degree course.

There are post graduate and diploma courses also. Besides, there are super speciality courses in plastic surgery, neuro surgery and paediatric surgery.

C.Vamsadara, Director, Medical Education, K. Baskaran, Collector, MLAs M.Rangaswamy and M.Rathnaswamy, Savithiri Gopal, Chairperson of Thanjavur Municipality, and Amutha Ravichandran, Chaiperson, Thanjavur District Pachayat Council, spoke on the occasion.

Assures to fill up all the vacancies at valedictory function of golden jubilee celebration of Thanjavur Medical College Hospital

Arul Murugan

November 14th, 2011, 04:03 AM

Health indicators in Tamil Nadu set model for others: Ghulam Nabi Azad

‘Initiatives taken to tackle shortage of manpower at medical institutions'

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday said that the health indicators in Tamil Nadu and Kerala were comparable to those in developed countries.

Addressing a special convocation at SRM University in Kattankulathur, he said these two States in particular and south India in general had made rapid strides in the health sectors.

“This would not have been possible without the progressive outlook and leadership provided by successive governments, irrespective of party affiliations and the hard work by administrators, doctors, nurses, para-medics and the allied staff”, Mr. Azad said.

The Minister urged the rest of the States to emulate the best practices followed by the southern States. Pointing out that there was a huge shortage of human resources in India and that nearly 75 per cent of the medical institutions were located in south India, he said his Ministry had had taken some key initiatives to reduce the shortages.

Bringing amendments to regulations and relaxation of norms in Medical Council of India were some of the initiatives, he said, adding that the Centre had increased the teacher-student ratio from 1:1 to 1:2 to meet the shortage of specialists and faculty. Mr. Azad said a scheme sponsored by the Centre for strengthening and upgrading medical colleges built by State governments, with a total funding of Rs.1,350 crore, had been approved to upgrade the teaching facilities and to increase the teaching and non-teaching specialists.

A new scheme to train 22,000 nurses per year by opening nursing schools was launched with an outlay of Rs.2,030 crore and the Centre had approved an outlay of Rs.1,156 crore for establishing the National Institute of Paramedical Sciences at New Delhi and eight Regional institutes across the country, including one at Coimbatore, to tide over the shortage of paramedics in various disciplines.

Due to such path-breaking initiatives, in a short span of three years, 46 new medical colleges were established in the country and 8,167 MBBS seats and 8,089 PG seats had been added bringing the total number to 41,469 MBBS seats and 21,181 PG seats, the Minister said.

The Union Minister also called upon the new MBBS graduates to take the lead in bridging the gap in accessibility and affordability of health care services between the rural poor and the urban elite and urged them to take up rural assignments as the country was faced with the triple burden of persisting communicable diseases, new and re-emerging infection and the rapidly increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases.

Mr. Azad presented medals and certificates to some of the university rank holders.

SRM University Chancellor T.R. Pachamuthu, President P.R.Sathyanarayanan, and Chairman P.Ravi, participated. Mr. Azad dedicated Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory and a nephrology section with 40 dialysis units

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2625755.ece

Arul Murugan

November 14th, 2011, 04:11 AM

^^

Hope soon TN achieves the mission of medical college in every district and also hope the haunted multi specialty hospital at Salem is opened soon. If they move with vision of creating 16 such huge hospital in zone wise (4-west(Coimbatore, Salem, Hosur, Erode), 4 south (Madurai, Nellai/Tuticorin, Nagercoil, Ramnad), 4 central (Trichy, Nagai, Kumbakonam, Neyveli) and 4 north(Vellore, Thiruvanamalai, Chennai, Kanchipuram) very soon the health care facility will reach higher levels.

Already Chennai, Salem, Trichy, Madurai got/going to get. There should be road plan for rest 12.

Leo_r

November 14th, 2011, 08:00 AM

kannan infratech

November 14th, 2011, 10:56 AM

doccbe

November 14th, 2011, 02:51 PM

^^

Hi Kannan,

Though I am not much aware of the primary health care setup in India, I can provide some information. The setup is same throughout India but it is implemented efficiently in TN. The type of health system which you have mentioned already exists in the present situation. The sub-center is at the base of the pyramid which houses a trained midwife (capable of conducting a clean delivery - delivery is not a disease, it is a normal process and it has to be guided in a cleaner way - So non professionals can be easily trained; counsel for immunization), health nurse who administers vaccines and vitamins, laboratory technicians and others (it is not equipped with a doctor). A cluster of these centers come under a primary health center (PHC) which is headed by a doctor. As you said the role of midwives in sub-centers are more important to bring down infant and maternal mortality by training them to practice clean hands, clean cut (scissors or blade or whatever used) and clean cord (umbilical cord of baby). TN has efficiently trained (relative terms and not in absolute terms) them well when compared to the states mentioned by you. So that is why TN fares better in these indices when compared to the other states. In TN, PHCs are relatively well equipped when compared to the other states and the upgraded PHCs do have an operation theater too. One of the big problems in TN is that PHC doctors are paid very less. They are paid less than school teachers (I am not degrading any job. I just wanted to mention that an MBBS in a small town can easily earn 50 - 60 K month with an evening OPD). So they move towards the lucrative private practice. There is a big disparity within the country itself. The state of Himachal which also leads in health care pays 2 or 3 times more to the doctors than in TN. So, if this problem is addressed TN can still improve in healthcare.

Mukkesh

November 14th, 2011, 05:00 PM

[QUOTE=doccbe;85673859]^^

1) Pay is definitely an issue in PHC.Pay in PHC s should be start at Rs.50000. In addition to that the government should provide them with more allowances like armed forces

2) Working hours should be increased to at least 8 hours every day. You know doctors in TN govt service work for only four to five hours per day .I m talking about places like GH or Stanley.Reason -poor pay

3) So the government decided to go for condensed MBBS courses so that rural health care is improved and also get cheap labour.

4) Bottom line is

Improve the pay for doctors , make them work 8 hours everyday in any hospital and improve their accountability.

5) But what the government is trying to do is to just increase the number of medical graduates so much that market forces will take care of the present shortages.

satishanu

November 14th, 2011, 05:09 PM

http://nihfw.org/pdf/Nsg%20Study-Web/Tamil%20Nadu%20Report.pdf

Research paper from IIM A

Excerpts:

Establishment of 24x7 PHCs with good facilities and good infrastructure has been a very successful initiative of Tamil Nadu. 1421 PHCs have been upgraded into 24 hours functioning PHCs. In each of these PHCs 3 staff nurses are appointed who work on 8 hours of shift duty. From 15-09-2008 all 1421 PHCs (100%) functioning as 24 hours PHCs.

These upgraded PH's have ensured round the clock availability of staff nurse trained in obstetric and newborn care, the staff nurses conduct deliveries, do early identification of maternal complications and referral, provide minor ailments treatment and obstetric first aid, assists the doctor in the PHC OT for performing tubectomy operations:
As per the data of PHC deliveries performed during 2006-07 and 2007-08 given below there is a marked improvement in institutional deliveries and as reported with great pride by senior policy makers of the state, institutional deliveries are more than 99 percent in Tamil Nadu.
Deliveries for the year 2006-07 (November 06 to October 07) : 98,883
Deliveries for the year 2007-08 (November 07 to October 08) : 2,28,085

No. of Deliveries increased for current year : 1,29,202
No. of deliveries increased during this year : 130.66%

satishanu

November 14th, 2011, 05:45 PM

http://i.imgur.com/BCG9h.png

source: http://www.cmch-vellore.edu/pdf/CMCYear2011.pdf

^Quite a lot of inpatients from WB,AP,Jharkhand.

Mukkesh

November 15th, 2011, 03:41 PM

^^

True CMC has a lot of patients from these states who stay in and around CMC for months together

geico2000

November 15th, 2011, 04:26 PM

^^

True CMC has a lot of patients from these states who stay in and around CMC for months together

True, its very cheaper compared to other hospitals in other cities. People usually rent a house and a cook and stay for months. Now this has become a business where agencies take care of the hassle of renting the home/cook/transportation.

TShyam

November 16th, 2011, 08:12 AM

Doccbe / Shyam,

Another query.

From our observations in backward districts of Orissa, Chattisgarh & Jharkand etc, we understand that the Deliveries at unhygienic atmosphere is the major reason for infant deaths & mothers deaths.

Considering a vast majority of village births are natural (not by Cesarean), midwifery seems like a major need than a full fledged hospitals with MBBS / MD qualifications.

If more trained & registered midwives are available in rural areas, even less no of qualified doctors can be managed to some extent. Isn't it ?

The Primary Health Centres can house these Midwives and the PHCs can be made more hygienic and Delivery Ready in case of lack of funds for a full fledged hospital every where.

Your take please ?

I kind of agree with what doccbe and Mukkesh has to say. The data given by Satishanu also shows that trained nurses at PHC's and midwives at sub centres are much more important than full time doctors for improving MCH. More than 80% of deliveries are low risk and can be handled without any doctors (obstetricians, pediatricians or surgeons). Therefore, training nurses and midwives on conducting safe deliveries and identifying high risk cases for referral is much more efficient and cheap way of improving MCH than appointing more doctors.

Arul Murugan

November 17th, 2011, 03:33 AM

crossposting

சேலம்: சேலம் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனையை, ஜனவரி 1ம் தேதி முதல், முழு அளவில் செயல்பாட்டுக்குக் கொண்டு வர, தமிழக அரசு முடிவு செய்துள்ளது. தற்போது அதற்கான பணிகள் விறுவிறுப்பாக நடந்து வருகின்றன.

http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?id=350361&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dinamalar%2FLatest_News+%28Dinamalar.com+|+%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF+%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%AF%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Salem super specialty hospital will start functioning from Jan 1 2012. Efforts have been taken by the government regarding this.

Full news here

* The them CM Karuna opened the hospital in hasty manner on Aug 20th 2010

* Even after one year of inauguration, hospital is not opened for public.

* Operational expense of hospital for one month is one crore and central gvt refused to allot this expenditure for every month

* 102 doctors from various parts of the state got transferred to this gvt specialty hospital considering 3 doctors for 32 different departments. 80 nurses also got transffered to this hospital.

* 35 operations were done on trial basis with the existing hospital infra. :nuts:

* Now the state gvt wants to bring this hospital in operation for public from Jan 1st 2012.

சேலம் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனைமுழு செயல்பாட்டுக்கு கொண்டு வர அரசு முடிவு

சேலம்: சேலம் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனையை, ஜனவரி,1ம் தேதி முதல் முழு அளவில் செயல்பாட்டுக்கு கொண்டு தமிழக அரசு முடிவு செய்துள்ளது. தற்போது அதற்கான பணிகள் விறுவிறுப்பாக நடந்து வருகிறது.தமிழக முதல்வராக இருந்த கருணாநிதியால், 2010 ஆகஸ்ட், 20ல் சேலத்தில் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனை அவசர கதியில் திறக்கப்பட்டது. திறப்பு விழா நடந்து ஓர் ஆண்டுக்கு மேல் ஆகி விட்ட விட்ட நிலையில், மருத்துவமனை இன்னும் முழுமையாக தன் செயல்பட்டை துவங்க வில்லை.மத்திய, மாநில அரசுகளின் சார்பில், 149 கோடி ரூபாயில் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனை கட்டப்பட்டது. கட்டுமான பணிகள் முடிவடைந்து உபகரணங்கள் பொறுத்தும் பணியும் நிறைவடைந்து விட்டது.

ஆனால், மின்சார செலவு, ஜெனரேட்டருக்கான டீஸல் செலவு மட்டும் மாதம், 80 லட்சத்தில் இருந்து, ஒரு கோடி ரூபாய் வரை தேவைப்படுகிறது. இந்த நிதியை மத்திய அரசு வழங்க மறுத்து விட்டது. இந்நிலையில் மாநில அரசு மருத்துவமனையை செயல்படுத்த சுகாதாரத்துறை அமைச்சர் டாக்டம் விஜய், அதிகாரிகள் மூலம் ஆய்வு நடத்தி முடித்து தேவையான நிதியை மாநில அரசு மூலம் வழங்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்டது.
தமிழகத்தின் பல்வேறு மருத்துவமனைகளில் இருந்து, இருதய சிகிச்சை பிரிவு உட்பட, 32 முக்கிய பிரிவுகளுக்கு, தலா மூன்று சிறப்பு டாக்டர்கள் உட்பட மொத்தம், 102 டாக்டர்கள், 80 நர்ஸ்கள், சேலம் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனைக்கு பணி மாற்றம் செய்யப்பட்டு விட்டனர். தற்போது விபத்து மற்றும் அவசர சிகிச்சை பிரிவில் மட்டும், 35 ஆப்ரேஷன்கள் சோதனை முறையில் வெற்றி கரமாக செய்து முடிக்கப்பட்டு விட்டது.இந்நிலையில் மருத்துவமனை முழுமையாக எப்போது செயல்படும் என்ற கேள்வி எழுந்தது. இந்நிலையில், வரும் ஜனவரி,1ம் தேதி, சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனையின் முழுமையாக செயல்படுத்த மாநில அரசு முடிவு செய்துள்ளது.இதற்காக தமிழக சுகாதாரம் மற்றும் மக்கள் நல்வாழ்வுத்துறை இணை செயலாளர் சத்ய பிரசாத் சாகு, நேற்று ஆய்வு மேற்கொண்டு, டாக்டர்களுடன் ஆலோசனை நடத்தினார். அதை தொடர்ந்து இன்று தமிழக சுகாதாரம் மற்றும் மக்கள் நல்வாழ்வுத்துறை கூடுதல் செயலாளர் பங்கஜ்குமார் பன்சால் ஆய்வு நடத்துகிறார்.

நேற்று நடத்தப்பட்ட ஆய்வுகள் திருப்தி அளிப்பதாக தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது. இன்று நடத்தப்படும் ஆய்வை அடுத்து தேவையான கூடுதல் பணியாளர்கள், உபகரணங்கள் அனைத்தும் வரவழைக்கப்படும் என கூறப்படுகிறது. ஜனவரி 1ல், சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனை செயல்பாட்டை துவக்கும் என அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது, ஊழியர்கள், டாக்டர்கள், நோயாளிகள் மத்தியில் மகிழ்ச்சியை ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது.இது குறித்து கண்காணிப்பாளர் டாக்டர் மோகன் கூறியதாவது:சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனையை, ஜனவரி 1 முதல் முழு அளவில் செயல்படுத்துவதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகள் தீவிரமாக மேற் கொள்ளப்பட்டு வருகிறது. தற்போது சுகாதாரம் மற்றும் மக்கள் நல்வாழ்வுத்துறை இணை செயலாளர்கள், கூடுதல் செயலாளர்கள் ஆய்வு நடத்தி தேவைகள் குறித்து கேட்டறிந்துள்ளனர்.தேவைகள் அனைத்தும் இந்த மாதத்திலேயே நிறைவடையும். தமிழக அரசும் ஜனவரி, 1ம் தேதி மருத்துவமனையை செயல்பாட்டுக்கு கொண்டு வர முடிவு செய்துள்ளது. எனவே விரைவில் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனை செயல்பாட்டுக்கு வந்து மக்களுக்கு பயன் கொடுக்கும் என்றார்

http://www.dinamalar.com/district_detail.asp?id=350655

Arul Murugan

November 17th, 2011, 03:34 AM

Why can't CMC go ahead with expanding their hospital network to West Bengal and other tier II cities in TN?

doccbe

November 17th, 2011, 04:12 AM

kannan infratech

November 17th, 2011, 02:41 PM

^^

CMC is not a business oriented hospital and is run by church. So they will not look for expansion. There is another CMC in Ludhiana, Punjab run by the same organization. But the Ludhiana ones is not famous. CMC, Vellore doctors are more dedicated.

One of my friends who finished PG in Chandigarh joined the Punjab CMC but left soon since it was not up to the level of CMC Vellore.

Actually I am pained by the poor support from the Govt or the Society to some of the best institutes like CMC Vellore, Aravind Eye Hospital and Adyar Cancer Institute.

They have proved their mettle all these years and the Govt can extend help without any conditions attached.

A set of bright, young, dedicated & experienced PG doctors had to leave Adyar Cancer Institute recently since the institute could not afford to buy modern equipments and improve the infra facilities.

They used to work up to 18 hrs a day and do several operations in a day. Their salary levels were pathetic even less than a rookie IT sector employee. They did not join Pvt sector corporate hospitals in spite of the fact that they were offered 20 to 30 times the salary.

As a society, we are dumb & insensitive.

doccbe

November 18th, 2011, 08:44 PM

^^

But Adyar Cancer Institute is not a government organization. I think it is also run by some organization.

But still there are many private players who play a fair game. Some geniune private players pay the doctors in the way they have to be paid and they take care of the patients well too.

Regarding the government support to organizations like CMC, Vellore, please forget it. CMC vellore is known for its quality education but very recently they have stopped recruiting the students for the DNB (equal to MD/MS) course. The reason (might be false also) was CMC was not ready to bribe the corrupt Medcal Council of India (MCI) and so they derecognized DNB at CMC (when smaller hospitals without proper facilities are given permission to run DNB course after taking the bribe). There is no value to the quality (recently Desai of MCI got arrested because of corruption). If the government is ready to ditch such a famous institute please forget about providing financial aids to such a quality institute by the government. Long live Indian Govt.!!!!!!!!!

kannan infratech

November 19th, 2011, 06:54 PM

Mukkesh

November 21st, 2011, 03:48 PM

[QUOTE=kannan infratech;85774290]

True Adyar Cancer Institute is run by a trust, that has lost its vision and lives on past glory .

Though they are a very old institute ,they re unable to retain their good doctors.

At one time they were on par with Tata Memorial cancer centre Mumbai, but now they re nowhere near them.

Unless the trust members wake up and see their status now,Adyar cancer institute will become history.

Mukkesh

November 21st, 2011, 03:58 PM

[QUOTE=doccbe;85819600]^^

MCI and National board are different entities. MCI does not permit medical colleges to run DNB courses as they already have a parallel MD /MS program.

Coming to CMC vellore ,it s controlled strongly by a religious group from one state . If you go there you ll understand. This lobby is so powerful ,here also lot of good doctors leave CMC .

Hope here also the management wakes up. Otherwise once medical conditions improves in W.Bengal ,Jharkhand and North East where CG is pumping a lot of money ,patients to CMC will dry up.

Sorry I ve to make real bad comments about two iconic institutes

geico2000

November 21st, 2011, 05:13 PM

@ doccbe

Why private hospitals run by NGOs or Missionaries (who proved their mettle and serve the poor) can not be allocated Govt funding without strings attached ?

They serve the public much better than the Govt hospitals.

Your news on CMC Vellore is really shocking. Who else will deserve than CMC ? :bash:

Nice question Kannan. CMC is basically a Christian Missionary's based hospital controlled by Kerlaites. They main ambition to server the poor is converting them. If you say that you cant pay the fees, you will be visited by a pastor who will help you to get converted with free service. I was born there and I have a lot of friends working there from Doctor to lab technician. Many of them left because if you not a Christian you promotion and other things will be affected. But the treatment there is really good and affordable. Seats in CMC Medical college are reserved for persons belonging to their faith. Only few seats are reserved Vellore common man.

ganie006

November 27th, 2011, 04:04 AM

கவர்னர் விருது வழங்கினார்
.

Saturday, 26 November, 2011 03:49 PM
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சென்னை, நவ.26: தஞ்சாவூர், கோயம்புத்தூர் ஆகிய இடங்களில் பி.பார்ம் (மருந்தியல் பட்டப்படிப்பு) அறிமுகம் செய்யப்படும் என்று தமிழக சுகாதார அமைச்சர் டாக்டர் வி.எஸ்.விஜய் கூறினார். சென்னை கிண்டியில் உள்ள தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டர் எம்.ஜி.ஆர். மருத்துவப் பல்கலைக்கழக வளாகத்தில் தேசிய மருந்தியல் தின விழா வெள்ளிக்கிழமை கொண்டாடப்பட்டது.
.
இந்த நிகழ்ச்சியில் மருத்துவம் மருந்தியல் துறையைச் சேர்ந்த 41 நிபுணர்களுக்கு வாழ்நாள் சாத னையாளர் விருது, 21 மருத்துவ நிபுணர்களுக்கு “சிறந்த டாக்டர் விருது, 13 பேருக்கு சிறந்த ஆசிரியர் விருது, மருத்துவத் துறையில் சிறந்து விளங்குவதற்காக 3 பேருக்கு விருது ஆகியவற்றை ஆளுநர் கே.ரோசய்யா வழங்கினார்.

விழாவில் பங்கேற்று டாக்டர் வி.எஸ்.விஜய் பேசியது: தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டர் எம்.ஜி.ஆர். மருத்துவப் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் இணைப்புப் பெற்ற 43 மருந்தியல் கல்லூரிகள் உள்ளன. இவற்றில் 1,300 பட்ட மேற்படிப்பு மாணவர்களும், 2,000 பட்ட மாணவர்களும் பயில்கின்றனர். இதுதவிர 2,400 மாணவர்கள் மருந்தியல் பட்டயப் படிப்பும் படிக்கின்றனர். தமிழகத்தில் மருந்தியல் பட்டம், பட்டயப் படிப்பு முடித்தவர்கள் மொத்தம் 63 ஆயிரம் பேர் உள்ளனர்.

வழிகாட்டுதலின் படி மட்டுமே வழங்க வேண்டும்: மருத்துவர்களின் வழிகாட்டுதலின் படி மட்டுமே பொதுமக்களுக்கு மருந்துகளை வழங்க வேண்டும். அதேபோல், மருந்து கடைகளில் மருந்தியல் படித்தவர்கள் முழுநேரமும் பணியாற்றுவதை உறுதிசெய்ய வேண்டும். போலி மருந்துகள் முற்றிலும் ஒழிக்கப்படுவதை மருந்தாளுநர்கள் உறுதிப்படுத்த வேண்டும்.

கவர்னர் கே.ரோசய்யா பேசும்போது, பொது சுகா தாரத்தை மேம்படுத்துவதில் மருந்தாளுநர்களின் பங்கு முக்கியமானது.
மருந்துகள் உபயோகம், நோய்த் தடுப்பு, குடும்பக் கட்டுப்பாடு போன்றவற்றில் பொதுமக்களுக்கு அவர்கள் விழிப்புணர்வை ஏற்படுத்த வேண்டும் என்றார்.

சுகாதாரத் துறை முதன்மைச் செயலாளர் கிரிஜா வைத்தியநாதன், தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டர் எம்.ஜி.ஆர். மருத்துவப் பல்கலைக்கழக துணைவேந்தர் டாக்டர் மயில்வாகனன் நடராஜன், பதிவாளர் ஸ்ரீலட்சுமி, தமிழ்நாடு மாநில பார்மசி கவுன்சில் தலைவர் சின்னசாமி உள்ளிட்டோர் இந்த நிகழ்ச்சியில் பேசினர்.

karthikarthik

November 28th, 2011, 08:36 AM

Opening BPharm is a welcome measure but Govt should mandate and impose strict laws which ensure these are successful. Take the example of medical shops/Pharmacies which are run without a B-Pharm graduate(Govt mandates that at-least a DPharm should be employed). With the new drugs and vaccines hitting the market DPharm is not sufficient. Tamilnadu has very few Pharmaceutical companies to absorb these many BPharm graduates. For many of these graduates only hope is the job opportunities provided by Pharma companies as Medical Reps. Our Government should concentrate in Pharma and Biotech sector. Courses which died in many colleges include Microbiology, Biotechnology and Biochemistry. Govt should create institutes like IISc to promote quality education in basic science. This will bring Medical devices/Pharma and biotech companies and apart from that the R&D outsourcing and contract manufacturing in this sector growing and TN should lead in bringing a cohesive environment.

Mukkesh

November 29th, 2011, 05:37 PM

[QUOTE=karthikarthik;86109444]

^^ +1

We need more pharmacy graduates who are well trained.

The success of medical field depends on a bigger team

TShyam

November 30th, 2011, 09:11 PM

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00851/30THVIJAY_851296f.jpg
Health Minister V.S. Vijay (left) presenting an award to a blood donor at a programme organised by MMC in Chennai on Tuesday. Mayor Saidai S. Duraisamy is in the picture. Photo: V.Ganesan

Tamil Nadu figures prominently in the list of States where voluntary blood donation was high last year, Health Minister V.S. Vijay said here on Tuesday. Speaking at the national voluntary blood donation day celebration, organised by the Madras Medical College, he said: “In Tamil Nadu 94 per cent of the blood required is through voluntary blood donation. This should be increased to 100 per cent. .”

For this purpose, the medical colleges have been linked with the neighbouring colleges. “Presently around 25,000 students are registered in the e-registry. ,” he said.

The national voluntary blood donation day is celebrated to honour blood camp organisers who performed well and regular voluntary blood donors. MMC organised the programme in association with Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society, Tamil Nadu State Blood Transfusion Council, Chennai Corporation AIDS Prevention and Control Society.

Mayor Saidai S. Duraisamy said that often educated people hesitated to donate blood, fearing that their health will be affected. “It is important to target these people in awareness programmes and change their mindset,” he said. Blood is something that both the poor and rich can donate, said C. Vamsadhara, Director of Medical Education. Those desirous of donating blood could register on www.tngovbloodbank.in.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article2673749.ece

Please register yourself in the registry. It would be especially useful if you belong to Rh -ve (O-ve, B-ve, A-ve, AB-ve) blood groups. AB-ve is quite rare, and if your blood group is any of the above it would save precious minutes for the hospital staff and the patient's relatives.

Arul Murugan

December 1st, 2011, 04:05 AM

Salem Super Specialty hospital started to function.

சேலம் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனை செயல்படத் தொடங்கியது

சேலம், நவ. 29: சேலம் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனையின் சில பிரிவுகள் செயல்படத் தொடங்கியுள்ளது. மருத்துவமனை முழுவதும் விரைவில் செயல்படத் தொடங்கும் என்று அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

மத்திய-மாநில அரசுகளின் நிதியுதவியுடன் சேலம் அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனை வளாகத்தில் சுமார் ரூ.140 கோடியில் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனை கட்டப்பட்டது.

3.25 லட்சம் சதுர அடி பரப்பளவில் பிரமாண்ட கட்டடங்களுடன் காணப்படும் இம் மருத்துவமனை, சேலத்தைச் சுற்றியுள்ள 8 மாவட்ட மக்களின் நலனுக்காக அமைக்கப்படுவதாக அரசு அறிவித்திருந்தது.

2010 ஆகஸ்ட் 20-ல் அப்போதைய முதல்வர் கருணாநிதியால் தொடங்கி வைக்கப்பட்ட இம் மருத்துவமனையில் 14 அதி நவீன அறுவை சிகிச்சை அரங்குகள், 10 சிறப்புத் துறைகள், முழுக்க முழுக்க குளிர் சாதன வசதி, பல்வேறு நவீன சிகிச்சை கருவிகள் அமைக்கப்படும் என்று கூறப்பட்டது.

இருப்பினும், 2011-ன் தொடக்கம் வரை மருத்துவமனை செயல்படத் தொடங்கவில்லை. கட்டடப் பணிகள், கருவிகள் பொருத்தும் பணிகள் நிறைவடையாததால் மருத்துவமனை செயல்படத் தொடங்குவதில் தாமதம் ஏற்படுவதாக அப்போதைய அமைச்சர்கள், அரசுத் துறைச் செயலர்கள் அவ்வப்போது தெரிவித்து வந்தனர்.

இந்நிலையில், சட்டப்பேரவைத் தேர்தல் நெருங்கிய நிலையில் அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனையில் சிகிச்சை பெற்று வந்த சில நோயாளிகள் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டு, மருத்துவமனை செயல்படத் தொடங்கியதைப் போன்ற தோற்றம் ஏற்படுத்தப்பட்டது.:lol::lol: நாளடைவில் அங்கிருந்த நோயாளிகள் பழையபடி அரசு மருத்துவமனைக்கே மாற்றப்பட்டனர். இம் மருத்துவமனையைத் திறக்க வலியுறுத்தி ஜனநாயக வாலிபர் சங்கம், பாமக உள்ளிட்டவை போராட்டங்களில் ஈடுபட்டது.

இந்நிலையில், சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனையின் தீவிர விபத்து சிகிச்சை பிரிவு, பிளாஸ்டிக் சர்ஜரி, எலும்பு முறிவு, நரம்பியல் சிகிச்சை பிரிவுகளில் இப்போது திடீரென சுமார் 100 பேர் உள் நோயாளிகளாக அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர் (படம்).

இதுகுறித்து மருத்துவமனை கண்காணிப்பாளர் மோகன் கூறியது: விபத்து சிகிச்சைப் பிரிவு, எலும்பு முறிவு சிகிச்சைப் பிரிவுகளில் நோயாளிகள் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர். சி.டி. ஸ்கேன், எம்.ஆர்.ஐ. ஸ்கேன் பிரிவுகள் சோதனை அடிப்படையில் செயல்படத் தொடங்கியுள்ளன. அடுத்த ஓரிரு நாள்களில் மேலும் சில பிரிவுகளில் நோயாளிகள் அனுமதிக்கப்படுவார்கள் என்றார்

http://dinamani.com/edition/Story.aspx?SectionName=Edition-Dharmapuri&artid=514815&SectionID=225&MainSectionID=225&SEO=&Title=சேலம் சூப்பர் ஸ்பெஷாலிட்டி மருத்துவமனை செயல்படத் தொடங்கியது

so finally :cheers::cheers:

madurakarenda

December 1st, 2011, 06:27 AM

November 29, 2011 At an Aravind hospital in Madurai, a city on India's southern tip, the waiting room is packed. A clinical assistant calls out the names of patients, and they're escorted to examination rooms. This hospital alone screens around 2,000 patients a day — and tour guide Shawas Philip says this day is busier than usual.
"We might break that record today — of the number of patients that are seen on a particular day. That's exciting," he says.

Aravind is used to breaking records. But it began modestly in 1976 with an 11-bed hospital. Aravind Eye Care System (http://www.aravind.org/) now has 4,000 beds in seven hospitals, most in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was late founder Dr. G. Venkataswamy's goal to eliminate needless blindness.
About 45 million people in the world are blind. About 80 percent of them could be cured through surgery.
Dr. "V," as he is known, founded the organization on a deep belief in the spirituality of service. But Aravind embraces its mission by pursuing efficiency the way Goldman Sachs pursues profits. That's obvious in the operating theater.
Productive Surgeons
Dr. Hari Priya, scalpel in hand, looks through a surgical microscope into the eye of a cataract patient.
"This is called a phacoemulsification procedure," she says. "This is considered the gold standard in cataract surgery across the world."
Priya sits between two operating tables. When she finishes one patient, usually in less than 10 minutes, she turns to the next table, where the patient is draped and ready. This way, there is no time wasted between surgeries. Priya says she performs 30 to 40 surgeries a day.

Aravind Eye Care System conducts 300,000 sight-restoring eye surgeries a year — and about half of them are free.

R.D. Thulasiraj, a top Aravind official, says that early on the organization embraced the simple idea that if it wanted to have a real impact in reducing blindness, its surgeons needed to work as efficiently as possible.
"We want to make sure they're not idle because we didn't get our act together," he says. "They're not waiting for a patient, they're not waiting for a staff — they're not waiting for a lens."
That attention to process has made Aravind surgeons quite possibly the most productive in the world. In total, the number of sight-restoring eye surgeries that Aravind Eye Care System conducts each year is 300,000 — and about half, or nearly half, are free.
"Compared to India, we're probably four or five times as productive as an average surgeon," Thulasiraj says. "If you compare to the U.S. or many parts of Africa or Latin America, it could be a factor of 10 to 15 times more productive."
Aravind's surgeons average about 2,000 operations a year. The average for eye surgeons in the U.S. is 125.
Free Surgeries
The push for more efficiency forces down the average cost of a surgery for Aravind. But that doesn't mean quality is sacrificed. Aravind surgeons have just half the number of complications that the British health system has for the same procedure. That high quality allows Aravind to attract patients who are willing to pay market rates. Then it takes the large profit made on those surgeries to fund free and subsidized surgeries for poor people — like K. Karuthagangachi.
Karuthagangachi, 49, lives in the village of Alanganallur, about 15 miles from Madurai. One of Aravind's 36 small satellite eye care centers is located just a few steps off the village's bustling main street.

Karuthagangachi wears her salt-and-pepper hair pulled back and has an easy smile. She says when she developed cataracts, she lost sight and her job as a document writer filling out forms like birth certificates and license applications. She had no income, she's unmarried, and had to depend on friends to support her. The cataracts clouded her vision so much that she couldn't recognize people. She lost her confidence and mostly stayed at home.
After two years, her friends finally convinced her to visit this eye center, which confirmed she needed cataract surgery. She had no money to pay, so Aravind did surgery on both of her eyes for free. It was a total success. She says "it was like seeing a new world," and she was very happy. She also got back her job as a document writer.
Dr. Aravind Srinivasan, the director of projects at the organization, says it's only possible to provide free surgeries on the scale that Aravind does by running an operating surplus, like a profit-making company. That's what Aravind manages to do, even though it's legally a charitable trust.
"I think traditional charities start with a lot of goodness in their heart," he says. "They're emotionally connected. That connection we had. But it was always superimposed with business acumen."
Overcoming A Lens Shortage
Fifteen years after it was founded, Aravind's ability to provide free and subsidized surgeries was being limited by the high cost and availability of the intraocular lenses needed for cataract surgery. That's not a problem most charitable organizations could overcome, Srinivasan says.
"How do you expect a charitable organization, which is providing eyesight, to say, 'I'll go and manufacture lenses.' You don't think that way. You kind of look at it as a bottleneck or a wall, and keep complaining about it," he says.

But Aravind attacked the problem with the help of an American social entrepreneur named David Green. Green had been helping Aravind collect donated lenses to be implanted in their cataract patients. But donations were averaging only about 25,000 a year. That wasn't nearly enough to meet Aravind's needs, and the lenses cost several hundred dollars to buy. So Green helped Aravind set up its own lens manufacturer on-site, a subsidiary named Aurolab.
"Now today Aurolab sells, I think this year it will be 1.8 million lenses," he says. "So you can see that when you have a business model, an economic model, it enables something to scale because it's not dependent upon charity, which is fickle."
And even more remarkable: By squeezing out profits made by middlemen in the production and distribution chain, Aurolab is now providing some lenses at the astoundingly low price of just $2.
With cheap lenses available, the number of cataract surgeries at Aravind shot up dramatically.
Green says the main thing he has learned doing this work is that there's a middle way to capitalism.
"You can find a pathway, as Aravind has, to see how you can use your profit and production capacity to serve others," he says. "And I think that service to others is really the foundation of what Aravind does."
That's the culture that was started by Aravind's founder Dr. Venkataswamy — and it continues to pervade the organization today.

http://www.npr.org/2011/11/29/142526263/india-eye-care-center-finds-middle-way-to-capitalism

TShyam

December 1st, 2011, 06:02 PM

so finally :cheers::cheers:

appaada

ganie006

December 8th, 2011, 03:19 AM

Radiotherapy unit at Tiruchi GH

OLYMPIA SHILPA GERALD
SHARE · PRINT · T+
Rs.6 crore unit houses LINAC for external beam radiation treatment
Cancer patients in and around Tiruchi will soon have access to subsidised radiation treatment with a proposed radiotherapy unit to come up at the Annal Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital here.

A radiotherapy unit at the cost of Rs.6 crore housing a Linear Accelerator (LINAC) for external beam radiation treatment has been commissioned by the health department, A.Karthikeyan, Dean, K.A.P.Viswanathan Government Medical College, told The Hindu . The LINAC machine produces high energy X-rays that can be targeted at the region of tumour to destroy cancer cells while sparing or minimising damage to surrounding normal tissue.

The site for the unit has been identified near the erstwhile office of the District Medical Officer, M.A.Aleem, Vice-Principal, K.A.P.Viswanatham Medical College said. Construction would begin subsequent to inspection and issue of no-objection certificate by authorities from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, the regulatory agency for atomic energy in India. Two qualified radiation therapists are already available at the hospital and more would be posted if the need arises.

The radiotherapy unit would benefit poor patients as only medical therapy was administered at the medical college hospital. Hitherto, cancer patients requiring advanced treatment were referred to government medical college hospitals in Thanjavur, Kancheepuram and Madurai.

madurakarenda

December 8th, 2011, 12:40 PM

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/448/49230403.jpg

Mukkesh

December 8th, 2011, 06:01 PM

^^

Good to see more Radiotherapy and dialysis units in the govt sector.It helps a lot of patients.

TShyam

December 9th, 2011, 04:21 AM

The five-in-one pentavalent vaccine will be rolled out in Tamil Nadu from December 17, Health Department officials have said. Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been chosen by the Centre to introduce the vaccine in the national immunisation programme.

After the official inauguration by Health Minister V.S. Vijay at Vellore, it will be introduced into the regular Wednesday immunisation schedule on the field from December 17, the officials said. A total of 12 lakh doses of the vaccine ‘Pentavalent,' procured from Serum Institute, has already arrived in the State and have been disbursed to the various field centres. In December alone, about 90,000 children will be immunised with the pentavalent vaccine.

The vaccine provides protection against – Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections – in a single shot. The pentavalent vaccine will replace the current Hepatitis B and DPT vaccinations in the immunisation programme during the 6th, 10th and 14th week after birth, health experts said during a media interaction programme organised here by the UNICEF.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal Secretary, Health, Girija Vaidyanathan, said there was a definite case for a vaccine for Hib, a bacterium that causes severe infections that can be life threatening or lead to severe disability. Parents will welcome the pentavalent vaccine for the primary reason that it will bring down the number of pricks the child gets during vaccination, according to Director of Public Health R.T. Porkaipandian. It will be given only to children coming to the centres for the first dose of DPT, not those coming for booster doses, explained K. Vanaja, joint director, Immunisation. Satish Gupta, health officer, UNICEF Delhi, said Hib had an excellent safety record, and had been proven to be over 95 per cent efficacious against invasive diseases. Chandrakanth Lahariya, National AEFI Focal Person and New Vaccines Focal Person at World Health Organisation, traced the path the decision to introduce the pentavalent vaccine took.

Yuvaraj J, scientist, National Institute of Epidemiology, said two sites for bacterial meningitis surveillance were ongoing in Kerala, and five in Tamil Nadu. J. Kumutha, head of Neonatology, Institute of Child Health, Siva Prakasam, State president, Indian Academy of Paediatrics spoke

Experts agreed that safety and efficacy of the vaccine would continue to be of concern to the public health department and that close monitoring was essential.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2699126.ece

The same news has appeared in the TOIlet paper and they have written that Hib is a virus! Idiots!!

kannan infratech

December 9th, 2011, 10:14 AM

TShyam

December 9th, 2011, 10:43 AM

Docs Shyam & Doccbe,

Your opinions please.

We already have so many immunisation, Chottu Marundhu regimens going on for infants upto 3 -5 years including Boosters.

It looks to me as another marketing gimmick by the vaccine manufacturers.

The strategy looks like - Create a Panic, Supply a Vaccine.

Hib (Haemophilus influenzae) is absolutely essential and is incorporated into the immunization schedule in almost all the countries except India. Hib kills thousands every year and is the most common cause of meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the brain) - which is highly fatal in children less than 5. This vaccine was recommended by WHO in the 90's itself. Infact the medical fraternity was fighting for this for almost a decade now. Countless discussions, meetings, seminars etc etc and only now government is paying heed. The same goes for hepatitis B. This is a well known public enemy and probably you would have already heard about it.

Infact the next fight is to include pneumococcal vaccine in the schedule. That is another big thala vali causing respiratory infection in kids for which a vaccine is readily available but not implemented by India.

However I know what you mean. For example, the panic created for the swine flu 2 years back was totally unnecessary and is a classic case of panic marketing by big pharma.

In this case (Hib), the vaccine is manufactured by serum institute and not by a MNC. This is a perfectly legitimate exercise (although someone might be earning something somewhere - you cant stop it in a country like India). Hope they expand it all over India soon and roll out pneumococcal vaccine asap.

Arul Murugan

December 9th, 2011, 10:49 AM

^^

sir neenga doctora illai engineera illai mba va elathaliyum pinnuringa. thanks for valuable informations.

:applause:

TShyam

December 9th, 2011, 11:03 AM

Arul, from the statistical viewpoint, this is pivotal because TN's infant mortality rate (IMR) which is in the high twenties right now will fall significantly. Guess you (and Murlee) will be excited!

murlee

December 9th, 2011, 11:18 AM

:cheers: to that!!

Hope they introduce it quickly in the Hindi heartland.. It is a shame that innocent children lose their lives due to callousness of the the elders!

doccbe

December 9th, 2011, 11:30 AM

Hib (Haemophilus influenzae) is absolutely essential and is incorporated into the immunization schedule in almost all the countries except India. Hib kills thousands every year and is the most common cause of meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the brain) - which is highly fatal in children less than 5. This vaccine was recommended by WHO in the 90's itself. Infact the medical fraternity was fighting for this for almost a decade now. Countless discussions, meetings, seminars etc etc and only now government is paying heed. The same goes for hepatitis B. This is a well known public enemy and probably you would have already heard about it.

Infact the next fight is to include pneumococcal vaccine in the schedule. That is another big thala vali causing respiratory infection in kids for which a vaccine is readily available but not implemented by India.

However I know what you mean. For example, the panic created for the swine flu 2 years back was totally unnecessary and is a classic case of panic marketing by big pharma.

In this case (Hib), the vaccine is manufactured by serum institute and not by a MNC. This is a perfectly legitimate exercise (although someone might be earning something somewhere - you cant stop it in a country like India). Hope they expand it all over India soon and roll out pneumococcal vaccine asap.

Dear Kannan,

I completely agree with Shyam.

As Arul said Shyam rocks :)

kannan infratech

December 9th, 2011, 12:14 PM

N.kumar

December 9th, 2011, 12:22 PM

Aha shyam doctora?

Pinnararu. Excelent shyam. as arul said ur sakala kala vallavan. start meesic

TShyam

December 9th, 2011, 12:39 PM

Thanks Shyam & Doccbe.

Is the Serum institute geared up for the huge demand, considering the exploding population of our country ?

This thought crosses my mind - Ex union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss closed the Guindy Institute and his wife & friends started a vaccine factory manufacturing the same vaccines for supply to the Govt.

Thanks Doc and Kumar.

Kannan:
Serum Institute is a private company sir.. owned by a Parsi businessman. But they are endorsed by WHO. Parsis are generally intellectually honest businessmen and dont compromise the quality of their products. Tata is a glowing tribute to these group of people. Cyrus Mistry is a Parsi too. Infact Afcons which is constructing our Chennai Metro is owned by Cyrus' family. Their work will be top notch and a dummy politicos like Anbumani cant challenge the might of these businessmen easily.

kannan infratech

December 9th, 2011, 12:55 PM

Thanks Doc and Kumar.

Kannan:
Serum Institute is a private company sir.. owned by a Parsi businessman. But they are endorsed by WHO. Parsis are generally intellectually honest businessmen and dont compromise the quality of their products. Tata is a glowing tribute to these group of people. Cyrus Mistry is a Parsi too. Infact Afcons which is constructing our Chennai Metro is owned by Cyrus' family. Their work will be top notch and a dummy politicos like Anbumani cant challenge the might of these businessmen easily.

Thanks for the Booster Vaccine Injection. :)

Seyoan

December 9th, 2011, 03:37 PM

kannan infratech

December 9th, 2011, 04:21 PM

Please stop such rumors (with no proof) against anyone who is not a Amma vasi

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Vaccine Scam : Sabotaging the vaccine production in India's public sector by Health Ministry and WHO

The series of reports appreared in 'The Pioneer' daily on the Vaccine Scam, which collapsed the vaccine production in the public sector and hidden agenda behind it

Report - 1

May 10, 2008 – ‘The Pioneer’

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss linked vaccine scam

A Chennai-based private company, owned by a close associate of Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, was granted a Rs 14-crore bank loan for starting production of vaccines just two weeks before the Health Ministry banned vaccine production by three Central public sector undertakings (PSUs). Ramadoss ordered the closure of vaccine production by three PSUs citing a June 2007 WHO report, which claimed that these units were using redundant technology. BCG Vaccine Lab (Chennai), Pasteur Institute (Coonoor) and Central Research Institute of Kasauli were asked to close down production on January 22. Incidentally, the private company -- Green Signal Bio Pharma -- received Rs 14 crore as loan from Union Bank of India, Chennai, for starting production of vaccines on December 27, 2007. As bank guarantee, the private company hypothecated its vials and other products, for which it had entered into a supply contract with BCG Vaccine Lab, Chennai, a PSU under Health Ministry. This shows that the PSU facilitatedprocurementofthe loanforaprivatecompetitor. It is well known in Tamil Nadu's political circles that Ramadoss and the Green Signal Bio Pharma owners are close. The company's chairman and managing director, P Sundaraparipooranan, is a politician-turned-businessman. The company was registered in November 2005 but it decided to get into vaccine production only in December 2007, when Ramadoss banned the three Central PSUs. Before Sundaraparipoornan's meteoric rise, he was a small-time office bearer in the PMK. A couple of scandals earned him good moolah, some limelight and close ties with the PMK's powers-that-be. He had faced charges of irregularity in supplying equipment to the Madurai Meenakshi Medical College and getting no-objection certificate (NOC) for educational institutes in Tamil Nadu. Sundaraparipoornan is a close associate of Ramadoss and his brother-in-law MK Vishnuprasad, a Congress MLA. Dr N Elangeshwaran, the then director of two vaccine-making PSUs -- BCG Vaccine Laboratory, Chennai, and Pasteur Research Institute, Coonoor -- executed Ramadoss' wish to shut down vaccine production at these undertakings. His wife E Shanti is a major share holder in Vatsan Bio Pharma, which is also co-owned by Sundaraparipoornan and his wife. This company, formed in January 2006, is also a relatively new entrant invaccine-makingindustry.Elangeswaran, currently working as senior specialist (microbiology) in Central Government Health Services, Chennai, is also facing a CBI investigation into his alleged role in recruitment process. The Pioneer's investigation also establishes Elangeswaran's role in setting up the private vaccine factory of Green Signal Bio Pharma while serving as the head of the two vaccine-making PSUs. The Pioneer has copies of e-mails through which Green signal Bio Pharma consulted him about installing equipment and deciding the factory's layout. Trade unions leaders and several others who protested against Ramadoss' decision to ban vaccine production by the PSUs allege that the Health Minister deliberately ignored the WHO's offer for assistance to upgrade the technology at the PSUs. These three PSUs were producing 90% of the total vaccines in the country.

Wrong dose :

Union Health Ministry lets Green Signal Bio Pharma, a Chennai-based private firm, receive Rs 14 crore as loan from Union Bank of India, Chennai, for starting production of vaccines on December 27, 2007

Three PSUs -- BCG Vaccine Lab (Chennai), Pasteur Institute (Coonoor) and CRI (Kasauli) told to close down production on January 22

Cosy relations between Ramadoss and Green Signal Bio Pharma owners an open secret in TN political circles. The company was registered in November 2005, but decided to get into vaccine production only in December 2007

TU leaders, who opposed Ramadoss' decision to ban vaccine production, allege that the Health Minister purposefully ignored WHO offer for assistance to upgrade technology there. The PSUs were producing 90% of the nation's total vaccine output

kannan infratech

December 9th, 2011, 04:29 PM

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Vaccine Scam : Sabotaging the vaccine production in India's public sector by Health Ministry and WHO

The series of reports appreared in 'The Pioneer' daily on the Vaccine Scam, which collapsed the vaccine production in the public sector and hidden agenda behind it

Report - 1

May 10, 2008 – ‘The Pioneer’

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss linked vaccine scam
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TU leaders, who opposed Ramadoss' decision to ban vaccine production, allege that the Health Minister purposefully ignored WHO offer for assistance to upgrade technology there. The PSUs were producing 90% of the nation's total vaccine output

Contd......
Report - 2

May 21, 2008 – ‘The Pioneer’

Health Minister gifts Rs.3.25 cr to associate’s company for a simple seed

In yet another instance of the glaring nexus between the Union Health Ministry and private vaccine-producing companies, a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) paid an astronomical amount to a politically-connected private company for measles seeds, primary raw material for vaccines, and entered into a lopsided profit-sharing agreement which benefited the latter.

Interestingly, the Pasteur Institute of Coonoor -- which purchased measles seeds from Green Signal Bio Pharma for Rs 3.25 crore on November 27, 2006 -- has produced only rabies vaccine for over 100 years. The Health Ministry sanctioned it Rs 17.80 crore for branching out in measles vaccine production only after it entered into the deal with Green Signal Bio Pharma. The nexus became clear when the Health Ministry directed the PSU to stop producing the rabies vaccine and allowed it to carry on trial tests for the measles vaccine.

Several aspects of the deal are bizarre and clearly show that rules were thrown to the wind to help the private company. For example, the PSU paid Rs 3.25 crore to Green signal Bio Pharma for measles seeds, whereas the latter bought BCG seeds from BCG Vaccine Lab (Chennai), another Central PSU, for just Rs 1.05 lakh on September 26, 2006. This agreement was also signed by Dr Elangeshwaran, the man who was also director of the Pasteur Institute when it signed the controversial deal with Green Signal Bio Pharma.

It is obvious that the deals were heavily tilted in favour of the private company, owned by Sundaraparipoornan, known in the political circles of Tamil Nadu as a close associate of Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.At the time when Pasteur Institute bought the seeds from Green Signal Bio Pharma, Hyderabad-based Indian Immunological Limited, another PSU, was providing the same seeds for negligible cost to even private companies to boost up quality vaccine production. Also, Green Signal Bio Pharma is neither an accredited supplier not producer of measles seeds. And this is not all! There was more serious violation of rules, which was even discussed at the highest level in the Health Ministry and bypassed.

Documents available with The Pioneer show that Dr Elangeshwaran, the PSU director, had authority to sanction only up to Rs 50 lakh of purchases. Naturally, the finance division of the Health Ministry objected to his order for buying measles seeds from Green Signal Bio Pharma. But the objection was overruled at the highest level in the Ministry, sources said.In another piece of damning evidence which clearly shows that the entire deal was executed to help the private company, it was decided that the PSU would produce measles vaccines from the seed and give away 70 per cent of the profit to Green Signal Bio Pharma.

The agreement was signed on November 27, 2007, and soon after Sundaraparipoornan withdrew Rs 2.5 crore. Though the Health Ministry's finance division recommended that the amount be recovered from Green Signal Bio Pharma, no action was taken. "Who is Sundaraparipoornan to supply measles seed? He is not an accredited vendor or manufacturer. No proof of purchase or source of origin of measles seed was supplied by him.

Till date it is not confirmed that the supply was a genuine measles vaccine," said a scientist with the Pasteur Institute on phone from Coonoor. "His factory has not yet started producing any vaccine. So he must be asked to explain his source of supply. Also, no WHO directions were applied by the apostles of WHO in the Health Ministry," the scientist added.Some other scientists pointed out several instances of free supply of measles seed to several private manufactures by the PSUs producing the measles vaccine.

In a Press conference on May 13, Health Secretary Naresh Dayal also justified free supply of vaccine seeds by the PSUs to private manufactures.The million-dollar question is why did the PSU go for such costly purchase and a lopsided agreement when seeds were available virtually for free from another PSU.
......................
Report - 3

May 30, 2008 – “The Pioneer”

After Rs.3.25 cr for measles seeds, Health Minister’s associate to earn Rs.143 cr

Behind the Union Health Ministry's decision to close down vaccine production by three public sector undertakings (PSUs) and purchase of measles seeds by one of them from a private company at a highly inflated cost was a well-planned conspiracy to help a politically connected small-time entrepreneur.The Green Signal Bio Pharma (GSBP) Limited, a Chennai-based private company, is set to walk away with Rs 143 crore over the next three years in a "joint venture" with Pasteur Institute of India, Coonoor.

The PSU bought measles seeds from GSBP at a staggering Rs 3.25 crore and further agreed to give 70 per cent of the profit from vaccine manufacturing to the private company.Investigation by The Pioneer has shown that the "joint venture" was forged to squarely benefit the private company, which is owned by Sundaraparipoornan, a close associate of Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.

The measles seed, a raw material for vaccine production, was available free of cost at the Indian Immunologicals (Hyderabad), another PSU. "We could have easily provided the measles seed to Pasteur Institute at bare minimum cost as it is a fellow PSU," said an official working with Indian Immunologicals."The other option before the Government was to source the measles seed from Serum Institute, Pune, the existing private measles vaccine producer," he said. "

As the Serum Institute had received several seeds from PSUs free of cost with the concurrence of the Health Ministry, the Government could have negotiated for either free supply or persuaded them to charge nominal cost for the seed," the official said, adding, "We can't understand the role of Sundaraparipoornan. What is his credibility in supplying seeds, a critical part in vaccine production?"The GSBP had in September 2006 bought BCG seeds from BCG Vaccine Lab, a Chennai-based PSU, for just Rs 1.05 lakh. "It is baffling that a private company buys vaccine seeds for Rs 1.05 lakh and sells another vaccine seed for Rs 3.25 crore. Also, don't forget that both the PSUs were headed by Elangeshwaran," said the official.

Elangeshwaran had told The Pioneer that he was "arm-twisted" by senior officials in the Health Ministry to enter into the dubious deals.The official said that if the seeds were not available with any recognised Indian manufacturer, the Government should have consult WHO for a list of the accredited international suppliers. The source of measles seeds is Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Sources said that Sundaraparipoornan has not supplied any proof of supply or source of origin of the measles seed that he sold to Pasteur Institute.

Scientists are not ruling out theft from Government laboratories. The deal was signed on November 27, 2006, in utter violation of Government rules. The Pasteur Institute floated no tender and agreed to the one-sided terms as dictated by Sundaraparipoornan. The institute first proposed a 60:40 profit sharing formula, but revised it to 70:30 on GSBP's insistence.Later, in a proposal to the Health Ministry (No. A 50011/156/2007-PIIC) on December 27, 2007,

Elangeshwaran sought Rs 17.80 crore for starting measles vaccine production and projected Rs 205 crore in profit over the next three years. The breakup is as follows: For 2008-09 -- Rs 17.3 crore; 2009-10 -- Rs 62.40 crore; 2010-11 -- Rs 62.48 crore; and 2011-12 -- Rs 62.55 crore.Seventy per cent of Rs 205 crore is estimated at Rs 143 crore, the staggering amount Sundaraparipoornan is set to make for providing measles seeds to the PSU.

That the deal between GSBP and Pasteur institute was totally illegal became clear when the integrated finance division of the Health Ministry pointed out that any proposal for new activity or scheme can be taken up by an autonomous body (like Pasteur Institute) only after it was approved, in particular, by the Planning Commission and related allocation made in the Budget.

"As per rules, such projects/proposals are required to be approved by the competent authority - ie Secretary (Health and FW)/standing finance committee/ expenditure finance committee - depending upon the amount of expenditure invested for a planned period," said the note (F.No V.11012/7/2005-CC&V) of the integrated finance division.

"Under these circumstances, the decision taken at the level of Director, PII, Coonoor, to initiate action for production of measles and rubella vaccines and purchase of seeds for the purpose appears to be premature. He is not competent to take such action," the note added. It also pointed out that Elangeshwaran had the authority to sanction deals only up to Rs 50 lakh, and recommended recovery of the Rs 2.5 crore which Sundaraparipoornan had withdrawn just two days after the deal was signed.Interestingly, since its inception in 1907, PII Coonoor was engaged only in the production of rabies vaccines for which it had earned a global reputation.

But while the Ministry directed it to close down rabies vaccine production on January 15, 2008, it simultaneously gave it the go-ahead for measles vaccine manufacturing, which would benefit the private company. The Ministry also ordered the closure of vaccine production by other two PSUs -- BCG Vaccine Lab, Chennai, and Central Research Institute, Kasauli.

The Pioneer faxed a questionnaire to Union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal (who is ex-officio chairman of PII, Coonoor), Dr Elangeshwaran and Sundaraparipoornan to seek their response to the above-mentioned controversial aspects of the deal. But even after two days, the Health Secretary and Elangeshwaran have not responded. Sundaraparipoornan has sent a reply through his advocate, refusing to answer any of the questions and threatening to start legal proceedings for reporting the issue.

Chain of events :

Nov 27, 2006: The Pasteur Institute of India (PII) purchases measles seeds for a whopping Rs 3.25 crore from Green Signal Bio Pharma (GSBP). The PSU agrees to give back 70 per cent of the profit from measles vaccine production over three years to the private company. Its chairman, Sundaraparipoornan, withdraws Rs 2.5 crore within two days of signing the deal

Dec 27, 2007: The Health Ministry receives a proposal asking for Rs 17.8 crore to start measles vaccine production and projects Rs 205-crore profit over the next three years. Of this, Rs 143 crore would go to the private company

Jan 15, 2008: The Health Ministry directs PII to stop rabies vaccine production. But measles vaccine production, which benefits the private player, not stalled

Violation of norms/rules :

No tender was floated for purchasing measles seeds.

Indian Immunologicals, a Hyderabad-based PSU which could have provided the seed either for free or at minimum cost, is not approached.

Integrated finance division of Health Ministry finds irregularities in the deal, but no follow-up action taken. It says the new project should have been approved by Planning Commission with prior budgetary allocationDespite the objections, clinic trials on at PII, Coonoor.

The Pasteur Institute director authorised to sanction expenditure up to Rs 50 lakh only, but signs Rs 3.25-crore dealsWhile signing the deal with PII, Sundaraparipoornan doesn't provide details of either proof of supply or source of origin of the measles seed
...................................
Report - 4

June 7, 2008 – “The Pioneer’

Health Minister blinks, orders vaccine probe
Sweetheart deal with associate's firm set to be scrapped

A sustained campaign by The Pioneer against the vaccine scam has finally stirred Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss into action. The dubious joint venture for measles vaccine production between a Central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) and a private company will now be investigated. Simultaneously, a committee will go into the possibility of restarting vaccine production by the PSUs who were asked in January to shut shop by the Health Ministry.

Well-placed sources in the Health Ministry said that Ramadoss held a detailed discussion with his senior officials late on Thursday and ordered an investigation into the "irregularities" in the controversial deal between Pasteur Institute of India (Coonoor), a PSU, and Green Signal Bio Pharma (GSBP).The Pioneer was the first paper to report that the PSU had purchased measles seeds from Green Signal Bio Pharma for an astronomical Rs 3.25 crore when these were available virtually for free from Indian Immunologicals Ltd, Hyderabad, another PSU engaged in measles vaccine production.

The one-sided deal also granted 70 per cent of the projected profit of Rs 205 crore earned from the joint venture to the private company for three years. Sources said Ramadoss asked the Ministry officials to keep the controversial deal in abeyance till the investigation is completed.

The Health Minister also constituted a three-member committee, headed by the Drugs Controller General of India, to explore the possibility of restarting vaccine production at the three Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) who were directed in January to close production. The committee has been asked to submit the report before July 15.

The Minister has come under tremendous political pressure to revoke the directive banning vaccine production by the PSUs after allegations surfaced that he was playing into the hands of private vaccine manufacturers and international suppliers. The CPI(M) central committee had passed a resolution that the PSUs be revived. Its general secretary Prakash Karat, Politburo member Brinda Karat and Madurai MP P Mohan had asked Ramadoss to take urgent steps for restarting vaccine production by the three PSUs. The BJP had sought the Prime Minister's intervention in the matter while Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karuananidhi and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had also asked Ramadoss to lift the ban on the PSUs and enable them to manufacture vaccines.

Sources also said that the meeting discussed the revelation of irregularities, asreported in The Pioneer, and that there was a realisation that the deal must be scrapped to prevent the matter from going to the court. "The deal will be scrapped as and when the investigation report is submitted," said an official.Green Signal Bio Pharma is owned by P Sundaraparipoornan, who is considered a close associate of the Union Health Minister in the political circles of Tamil Nadu.

How and why the PSU decided to purchase the measles seed, a critical part in vaccine manufacture, from GSBP -- which is neither an accredited vendor nor producer of measles vaccine -- is still a mystery? The private company did not produce any proof of origin or source of supply for the measles seed it delivered to Pasteur Institute.

The controversial deal was signed on November 27, 2006, and the private company withdrew Rs 2.5 crore within the next two days. Though the integrated finance division of the Health Ministry noticed and objected to the irregularities in July 2007, the Ministry never took any action. The finance division pointed out that the director of the Pasteur Institute was not competent to enter into the agreement as he had no power to sign any contract worth above Rs 50 lakh.

The division also recommended that the amount be recovered from Green Signal Bio Pharma, but the Ministry chose to take no follow-up action.The Pasteur Institute has been engaged in the production of rabies vaccine for more than 100 years. As measles vaccine production is a new project, it needs the approval of the Planning Commission besides budgetary provisions. But these norms were not followed and the finance division's findings were also ignored.

Dr Elangeshwaran, the then director of the PSU who signed the controversial deal, had told The Pioneer that he had been "arm-twisted" by top officials of the Health Ministry into helping private companies. He also said that immense pressure was put on him by the Health Ministry to close down vaccine production at the PSUs, a move that would benefit only the private companies.

The Pioneer investigation also revealed that the Ministry received a proposal from Dr Elangeshwaran on December 27, 2007, seeking Rs 17.8 crore to start the measles vaccine project which envisages a Rs 205-crore profit in three years. Within two weeks, the Ministry ordered that all vaccine production by the three PSUs -- Pasteur Institute of India in Coonoor, BCG Vaccine Lab in Chennai and Central Research Institute in Kasauli -- be suspended.

The only exception was made in the case of measles vaccine production, which benefited the private company.This came as a major shock as these PSUs were the main source of vaccine production for expanded immunisation programme in India. They used to meet 70 per cent of the nation's vaccine needs. The Pasteur Institute was manufacturing rabies vaccine for more than 100 years now.

Sequence of events :

November 27, 2006 : Pasteur Institute buys measles seed from Green Signal Bio Pharma for an astronomical Rs 3.25 crore. The company is neither an accredited vendor nor a producer of measles vaccine Measles seeds were available for free from Indian Immunologicals Ltd, Hyderabad, another PSU The PSU agrees to give 70% of the profit earned on measles vaccine production to Green Signal Bio Pharma for three years The firm withdraws Rs 2.5 cr within two days of signing the dealPSU director was not competent to sign deal above Rs 50 lakh
Planning Commission approval was not obtained for the project, nor was any budgetary allocation made

July 2007 : Integrated finance division reports to the Health Ministry on the illegal actions. Recommends that the Rs 2.5 crore be recovered from the private company

December 27, 2007 : The PSU director sends a project proposal to the Health Ministry for sanctioning Rs 17.8 crore for starting measles vaccine production. Projected profit for three years is Rs 205 crore, which ensures Rs 143 crore (70%) for the private company
..............

"The Pioneer' had published series of reports on the vaccine scam and hidden agends behind it in May - June 2008.

[The writer is Special Correspondent of 'The Pioneer' daily]

murlee

December 9th, 2011, 04:30 PM

WTF!

Was any action taken against this company after this report??

Are the PSUs shut down completely??

Mukkesh

December 9th, 2011, 07:20 PM

Mukkesh

December 9th, 2011, 07:23 PM

[QUOTE=murlee;86484232]WTF!

Anbu Money

Madurai gilli

December 10th, 2011, 09:59 AM

doccbe

December 10th, 2011, 03:44 PM

[QUOTE=kannan infratech;86474819]Docs Shyam & Doccbe,

In the universal immunization schedule DPT and Hep B vaccines are already there.In Pentavalent vaccine ,H1 B vaccine is also made compulsory in the schedule so that it can be given in a single shot

Good move

Thanks for notifying it. Are you in medical profession? :)
(Question based on many of your posts related to medical field? :))

An interesting find:

http://www.isid.ac.in/~pu/conference/dec_09_conf/Papers/NilanjanPatra.pdf

In the document it is shown that the vaccine coverage in TN is the best. One of the evidence that TN is one of the leader in health-care in India. Also south fares better than any other part of India

doccbe

December 10th, 2011, 04:15 PM

So far, we know only 2 types of diabates , emerging as a major Socio-economic problem of the entire world, particularly India.

Recent finding is Type-3 DIABATES by US scientists.

Cause :

Insulin is a harmone produced by Pancreas, of either's abnormalities will result in diabates. Brain also have Insulin producing cells. When these brain cells are affected, It results in lower than normal brain insulin production & causing Type-3 diabates.

Type-3 diabates will not affect Blood Sugar level as in type-1 (or) type-2.

Type-3 diabates is mostly associated with the risk of developing Alzhiemer's disease.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/type3-diabetes.html

^^ I am still not clear on this Type-3 diabates.. Shyam (or) Doccbe can explain us..:)

Read somewhere like Mobile-phone radiations are one of the major risk factors for Type-3 diabates.. Ppl who talk much in mobile phone for hours, please be aware of this, otherwise...

If any mistakes, Kindly regret me docs, as I am just a Budding doctor, in my Final year..:)

(Warning: The post might be boring..... :lol:)

Hi Gilli, :)

Thanks for pointing out an information. But I feel that interpretation should be different after conducting a scientific literature search. (My suggestion: Literature search is easy but interpretation of literature is difficult. Scientific literature in medicine is like dignified advertisements. We have to be careful in interpreting it). Please always go for indexed (approved or authorized journals) journal or literature (MD consult, Uptodate, access medicine, micromedex, etc.,) search before coming to any conclusion.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2769828/pdf/dst-02-1101.pdf

http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/14/4/373.pdf

The sample search is given above which are from indexed journals.

The concept is not recent. It is viewed that Alzheimer's disease (a disease in which the old age people gradually lose memory and thinking ability) is a form of Diabetes and is considered as DM - type 3 (Some consider gestational diabetes (diabetes in pregnancy) as a type 3 DM). Alzheimer's disease is multifactorial in origin (has many causes for its origin). The science community states that insulin resistance (diabetes) might contibute to the pathogenesis (cause for the disease) of Alzheimer's disease.

But I am not able to find any evidence regarding cell phone usage correlated with Alzheimer's or diabetes. Please share the link if you have any evidence.

(Gilli has given a big homework :))

Madurai gilli

December 10th, 2011, 08:41 PM

Thanks for your reply doccbe.. Are you in the field of Community medicine/ Social and Preventive medicine ?..:)

Let's do some home-work on this and come-back with clear idea of Type-3 DM..:)

N.kumar

December 10th, 2011, 09:53 PM

Aha kooditangayya kuditanga. oru doctor kuttame kudirchu.

good to see and read posting of many docs here. True of them they seem to be multitaskers

TShyam

December 11th, 2011, 01:02 AM

So far, we know only 2 types of diabates , emerging as a major Socio-economic problem of the entire world, particularly India.

Recent finding is Type-3 DIABATES by US scientists.

Cause :

Insulin is a harmone produced by Pancreas, of either's abnormalities will result in diabates. Brain also have Insulin producing cells. When these brain cells are affected, It results in lower than normal brain insulin production & causing Type-3 diabates.

Type-3 diabates will not affect Blood Sugar level as in type-1 (or) type-2.

Type-3 diabates is mostly associated with the risk of developing Alzhiemer's disease.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/type3-diabetes.html

^^ I am still not clear on this Type-3 diabates.. Shyam (or) Doccbe can explain us..:)

Read somewhere like Mobile-phone radiations are one of the major risk factors for Type-3 diabates.. Ppl who talk much in mobile phone for hours, please be aware of this, otherwise...

If any mistakes, Kindly regret me docs, as I am just a Budding doctor, in my Final year..:)

I searched in Harrison (17th Ed) but found no mention. They have mentioned only about MODY.

Type 3 DM seems to the pathogenesis for AD. My guess is that there is a complex metabolomic interplay of insulin deficiency/resistance, ACh secretion/receptor disturbance (which is classically linked to AD) and amyloidosis (mainly A-beta) in the pathogenesis of AD.

Low ACh is widely thought as the pathogenesis for AD. What this shows is that there are a lot of interdependent pathways starting from "diabetes like" milieu forming in the confines of brain leading to/due to formation of amyloidosis protein. The end point of this pathogenesis may be low ACh levels causing AD.

I definitely dont think this has anything to do with cell phone usage. Its mostly genetic.

Ofcourse these are brand new and will take some time before appearing in the books. But I think this may very well be asked in the AIPG (there are always a few questions for which there is no answer in Harrison). Some sample questions are

Type 3 DM affects which organ?

1. Heart
2. Lung
3. Kidney
4. Brain

The pathogenesis of AD is now thought to be due to deficiency of which hormone?

1. Insulin
2. GH
3. Thyroxine
4. ACTH

Our instinct will be to choose something secreted in the pituitary (GH or ACTH). But now I think you will choose the correct answer :)
Thanks for bringing it to our notice btw!

doccbe

December 11th, 2011, 06:43 AM

Thanks for your reply doccbe.. Are you in the field of Community medicine/ Social and Preventive medicine ?..:)

Let's do some home-work on this and come-back with clear idea of Type-3 DM..:)

No. I am not in community medicine. I am in the field of Pharmacology :).

doccbe

December 11th, 2011, 06:46 AM

Aha kooditangayya kuditanga. oru doctor kuttame kudirchu.

good to see and read posting of many docs here. True of them they seem to be multitaskers

:)

I always felt the other way around that the engineers are multitaskers.

Madurai gilli

December 11th, 2011, 10:11 AM

^^ +1..:)

Good to see a Pharmacologist here..:)

What about shyam sir..? I will come to know my field only in 2013..:)

TShyam

December 12th, 2011, 12:18 AM

I am into translational health research.. Currently concentrating on infertility.

doccbe

December 12th, 2011, 05:41 AM

^^ +1..:)

Good to see a Pharmacologist here..:)

What about shyam sir..? I will come to know my field only in 2013..:)

My best wishes for you. :)

I am into translational health research.. Currently concentrating on infertility.

It is a hot topic. PGIMER discusses about it in the lecture theatres and forgets it outside the LT. :)

TShyam

December 12th, 2011, 09:09 AM

Yeah it will take some time to catch up in India..

kannan infratech

December 12th, 2011, 11:33 AM

[QUOTE=Mukkesh;86489265]

Thanks for notifying it. Are you in medical profession? :)
(Question based on many of your posts related to medical field? :))

Hmm HMM..

Yaro (Mukkesh) expert quote a ennoda quote oda mix panni, enakku credit kodutheetanga.

Neengale ivvalo asai padarache, vendam nu solla mudiyala :lol: Arasiyalla Idhallam Sahajamappa.

Since we are into Hospital & Pharma infra, I keep tabs on related news.

Very soon, our Edu / Training division may foray into Hospital / Health Management courses.:). We feel that there is a huge shortage for management education wrt Hospital / Health.

Mukkesh

December 12th, 2011, 03:45 PM

[QUOTE=doccbe;86512397]

Very soon, our Edu / Training division may foray into Hospital / Health Management courses.:). We feel that there is a huge shortage for management education wrt Hospital / Health.

Great idea. Nowadays to run a hospital a lot of expertise is required.

kannan infratech

December 12th, 2011, 03:52 PM

Is there a problem / glitch in quoting ?

I thought that doccbe did a mistake.

It has happened in my post quote also.

Again in Mukkesh post quote also.

Guys

Pl check and report

Mukkesh

December 12th, 2011, 03:54 PM

^^

Sorry I noted the mistake. I was only quoting yours

Madurai gilli

December 12th, 2011, 07:05 PM

My best wishes for you. :)

^^Thanks doccbe sir..! My wish is to become a Neuro-Surgeon(though it holds more failure rate - a Challenging field)

But, with existing heavy Competition for PG, I will accept whatever I get, no matter If it's a non-clinical subject..!!

Seriously, PG seats shud be increased to meet the demand..:D

doccbe

December 13th, 2011, 07:42 AM

[QUOTE=doccbe;86512397]

Hmm HMM..

Yaro (Mukkesh) expert quote a ennoda quote oda mix panni, enakku credit kodutheetanga.

Neengale ivvalo asai padarache, vendam nu solla mudiyala :lol: Arasiyalla Idhallam Sahajamappa.

Since we are into Hospital & Pharma infra, I keep tabs on related news.

Very soon, our Edu / Training division may foray into Hospital / Health Management courses.:). We feel that there is a huge shortage for management education wrt Hospital / Health.

No offense Kannan. :) I asked the question to Mukesh only. :lol:. But you are into many fields. That is very nice to know.

Is there a problem / glitch in quoting ?

I thought that doccbe did a mistake.

It has happened in my post quote also.

Again in Mukkesh post quote also.

Guys

Pl check and report

As you said there would have been a mistake in the forum.

doccbe

December 13th, 2011, 07:44 AM

Yeah it will take some time to catch up in India..

That is actually true. But honestly speaking I have never understood it completely.

doccbe

December 13th, 2011, 07:55 AM

^^Thanks doccbe sir..! My wish is to become a Neuro-Surgeon(though it holds more failure rate - a Challenging field)

But, with existing heavy Competition for PG, I will accept whatever I get, no matter If it's a non-clinical subject..!!

Seriously, PG seats shud be increased to meet the demand..:D

Please don't "sir" me in a public forum like this. Clean and dignified reply itself shows the respect to the fellow forumers. Please address me as doc or doccbe or whatever you like (but not sir).

As you said the number of PG seats has to be increased (actually the need for a PG is exaggerated by peer pressure and society). My suggestion is not to compromise your interest. Competition will be always there. Do pursue your aim to become a neuro surgeon. :).

I took a basic subject (non clinical) as it was my choice to be a researcher. (I got internal medicine in PGI itself but I did not opt for it. I came to know about PG courses in IIT lately only otherwise I would have definitely tried for it - I think Shyam is doing a similar course). :)

kannan infratech

December 13th, 2011, 10:56 AM

doccbe

December 13th, 2011, 02:37 PM

^^

The state produces around 2500 MBBS doctors a year. The number of PGs who pass out are 50 % less. What do the remaining do? Some take DNB and some fly abroad. Around 20 % of the girls dont practice. They become house wives after MBBS. Around 25 to 35 percent of the MBBS pass out still practice as general practitioners. Competition and ego forces them out of cities. So it is difficult to see MBBS general practitioners in big cities. But in small towns and villages they are responsible for the key healthcare. But in the cities MD (internal medicine) still do general practice only as these days even MD (internal medicine) is not considered as an end point because of the society and peer pressure. Now a doctor is considered complete only if he/she completes DM/MCh.

The health education in US is better as the students come out as a specialist after completing medical school and residency.

Leo_r

December 13th, 2011, 08:03 PM

We the Public have a huge problem. Where is the culture of Family Physician gone ?

Now a days, we do not have a street corner Doctor to whom we can go and consult as and when needed.

It is always a Specialist (read PG) and he is available only in a Hospital or Poly Clinic.

One has to book in advance or wait for hours even for a small ailment.

Are there General Physicians still available ? or PG in GP too ?

Something weird and not comfortable.

This is my personal opinion and nothing specific against anybody.

I concur. That is why me too sometime back advocated 6 or 7 years MD course after Plus 2.

I have become my own family Doctor for many years with only "Paatti" knowledge and our pharmacist helps too. This is dangerous.

Hope Doctors wake up and do neighbourhood consultancy...

kongutamizhan

December 13th, 2011, 09:04 PM

We the Public have a huge problem. Where is the culture of Family Physician gone ?

Now a days, we do not have a street corner Doctor to whom we can go and consult as and when needed.

It is always a Specialist (read PG) and he is available only in a Hospital or Poly Clinic.

One has to book in advance or wait for hours even for a small ailment.

Are there General Physicians still available ? or PG in GP too ?

Something weird and not comfortable.

This is my personal opinion and nothing specific against anybody.

I don't think family/street corner doctor concept is gone.

Either here in US or in India, I am yet to meet a person who don't have a family doctor (in family, relative, friends, collegues, neighbours circle). Yes people go to specialists in case of accidents and emergencies sometimes, and yes people might have different primary physicians for different family members. We have three different primary physicians for family of three. Each his/her own. But I don't agree that general physician concept is gone for good.

Mukkesh

December 14th, 2011, 03:58 PM

[QUOTE=Madurai gilli;86574727] My wish is to become a Neuro-Surgeon(though it holds more failure rate - a Challenging field)

Neurosurgery - Do in a good Central Institute like Sree Chitra Trivandrum or NIMHANS Bangalore in South. Don t get into TN Govt colleges. Failure rate--- If you apply your mind and use proper skills success rate is excellent

Mukkesh

December 14th, 2011, 04:06 PM

[QUOTE=kannan infratech;86595421]We the Public have a huge problem. Where is the culture of Family Physician gone ? )

Family medicine is coming back in a great way

GP s don t make great money compared to specialists. People will go to corporate hospitals and pay Rs 500 as consultation fees . But if the GP asks for Rs 100 people are reluctant to pay.

So in days to come you ll see more and more super specialists . Family medicine as a speciality when it takes of in India ,we ll see more GP s .

satishanu

December 14th, 2011, 04:07 PM

Interesting research article:

http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/7898/1/NPR%206%285%29%20436-442.pdf

kannan infratech

December 14th, 2011, 04:18 PM

Interesting research article:

http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/7898/1/NPR%206%285%29%20436-442.pdf

In the Western Ghats near my native place, we had Paliyan villages (now all converted to concrete / tile tenements).

They were our doctors during the trekking trips. They generally refused to take food from us as they considered our food as poison. (How true?)

The native knowledge was damn good.

Their jungle instinct has to be seen to believe.

Great People.

Arul Murugan

December 14th, 2011, 04:20 PM

I don't think family/street corner doctor concept is gone.

Either here in US or in India, I am yet to meet a person who don't have a family doctor (in family, relative, friends, collegues, neighbours circle). Yes people go to specialists in case of accidents and emergencies sometimes, and yes people might have different primary physicians for different family members. We have three different primary physicians for family of three. Each his/her own. But I don't agree that general physician concept is gone for good.

+1

In our big family, everyone i.e every small family have a family doctor. We go to specialist that is recommended by the family doctor.

May be family doctor concept has gone in Chennai where medical treatment has become as big commercial business with corporate and insurance companies tie up.

satishanu

December 14th, 2011, 04:22 PM

It's great that they depend only on the mountain and its resource for all their needs (food and medicine).

Looks like they had cure for Diabetes, Jaundice, Nervous disorder, Ear/Nose/Throat/Teeth/Stomach problems etc.

Arul Murugan

December 18th, 2011, 04:01 AM

crossposting

New entrance for Salem GH (main campus) facing Collectorate

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/166/gh2vt.jpg

Don't know when this additional building was inaugurated.. Looks good

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9228/gh3s.jpg

Facing collectorate

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2206/gh4o.jpg

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1103/gh1q.jpg

Hope, this entrance will decongest the existing main entrance and will give a face lift to the old campus.

Mukkesh

December 18th, 2011, 04:50 PM

[QUOTE=Arul Murugan;86751333]

Hope there are enough doctors and paramedical personnel available . Looks good

murlee

December 19th, 2011, 08:20 PM

How to improve public health systems : lessons from Tamil Nadu

http://ideas.repec.org/p/wbk/wbrwps/5073.html

madurakarenda

December 20th, 2011, 04:27 AM

TShyam

December 20th, 2011, 09:49 AM

I have a doubt. Doctors, apologies if I ask something irrelevant to the thread. Water's density is 1000 kg/cubic meter. So, 1 liter of water should weigh around 1 kilograms. Whenever I drink 1 liter of water and stand on a personal scale, the difference in mass (or) weight is around 300 grams only. Why does this happen?

1. Weighing machine is not accurate. Sometimes differences of few hundred grams are not accurately reflected in conventional weighing machines. Try on a digital scale which gives an accuracy of +/- 100 gms.

2. You would not have drunk 1 litre fully. It is not easy to gulp down one litre in one go.

3. Not measuring properly. How you stand can affect the scales reading of even upto 1 kg. The best way is to stand on both your feet in attention and asking someone else to see the weight. Looking down, shifting weight to one leg, having a part of your leg away from the loading spring can change your reading.

4. You are a nuclear reactor who converts mass into energy.

madurakarenda

December 20th, 2011, 10:07 AM

1. Weighing machine is not accurate. Sometimes differences of few hundred grams are not accurately reflected in conventional weighing machines. Try on a digital scale which gives an accuracy of +/- 100 gms.

I am making use of a digital scale of the above said accuracy only

2. You would not have drunk 1 litre fully. It is not easy to gulp down one litre in one go.

Actually I drunk 1 liter aquafina I bought it for this purpose.

3. Not measuring properly. How you stand can affect the scales reading of even upto 1 kg. The best way is to stand on both your feet in attention and asking someone else to see the weight. Looking down, shifting weight to one leg, having a part of your leg away from the loading spring can change your reading.

I am an engg student. So, I took 5 readings :lol: of my mass by the above said method i.e standing in attention position in the center of the scale and asking somebody else to read the weight

4. You are a nuclear reactor who converts mass into energy.

Can you please elaborate this? I can't understand this.

TShyam

December 20th, 2011, 10:15 AM

madurakarenda

December 20th, 2011, 10:22 AM

Hmmm.. there has to be some explanation. Did you repeat the experiment and get the same result? It is definitely some error in either man or the machine or the experiment.

Repeat it again.. this time just before drinking the water just measure your weight, then take the bottle in your hand and now measure the weight. If it is +1 kg, then definitely it has to be +1 after drinking the water too.

Sure, will repeat it today :)

Btw the reactor thing was a joke... you know.. Einstein.. E = mc^2.. bla bla bla..

I cant believe you fell for that and genuinely believed you are a nuclear reactor.

I realized that it was a joke but I believed that there was some medical explanation behind it :lol: I did this experiment when I came back after an hour of hard workouts from Gym so the body would have definitely become a reactor kinda thing then.

TShyam

December 20th, 2011, 10:31 AM

Sure, will repeat it today :)

I realized that it was a joke but I believed that there was some medical explanation behind it :lol: I did this experiment when I came back after an hour of hard workouts from Gym so the body would have definitely become a reactor kinda thing then.

Neenga Vijay fan ah?

Anyway if you were working out, then it may not be the best time to do this experiment as you would lose a lot of water through sweating and via your fast breathing.. So you either need to do this very fast of do it while you are in resting state.

Arul Murugan

December 20th, 2011, 10:35 AM

4. You are a nuclear reactor who converts mass into energy.

:rofl:

b/w is there any part in the body which can absorb the water and have same weight before and after absorbtion? any part acid or part have capacity to evaporate the water?

and i don't think human body is some object to have 1+x weight, if x amount of consumable is added to the body. There should be some loss! MK ungaluku oru vela loss athigama irukkum pola.:lol:

madurakarenda

December 20th, 2011, 10:35 AM

Neenga Vijay fan ah?

Abusing me? :lol:

Anyway if you were working out, then it may not be the best time to do this experiment as you would lose a lot of water through sweating and via your fast breathing.. So you either need to do this very fast of do it while you are in resting state.

Sure, I will repeat my experiment when I am in rest state and report here in a weeks' time :) Thanks

murlee

December 20th, 2011, 11:04 AM

.

I cant believe you fell for that and genuinely believed you are a nuclear reactor.

4. You are a nuclear reactor who converts mass into energy.

:rofl:

Good one!

kannan infratech

December 20th, 2011, 12:08 PM

@ madurakarenda:

Engg student na,

- ungalukku olunga reading edukka theriyuma ? :)
- Pakkathu seat studious girl oda reading copy aduchuthane pazhakkam ? :)
- 5 readings leyum ore result nu sonna, adhu ulaga maha poi. (College Practicals
la Pannina tricks ingeyum pannitteengala ?) :)
- Enga ? edho Engg padichuttu velaikku vandhachu ? innum yen Inthe Kola Veri ?

Law of Conservation of Moss - marupadiyum padinga. Purinjalum Puriyum. :)

madurakarenda

December 20th, 2011, 12:20 PM

- ungalukku olunga reading edukka theriyuma ? :)

Kannan, adhu digital scale than, adhula reading eduka theriyama pora alavuku TN Engg college syllabus mahaa mattam kedaiyathu :D

- Pakkathu seat studious girl oda reading copy aduchuthane pazhakkam ? :)
One small correction. Studious girl illa, azhagana girl (nice pigar) :D

Law of Conservation of Moss - marupadiyum padinga. Purinjalum Puriyum. :)

Sure, it must have been converted into energy :) Adha next week correct ah report panren. Apa enna mathiri reactor ah body work aaguthu nu namma SSC doctorgal konda kuluva vachu kandu pudikalam.

Pin kurippu : Konjam sikkuna sedhachurranga pa :D Doctor than ipdi na, naatamaiyum apdi than irukaru :jk:

murlee

December 20th, 2011, 12:24 PM

Pin kurippu : Konjam sikkuna sedhachurranga pa :D Doctor than ipdi na, naatamaiyum apdi than irukaru

:hilarious:

Sema comedy boss neenga!! Periya aala varuvinga!!

kannan infratech

December 20th, 2011, 01:01 PM

Kannan, adhu digital scale than, adhula reading eduka theriyama pora alavuku TN Engg college syllabus mahaa mattam kedaiyathu :D

One small correction. Studious girl illa, azhagana girl (nice pigar) :D

Sure, it must have been converted into energy :) Adha next week correct ah report panren. Apa enna mathiri reactor ah body work aaguthu nu namma SSC doctorgal konda kuluva vachu kandu pudikalam.

Pin kurippu : Konjam sikkuna sedhachurranga pa :D Doctor than ipdi na, naatamaiyum apdi than irukaru :jk:

Digital Scale la kooda error varumpu. Neengale Kuninju patha oru reading. Nimirndhu ninnu Mattravar partha unnoru reading. (check pannungappu)

Alagana Pigar pakkathula irundha.... Readings copy adikkathana.. Che Che!!:lol: Veveram Pathalayeappu.

Bachelors lam Energy waste panratha koraikka mudiyuma ? :lol:

(On a serious note: Drinking water will help in detoxification of the body)

murlee

December 21st, 2011, 04:22 PM

Are Tamil Nadu hospitals safe?

Hospitals are places where people go in the hope of delaying death, if not beating it. But these very places, which are supposed to sustain and extend life, sometimes turn out to be death traps, thanks to negligent managements that ignore basics such as fire safety. Kolkata’s AMRI hospital, where 91 people were singed in a recent blaze, was one such trap. DC surveys TN hospitals.

Chennai hospitals need treatment

Chairs jostling for space along narrow stairways and cramped corridors. Walkways and entrances filled with stretchers, wheelchairs, tables, statues, potted plants, kuthuvellakus and what not. Ask a nurse or a ward boy where fire exits and unbarred windows for emergency exits are and you get a blank look. This is the scene in most Chennai hospitals.

A round-up of major city hospitals in the wake of the Kolkata tragedy revealed disturbing unpreparedness to deal with disasters, both manmade and nature.

Most hospitals surveyed were functioning out of dilapidated buildings and some old government ones had rickety elevators that gave one a sinking feeling.

While some new buildings had ramps for patients to be wheeled in and out, hospitals constructed decades ago lacked even basic facilities.

Said Saravanan, consultant physician and expert in occupational safety, “Except for a few corporate ones, most private hospitals are located in crammed residential areas. Several hospital buildings have managed to acquire government permits despite not being safety-compliant. In the event of a disaster, fatalities at these hospitals that try to cram as many patients and doctors as possible will be huge.”

Several private hospitals have kitchens in the main building and store LPG and oxygen cylinders in a dangerous manner, making them vulnerable to fire accidents.

Dr Saravanan said fire safety could not be judged by the number of hoses or fire extinguishers in a hospital. It was important that hospital staff is trained in using fire safety equipment and knows techniques to evacuate patients in times of emergency, he said.

Understanding that prevention is better than cure, the TN fire and rescue services department has ordered safety audits in all city hospitals above 15 metres in height.

“Safety has to be the keyword whenever a government hospital is built, but it is also necessary to keep upgrading safety measures every year. While new buildings keep coming up, the strength of staff that maintains the buildings remains the same. There is always scope for improvement,” said a PWD official.

Kovai fire department cracks the whip on hospitals, clinics

The fire and rescue services department in Coimbatore has pulled up its socks in the wake of the AMRI blaze in Kolkata that claimed 91 lives. It has decided to keep tabs on private as well as government hospitals and ensure they comply with fire safety norms.

R.G. Jayakanthan, Western region deputy director of the department, said circulars had been issued to divisional fire officers (DFO) in the nine districts of Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Dindigul, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri to inspect hospitals.

He said DFOs would personally inspect hospitals to ensure ramps, lifts, and emergency exits, besides functional fire extinguishers and hosepipes connected to overhead water tanks at strategic locations.

Mr Jayakanthan said the officials would also ascertain if nursing assistants are trained in fire safety and organise training workshops on the request of hospitals.

Meanwhile, Kovai district collector M. Karunakaran said revenue officials would be directed to inspect private hospitals next week to see if fire safety norms are being adhered to.

chennai hospitals unsafe?

FOUR KILLED IN AC FIRE:

In July this year, four patients were gassed to death when an air conditioner caught fire in Kilpauk Medical College hospital’s IMCU ward, where critically ill patients were kept. While the entire room was charred black, the patients died due to asphyxiation on inhaling smoke and chemical fumes from the AC. Even though hospital staff and duty doctors acted heroically that morning, four lives were lost because the room was pitch dark, and filled with smoke, and ward boys and nurses had to grope in the dark to remove tubes and wires connecting patients to the monitoring systems, to bring them out of the IMCU ward.

NEW FACILITIES AT HIGHER RISK:

The old blocks at the Government general hospital may be crowded and filthy, but the British-style buildings with wide corridors, high ceilings and open ventilators are any day better in times of disasters. With large campuses, government hospitals always have their canteens and kitchens in a separate block, away from patients. Since space in the city is a premium, newer private facilities have their cooking areas in the basement, alongside stores of chemicals, radioactive materials and oxygen cylinders.

Hospitals need to take steps to prevent untoward events

Every hospital must have well marked emergency exits and properly demarcated safe assembly point(s) with access to them from every floor or zone of the hospital. Every employee must have knowledge about emergency exits, assembly points and do’s and don’t’s in times of an emergency.

Every hospital must have its own Emergency Response Protocol in place. Various training programmes must be given to the employees with regard to the various emergencies that can pose the serious threat to the normal functioning of the hospice.

A qualified safety/HSE engineer and an occupational health physician must be consulted to formulate the strategies and observation of the responses by various departments to these mock drills.
Roads leading to and from a hospital must be devoid of unnecessary traffic/ vehicular movement. Support of the local law enforcement must be taken into consideration.

Every employee must be aware of the contents of the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) of the chemicals. This sheet contains all the information on a chemical being used, including effects on human exposure, and measures to be taken in case of exposure. It is mandatory MSDS is kept for common viewing by the concerned employees.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/are-tamil-nadu-hospitals-safe-249

Madurai gilli

December 22nd, 2011, 02:19 AM

THE GOAL: The project is aimed at building a facility that would aim at data integration and help build brain models.

Science has advanced in the Second Millennium in ways that we now challenge ourselves into doing what we could not have earlier. We have embarked on an experiment to determine the ultimate particle of which all nuclei, atoms, molecules and materials are made anywhere on earth or in the vast sky. We look for the “God particle”. We have sent man-made crafts to other planets, and have made machines and tools that enquire whether life exists elsewhere in the sky, and whether there are other planets similar to ours that may supports life- “second earths”. We have read the “book of human life”, the 3.2 billion- letter-long code of DNA that makes us what we are.

But the book of life tells us how our body works. DNA determines the physiology and biochemistry. What about the brain? Can we ‘model' the human brain in the laboratory? How do the trillions of cells in our brain connect with one another so that it can do all that it does – pick up information from the outside world, make sense out of it and act, learn things and control our thoughts?

There are two ways to approach this grand challenge. One is to try and understand the neurons (nerve cells) of “lower” organisms – worms, flies, fish, rats and such, and build on this knowledge. This involves experiments on the “normal” organism and on its “mutants” – its cousins who are born (or tampered with in the lab) with one or more neural problem. Many biologists are involved in such experiments, and several more directly study humans with neurological problems and try to make sense out of the basis behind such errors in the brain.

This field is busy; every year as many as 60,000 papers are published in this area of neuroscience. But we need to learn from them, bring the pieces together and make sense out of them. This approach is incremental, building from what we have learnt and plan new experiments there from. With advent of computers, another approach called in silico (since computers use silica chips) has emerged. This exploits the fact that information is collected and collated in the brain via connections between neurons; based on the results of such neural interactions, the brain processes the information and acts on it. So then, why not model this using the computer?

By the mid-1970s, information technology had advanced to such a level that companies, notably IBM, had thought of modelling the “thought” behind chess games that we humans play. The advanced computers programming that they did at that time was christened “Deep Thought” (a term coined by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, including Dr. Thomas Anantharaman). By the 1990s, IBM had put together a then gigantic computer system that was named ‘Blue Gene' (blue being the nickname for IBM, and gene referring to the kind of biologically realistic model of DNA-based and protein- based information processing). One of the noteworthy programming done using the capabilities of Blue Gene was to play chess. Real chess involves calculating the consequences of moving pieces from place to place, each step determined by the possible consequences of what the “opponent” does in response, with the ultimate aim of winning. Having done this, Blue Gene challenged a human champion, Gary Kasparov, to a series of chess games. (Comfortingly for us, the human won over the machine then, but who knows what tomorrow has to offer).

It is these advances in computers that led Dr. Henry Markram of Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne, Switzerland, to think of creating supercomputer models of the brain that would be accurate to the last biological details. To this end, he has put together what he calls the Blue Brain Project (the blue here symbolizing supercomputers).

The approach of Blue Brain is binary. It uses the information available from the hundreds of thousands of publications of neuroscientists on one hand, and ability of computer programmers to create connectivities between the millions of “neurons” in silico on the other. Combining the two, he expects to build a facility that would aim at data integration and help build brain models.

What has been achieved so far? His group was able to incorporate data collected from genetics, cell signalling pathways and electrophysiology, and program them on a supercomputer. And by 2006, they were able to simulate one of the neocortical columns of the brain of a rat. The neocortex is that part of the brain responsible for higher functions such as thought and consciousness. The neocortex of the rate consists of many columns, each 2 mm tall and 0.5 mm thick and has 10,000 neurons, which are interconnected through synapses (connecting junctions or ‘solders'). The number of such synapses in one such rat column is 100 million. The task is thus not trivial and Markram believes that by the next a few months, a cellular circuit of 100 neocortical columns and a million cells will have been built.

And given enough money, it should be possible in about 10 years hence, to get the first to the first draft of a unified model of the human brain. It will not be a complete model, but one that will account for what we know. Believable Boast by the Builder of the Blue Brain! Hope the Bursaries Buy it! (An interview of Dr Markram by Greg miller appears in the 11 November 2011 issue of Science).

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/article2735401.ece?homepage=true

Madurai gilli

December 22nd, 2011, 02:21 AM

EARLY SIGNS: Strains resistant to artemisinin have emerged in parts of South-East Asia, and could potentially spread.

It is a drug that has its roots in ancient Chinese medicine. In the fight against malaria, a disease that over 200 million people are estimated to have caught in 2010, some 655,000 of whom died of it, protecting the effectiveness of artemisinin-based drugs has become vitally important.

A number of Indian pharmaceutical companies have been among those manufacturing and marketing drugs that are likely to foster resistance to artemisinin in the malaria parasite, according to the latest World Malaria Report that was recently released.

However, India's Drugs Controller General initiated action earlier this year to stop the production and export of these drugs.

Artemisin and its derivatives have saved countless lives after the single-celled parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, that causes the most dangerous forms of the disease became resistant to the drug chloroquine. However, strains that are resistant to even artemisinin have emerged in parts of South-East Asia and could potentially spread, as has happened with earlier antimalarial drugs.

“A looming threat to malaria control is the emergence of parasites that are resistant to antimalarial medicines,” pointed out the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its ‘Global Plan for Artemisinin Resistance Containment' published earlier this year. Resistance had developed to every antimalarial medicine used so far. When that happened, the burden of malaria increased. Child mortality in Africa increased, for instance, as P. falciparum strains that were resistant to chloroquine spread in the 1970s and the 1980s.

Although the problem of artemisinin resistance is currently confined to the Mekong river region, there is now “early evidence” of such resistance in Myanmar and Vietnam, warned Margaret Chan, the WHO's Director-General, in a foreword to the World Malaria Report 2011.

“Exposure of malaria parasites to suboptimal doses of artemisinin is a primary cause of the spread of resistance,” the Global Plan noted. Giving artemisinin and its derivatives alone as 'monotherapies,' instead of as a cocktail with another drug, could create opportunities for resistant forms of the parasite to arise and spread.

Although oral artemisinin-based monotherapies could be effective when taken for the full seven-day course, patients often stopped taking them after just a few days when the symptoms generally subsided. Parasites that were sensitive to the drug could get eliminated, allowing drug-resistant strains to proliferate and get transmitted to other people.

To prevent that from happening, the global health agency recommends that artemisinin be given in combination with another drug. Such artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) should, it says, be first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria caused by P. falciparum. The two-drug combination reduced the chances of the parasite developing resistance. Moreover, a three-day course of a recommended ACT generally cleared the parasites from the body.

The use of ACT has grown rapidly. Globally, the number of ACT courses procured by the public sector jumped nearly seven-fold between 2005 and 2006, and then more than doubled, reaching 181 million, in 2010, according to the World Malaria Report. The demand for these drugs was expected to reach 287 million treatments this year and touch 295 million courses in 2012.

In 2006, the WHO called for a halt to using oral artemisinin monotherapies to treat uncomplicated malaria. This was followed a year later by a resolution adopted by the World Health Assembly, the WHO's apex decision-making body, that urged its member states to “cease progressively the provision in both the public and private sectors” of such monotherapies and promote the use of ACTs.

However, according to the latest World Malaria Report, 25 countries were still allowing the marketing of these products and 28 pharmaceutical companies were making these drugs, down from 39 a year ago. “Most of the countries that still allow the marketing of monotherapies are located in the African Region, while most of the manufacturers are located in India.”

Ten of the 28 manufacturers of monotherapies were in India, according to a spokesperson for the WHO Global Malaria Programme.

The WHO has called on all manufacturers to cease the marketing of monotherapies. Besides, “greater collaboration and involvement of national regulatory authorities is required to ensure complete withdrawal of oral artemisinin-based monotherapies from all countries,” noted the World Malaria Report.

“Oral artemisinin monotherapy is banned in India,” according to the ‘Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria in India' published in 2010 by the National Institute of Malaria Research in Delhi and the Union Health Ministry's National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme.

In April this year, DCGI wrote to all State Drugs Controllers requesting them to cancel licenses to manufacture oral artemisinin-based monotherapies with immediate effect. The manufacturing of such monotherapies for export should also be stopped. “We have been very encouraged by the steps that the Government of India has taken over the past year,” said Robert Newman, director of the Global Malaria Programme at a press conference to mark the release of the World Malaria Report.

http://www.thehindu.com/health/medicine-and-research/article2735268.ece?homepage=true

Madurai gilli

December 22nd, 2011, 02:23 AM

Many virus-human protein connections identified

In perhaps the most comprehensive survey of the inner workings of HIV, an international team of scientists led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco has mapped every apparent physical interaction the virus makes with components of the human cells it infects.

This work may reveal new ways to design future HIV/AIDS drugs.

In back-to-back papers published today (December 22) in the journal Nature, the survey reveals a pathogenic landscape in which HIV's handful of proteins makes hundreds of physical connections with human proteins and other components inside the cell.

In one paper, the team details 497 such connections, only a handful of which had been previously recognized by scientists. Disrupting these connections may interfere with HIV's lifecycle, and the existence of so many new connections suggests there may be several novel ways to target the virus.

“Have we identified new drug targets?” said Nevan Krogan, who led the research. “I believe we have.” Krogan is an associate professor of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at UCSF.

In a companion paper, Krogan and collaborating labs investigated one such connection in detail. They discovered that an HIV protein called Vif makes a physical connection with a human protein called CBF-â, hijacking its function.

This virus requires this action to function, said Krogan, which suggests that disrupting the connection may be a viable way to design new HIV/AIDS therapies.

Unlocking the doors

The UCSF-led study has provided the most comprehensive and detailed picture to date of all the interactions HIV has with the human cells it infects, and identifying these interactions may lead to the development of new drugs to treat the disease.

Of the 497 specific interactions between HIV and human proteins discovered in the new work, only 19 of those were previously reported.

What accounts for the discrepancy, Krogan said, is that this was the first study to look for such interactions globally and in an unbiased fashion – unlike previous studies, which had been more focused.

Interfering with this association may be a way to block the virus. Ultimately, if scientists can design compounds to do this safely and effectively, those compounds could form the basis for a new type of HIV/AIDS treatment.

http://www.thehindu.com/health/medicine-and-research/article2735396.ece

Madurai gilli

December 22nd, 2011, 02:25 AM

A new candidate malaria vaccine with the potential to neutralise all strains of the most deadly species of malaria parasite has been developed by a team led by scientists at the University of Oxford.

Results confirmed

The results of this new vaccine independently confirm the utility of a key discovery reported last month from scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute who had identified this target within the parasite as a potential ‘Achilles' heel' that could hold significant promise for vaccine development.

The most deadly form of mosquito, Plasmodium falciparum, is responsible for nine out of ten deaths from malaria.

Vaccinating against malaria is likely to be the most cost-effective way of protecting populations against disease; however, no licensed vaccine is currently available.

Another vaccine for malaria is also achieving promising but incomplete levels of protection in clinical trials in Africa; scientists believe a new and more effective vaccine will be required to eradicate the disease.

Tested in animal models

In a paper in the journal Nature Communications, a team of scientists from the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford led by Dr Simon Draper, working with colleagues from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the Kenyan Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Programme in Kilifi, Kenya, demonstrate that a vaccine they have developed induces an antibody response in animal models capable of neutralising all the tested strains of the P. falciparum parasite.

“Our initial finding, reported last month, was unexpected and completely changed the way in which we view how the malaria parasite invades red blood cells,” Welcome Trust press release quoted Dr Gavin Wright, a co-author as saying.

Achilles' heel attacked

He is from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. “It revealed what we think is the parasite's Achilles' heel in the way it invades our cells and provided a target for potential new vaccines.”

Dr Sandy Douglas, a Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellow from the University of Oxford and first author on the new study, adds: “We have created a vaccine that confirms the recent discovery relating to the biology of RH5 antigen, given it can generate an immune response in animal models capable of neutralising many — and potentially all — strains of the P. falciparum parasite, the deadliest species of malaria parasite.”

Our next step will be to begin safety tests of this vaccine.

If these prove successful, clinical trials in patients may begin within the next two to three years.

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/article2735397.ece

Madurai gilli

December 22nd, 2011, 02:27 AM

Since a transparent cornea is essential for vision, the eye has evolved to nourish the cornea without blood vessels. Scientists have identified a gene that plays a major role in maintaining clarity of the cornea in humans and mice.

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/article2735387.ece

Madurai gilli

December 22nd, 2011, 02:29 AM

Levels of two blood components — cystatin C and beta trace protein — are newly proposed markers that may be better predictors of an individuals’ future health.

The condition of kidneys could tell whether there is a likelihood of premature death after its functioning is impaired. Kidney function is most accurately represented by the kidneys’ filtration rate, but this is difficult to measure. Therefore, blood levels of a protein called creatinine are commonly used to assess kidney function.

But now it’s thought that cystatin C and beta trace protein may go beyond indicating kidney health to include other aspects of an individual’s wellbeing, the Journal of the American Society Nephrology reports.

Mark Sarnak and Navdeep Tangri from Tufts University Medical Centre and colleagues analysed data from the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study, which provided levels of these markers for 816 kidney disease patients who were then followed for 16.6 years.

The researchers found that, independent of the kidneys’ filtration rate, participants with higher creatinine had a higher risk of developing kidney failure, but a lower risk of dying.

Those with higher cystatin C and beta trace protein had a higher risk of both kidney failure and death, according to a Tufts statement.

These results suggest that creatinine, beta trace protein and cystatin C may be predictive of aspects of health that go beyond the kidneys. Beta trace protein and cystatin C appear to provide more consistent prognostic information than creatinine.

http://www.thehindu.com/health/medicine-and-research/article2720679.ece

Madurai gilli

December 22nd, 2011, 02:31 AM

Scientists have developed a vaccine that promises a new strategy for treating ovarian, colorectal and pancreatic cancer.

Researchers from the University of Georgia and the Mayo Clinic in Arizona have developed a vaccine that dramatically reduces tumours in a mouse model that mimics 90 per cent of human breast and pancreatic cancer cases — including those resistant to common treatments.

"This vaccine elicits a very strong immune response,” said study co-senior author Geert-Jan Boons.

"It activates all three components of the immune system to reduce tumour size by an average of 80 per cent.” When cells become cancerous, the sugars on their surface proteins undergo distinct changes that set them apart from healthy cells. For decades, scientists have tried to enable the immune system to recognize those differences to destroy cancer cells rather than normal cells. But since cancer cells originate within the body, the immune system generally does not recognize them as foreign and therefore does not mount an attack.

The researchers used unique mice developed by Sandra Gendler, Grohne Professor of Therapeutics for Cancer Research at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and co-senior author on the study. Like humans, the mice develop tumours that over-express a protein known as MUC1 on the surface of their cells. The tumour-associated MUC1 protein is adorned with a distinctive, shorter, set of carbohydrates that set it apart from healthy cells.

"This is the first time that a vaccine has been developed that trains the immune system to distinguish and kill cancer cells based on their different sugar structures on proteins such as MUC1,” Gendler said. "We are especially excited about the fact that MUC1 was recently recognized by the National Cancer Institute as one of the three most important tumor proteins for vaccine development.” Gendler pointed out that MUC1 is found on more than 70 per cent of all cancers that kill. Many cancers, such as breast, pancreatic, ovarian and multiple myeloma, express MUC1 with the shorter carbohydrate in more than 90 per cent of cases.

She explained that when cancer occurs, the architecture of the cell changes and MUC1 is produced at high levels, promoting tumour formation and also said that a vaccine directed against MUC1 has tremendous potential as a preventative for recurrence or as a prophylactic in patients at high risk for particular cancers. A vaccine also can be used together with standard therapy such as chemotherapy in cancers that cannot be cured by surgery, such as pancreatic cancer.

Although promising results in mice often don’t translate to humans, Boons claimed he is confident that vaccines that target the specific carbohydrate signatures of cancer cells will ultimately play an important role in the treatment of the disease.

"We are beginning to have therapies that can teach our immune system to fight what is uniquely found in cancer cells,” Boons said. "When combined with early diagnosis, the hope is that one day cancer will become a manageable disease,” Boons added.

The study has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

http://www.thehindu.com/health/medicine-and-research/article2712237.ece

kongutamizhan

December 23rd, 2011, 05:46 PM

Our forum docs opinion on this please. I am curious to know if it is "da kindu's" usual kindura velai on anything traditional, or is there truth behind this.

The reason I am asking is dietician's explanation on gooseberry in this article and through family members gooseberry experience aamla seems to do some magic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/article2741082.ece

Beware of harms caused by alternative medicines to cure diabetes

People urged not to end conventional treatment

There is a profusion of material on the Internet on fruits, vegetables and other items that are believed to be good for diabetics. The material on some websites even assert that these items can reduce the blood sugar level.

Diabetologists, however, strike a note of caution, asking people not to end the conventional treatment with drugs or insulin even if the natural food items help in maintaining normal blood sugar level.

Aamla (gooseberry), jamun (blueberry) and fenugreek rank high among the items aggressively promoted. “But, these do not offer a cure from diabetes,” points out diabetologist V. Rajendran.

Marginal effect
“There are nearly 400 herbs, vegetables and fruits that are believed to be effective in reducing the blood sugar level. Many seem to have a marginal effect, but there is no dose standardisation. It is not possible,” he says.

Information provided by persons practising Indian systems of medicine, or by those being treated under these, is impacting the psyche of diabetics. Especially those desperately looking for alternatives to insulin and diabetic drugs. Psychologically, one draws comfort from the fact that jamun, aamla and fenugreek will not be viewed as medicines, but as food items.

But, it comes with the risk of these items being seen as alternatives, says Dr. Rajendran.

“At best, these can only be add-ons because of the fibre content.

Says dietician at Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital G. Kumudhavalli: “Aamla and fenugreek have good fibre content. Diabetics need to consume very small quantities of food every two hours. This makes gooseberry (aamla) one of the ideal food items. One can have two big aamlas a day.

The fibre content will take time for digestion and can help maintain normal blood glucose level.”

“Fibre-rich food is not quickly absorbed and converted into glucose.

Therefore, there will not be any rapid rise in the post-prandial glucose level in the blood. But, this applies to any food that is high in fibre content. And, these should not be seen as an alternative treatment,” explains Dr. Rajendran.

People have to guard against peddling of alternative treatment that can actually inflict harm. “Some patients from Coimbatore went to a State in the northern part of the country to have camel's milk that was promoted as a cure for diabetes.

They experienced nausea and turned sick. The local physician was upset with them for looking for a quick-fix cure.

Some of these people came to me and narrated their unsuccessful trip,” he says.

People with uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension look desperately for non-existent options for cure. Their mindset would have to be tackled first.

TShyam

December 23rd, 2011, 07:12 PM

kongutamizhan

December 23rd, 2011, 07:19 PM

Although this question is perfect for someone like doccbe, i will give my 2 cents.

What they mean is that many people are made to think natural products "cures" diabetes. I dont think there is anything in the article which suggests that traditional methods are quackery. There is a lot of evidence which indicates that a host of natural medicines does work but they dont cure diabetes in the sense that for example, you take gooseberry for 15 days and then you are cured of diabetes.

Gooseberry, amla, fenugreek are known to be healthy for people having diabetes, but these should be taken as an adjunct to regular medicines rather than as standalone or as a cure. My assessment about this article is that it encourages a bit of caution before falling for some tall claims (like curing diabetes or hypertension) in the name of alternative or traditional medicine.

If you are really interested in the details, i can give you some journal articles for you to read.

Well I forgot to include the title of the article. which says Beware of harms caused by alternative medicines to cure diabetes. This is what made me doubt on their motives. Correcting my previous post to include the title :)

Anyways thanks for the explanation. And yeah sure, link to journal articles will be helpful. Thanks again

TShyam

December 23rd, 2011, 07:28 PM

Well I forgot to include the title of the article. which says Beware of harms caused by alternative medicines to cure diabetes. This is what made me doubt on their motives. Correcting my previous post to include the title :)

Anyways thanks for the explanation. And yeah sure, link to journal articles will be helpful. Thanks again

Oh cool..

actually they have also given an example of going to north India to drink camel milk (like vadivelu). Those are definitely overboard. They dont cure diabetes for sure, and if it consumed without sterilization and pasteurization, chances are that they will do some harm.

A certified siddha or ayurvedic doctor will never advice you to do such things but beware of the quacks (particularly the bus sticker hydrocele types)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2441900/?tool=pmcentrez
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2275761/?tool=pmcentrez

madurakarenda

December 24th, 2011, 05:26 AM

^^ I heard that eating a small organ called 'பித்தப்பை' (excuse for I don't know how it is called in English) from the body of நாட்டு கோழி for a few times will help cure diabetes. Is it true? I think diabetes is not a disease to cure and it is a kind of inability by the body to produce insulin or inability of the body to make use of the produced insulin (Sorry if i am wrong).

kannan infratech

December 24th, 2011, 01:46 PM

With what ever little knowledge I have in Ayurveda and what my wife studied for her PG Yoga Therapy course, I can say that

Diabetes can be controlled by planned diet, breathing exercise combined with Yoga postures.

Over a period under the watchful eyes of an expert, the internal organs which have failed can be rejuvenated back to normal level.

The patient has to have belief in the system and his advisor / Guide / Doctor / teacher.

Even Cancer patients are able to withstand the rigours of Chemotherapy etc with Yoga.

TShyam

December 24th, 2011, 02:58 PM

Leo_r

December 25th, 2011, 08:36 AM

^^
If People follow all these quacks, only "Pitham will Thalaikku Yerum". Let us take the path of modernity.

Mukkesh

December 25th, 2011, 11:57 AM

^^
If People follow all these quacks, only "Pitham will Thalaikku Yerum". Let us take the path of modernity.

In diabetes it s very important to keep the sugars under control and also to avoid damage to heart,brain,kidneys and eyes.

Diet,exercise-walking/cycling/yoga etc for at least 30-45 minutes -5 times a week ,Diabetic medications will keep the disease under control.To prevent damage to kidneys,heart and brain additional drugs are required.

Native medicines though they control sugars to an extent ,end organ damage is not prevented consistently.

Key is if you want to enjoy your life with diabetes ,do active exercises.

doccbe

December 25th, 2011, 06:35 PM

Arul Murugan

December 26th, 2011, 01:25 AM

Vasan's 100th hospital and research and development center to be opened at Karaikudi today

http://www.dailythanthi.com/thanthiepaper/26122011/slm2612pag3ffirstmin7.jpg

chennaidesi

December 26th, 2011, 03:10 AM

Great guys. All TN entr. should learn from these guys.

kannan infratech

December 26th, 2011, 02:06 PM

Great guys. All TN entr. should learn from these guys.

Do U know whoa are the owners ?

IQ 180+

kg4129

December 26th, 2011, 02:25 PM

^^ Vasan Medical is the one Trichy based company, but there is a rumor PC have share.....

What % he hold, any idea?

wlbkng

December 26th, 2011, 04:12 PM

Tamil Nadu owes much of its achievements in the maternal and child health sector in a large measure to its good socio economic status, Principal Secretary, Health, Girija Vaidyanathan, said.

Tamil Nadu is one of the States in the country with the most advanced socio economic profile, and good public and private health care sector infrastructure. Also, what stands the State in good stead are the presence of an enabling socio-political climate, a strong public health system and a health bureaucracy willing to experiment. She was delivering the 17 K.S.Sanjivi Memorial Oration, at the Voluntary Health Services, here.

Social reforms, implementation of several women-centred welfare schemes, along with a robustly-begun Integrated Child Development Services scheme were all responsible for giving the State a head-start in terms of performance in the health sector. A recent evaluation by the Rockefeller Foundation said the health care provided in Tamil Nadu was the best in the country.

According to the State Programme Data, the current Maternal Mortality Rate is 71 per 1,00,000 live births, while it is slightly higher with the SRS data for 2007-2009. This is below the Nation's projected target, she added. Institutional deliveries and a maternal death audit have helped in reducing the mortality rate in the State. A maternal death audit identifies the causes of death and seeks ways in which to avoid these deaths.

With reference to the Infant mortality rate, most often used as an indicator of the overall health performance, Tamil Nadu has reached 28/1000 live births, below the country goal of 30/1000 live births. As far as IMR goes, Tamil Nadu's is only second to Kerala's IMR which stands at 12/1000 live births, but neighbouring countries of Thailand and Sri Lanka have better performance figures, she explained. The infant death audit has been key in identifying reasons for death: early neo-natal mortality is the reason for about 50 per cent of the IMR. It is important to focus on low birth weight babies, as they are more prone to sepsis and hypothermia, two of the main causes for death among newborns.

Also, the wide variation in IMR and MMR between districts is a cause for concern. The performance of urban centres, particularly, has been distressing, with the IMR falling less than in rural areas, until only a four point difference exists between rural and urban areas now.

The State, having moved ahead in terms of achievements in maternal and child health care, will have to, henceforth, sustain the faith and accelerate the momentum gained in the last few years. Community and voluntary organisations in providing health care, as stressed by K.S.Sanjivi, founder of VHS, must be galvanised to involve themselves in providing health care, Ms.Vaidyanathan added.

M.S.Swaminathan, president, VHS, presented the oration medal to Ms. Vaidyanathan. He said a lot of money was being spent in many programmes, but the outcomes were not quite what they were expected to be. One of the key features of the recently-introduced Food Security Bill is that for the first time, it looks at the food cycle, beginning with the pregnant women. E.S.Krishnamoorthy, secretary, and S.Janaki, medical superintendent, VHS, also spoke.

Keywords: health care, Girija Vaidyanathan, maternal health, child health, Maternal Mortality Rate, Infant mortality rate

http://www.thehindu.com/health/policy-and-issues/article2745113.ece

Madurai gilli

December 26th, 2011, 08:49 PM

It seems the inaugural function for APOLLO REACH Hospital at Karaikudi is also going to be held at the same time..:)

kannan infratech

December 27th, 2011, 08:20 AM

maxis <---> 2G <---> Vasan Eye Care

Whatta combo ?

madurakarenda

January 1st, 2012, 01:12 PM

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/8559/99353724.jpg

* The Government of Tamil Nadu has ordered the Medical dept head to construct the hospital in Medical College play ground.

* Stone laying ceremony will soon be held. The Specialty hospital is going to be comprised of 8 floors Medical dept sources said.

krishnaswamy

January 1st, 2012, 06:08 PM

maxis <---> 2G <---> Vasan Eye Care

Whatta combo ?
PC on "VASAN" eye care..really MEGA Combo..

Madurai gilli

January 18th, 2012, 05:08 AM

Scientists have now identified a potential new method to block the lifecycle of the Hepatitis C virus, which could lead to new therapies for those affected by the disease.

More than 170 million people worldwide suffer from Hepatitis C, the disease caused by chronic HCV infection. The disease affects the liver and is one of the leading causes of liver cancer and liver transplant around the world. HCV is spread by blood-to-blood contact and there is no vaccine to prevent it. Current treatments for the disease are only moderately effective and can cause serious side effects.

"As HCV infects a person, it needs fat droplets in the liver to form new virus particles,” said Francois Jean, Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Scientific Director of the Facility for Infectious Disease and Epidemic Research (FINDER) at UBC. "In the process, it causes fat to accumulate in the liver and ultimately leads to chronic dysfunction of the organ,” Francois Jean said.

“HCV is constantly mutating, which makes it difficult to develop antiviral therapies that target the virus itself. So we decided to take a new approach,” Francois Jean added.

Jean and his team developed an inhibitor that decreases the size of host fat droplets in liver cells and stops HCV from “taking residence”, multiplying and infecting other cells.

"Our approach would essentially block the lifecycle of the virus so that it cannot spread and cause further damage to the liver,” said Jean. According to Jean, HCV is one of a number of viruses that require fat to replicate in the human body. This new approach to curbing the replication of HCV could translate into similar therapies for other related re-emerging viruses that can cause serious and life threatening infections in humans, such as dengue virus.

The study has been published in the journal PLoS Pathogens.

http://www.thehindu.com/health/medicine-and-research/article2808276.ece

Madurai gilli

January 18th, 2012, 05:09 AM

Seasonal fruits ward off seasonal flu

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00895/HYM18ORANGE_895468f.jpg

Temperatures across the state dropped by 10 degrees over the last one week, increasing the chances of seasonal flu. The best way to boost your immunity is by eating seasonal produce. With an easy access to imported freights, we can now find winter fruits throughout the year. Several studies have, however, confirmed that eating fruits that are in season is more beneficial than indulging in imported fruits during off-season. Seasonal fruits are fresh, rich in taste, cost effective, available in plenty and packed with nutrients.

“Seasonal fruits never go out of demand. When they are in such abundance in India, why should somebody prefer imported ones?” asks Seetaram Reddy, Selection Grade secretary, Gaddiannaram Fruit Market. While India stands second in world fruit production after China, the major fruit-producing states are Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The chief seasonal fruits available this winter are apples, oranges, pomegranates,and to a small extent, strawberries. “These winter fruits are great sources of Vitamin C and help you ward off common cold and flu apart from keeping skin smooth and heal cuts and wounds. They help in prevention of micronutrient malnutrition and are beneficial even in case of cardiovascular diseases, cataract, diabetes and cancer. Their high mineral and fibre contents also aid in curing constipation during winter,” says M. Sowmya, nutritionist at National Institute of Nutrition (NIN). She advocates consuming fresh, locally available produce.

Oranges that come to the city from Nagpur, are cultivated in the Vidharbha region of Maharashtra. Local markets also offer oranges grown in sub tropical regions of AP. Oranges, being excellent sources of vitamin C, keep skin problems, common cold and flu at bay. These round and juicy citrus fruits are vital for hale and hearty bones and teeth. They also help in healthy functioning of mind and heart.

Pomegranates are supplied to the city from parts of Andhra and Maharashtra, in particular Solapur. Also called as ‘miracle fruit', they help fight cardiovascular diseases and anaemia. Apart from purification of blood, it is found to be beneficial in treatment of cough, piles, diarrhoea and constipation. It acts as an effective agent against certain cancers. It also prevents ageing of the skin.

Grapefruits also come to the city from subtropical regions of Maharashtra. They serve as blood purifiers and cure diseases related to skin, heart and obesity. These tangy tarts are also suggested to patients of hypertension. However, people under medication should consult their physician prior to its intake as they may have a negative reaction against few drugs.

http://www.thehindu.com/health/diet-and-nutrition/article2808422.ece

TShyam

January 21st, 2012, 01:43 PM

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government will soon make it mandatory for all private hospitals to notify tuberculosis cases as soon as they are detected. They should also update the treatment and follow-up events with the health department which will maintain an active tuberculosis registry.

The move comes in the wake of reports of a strain of tuberculosis bacteria, which is resistant to all known drugs, being detected in Mumbai. On December 21, doctors at PD Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre reported 12 cases of total drug-resistant (TDR) tuberculosis. Though experts across the country are debating whether these strains are as deadly as they are presented to be, officials in the state health department feel that they have to be prepared.

The government is also planning to make it mandatory for pharmacies to send copies of medical bills along with prescriptions of anti-TB drugs and details of patients. Health minister V S Vijay said government hospitals keep such records, but private hospitals seldom report the cases. "Keeping track of patients will help us prevent dropouts (from treatment regime) and misuse," he said.

In Chennai, the city corporation's health department has already started a registry, which will go online soon. "Doctors will have to notify the disease online and each patient will be followed up by health workers, without compromising patient's confidentiality," said chief health officer Dr P Kuganandam.

Usually treatment for TB is for six months. Some patients stop taking the drugs once the symptoms disappear. This is dangerous as the bacteria still present in the patient can develop resistance to the drug and spread. People who tested positive for drug resistance usually have a history of taking erratic dosage.

Public healthcare experts say that some doctors in the private sector tend to give antibiotic doses more than required. This would also lead to drug resistance, experts said. "Every healthcare worker should be held accountable. Doctors will have to follow good medical practice by prescribing the right drug and dosage," said Dr Nalini Krishnan, director, REACH, an NGO fighting TB.

Experts at the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT) said there is no cause for panic. The institute, a referral centre for TB treatment, has been seeing drug-resistant tuberculosis for the last four decades. "We can't yet say that there is a condition that cannot be treated by any of the TB drugs. We have to study more statistics and scientific evidence," said Dr R Balambal, senior clinician at the institute.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/State-on-offensive-against-TB-strain/articleshow/11574399.cms

N.kumar

January 21st, 2012, 03:47 PM

docs,

no discussions on additional 800 postings for phc or private nurses eligible for hospitals?/

bonoslack7

January 23rd, 2012, 03:59 AM

http://pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=67149&sid=1

Integrating the Food Safety Wing of the Directorate of Public Health and the Department of Drugs Control Administration, the government of Tamil Nadu has formed ‘Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration’ department (TNFS&DA).

Government has formed the department following the central act, Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Food Safety and Standard Rules, 2011. As part of the formation, Food and Drug Control Labs will be upgraded and modernized, for which the government has set apart Rs.50 crore.

T N Ramanathan, the present Commissioner of Indian System of Medicine has been made the first Commissioner of the TNFS&DA. Government has notified the formation of the department and the appointment of the Commissioner recently.

According to sources in the health department, the government formed the department after studying the systems in force in Maharashtra and Gujarat. It felt the need to form the department because of a series of health related incidents occurred in the last three years due to sale of adulterated and expired food products as well as expired drugs.

In 2010, a major expired drug racket was busted by the drug control administration in collaboration with the police department. So, the government on July 21, 2010 constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the former civil service commissioner, with director of public health, director of drugs control, and certain other senior health department officials as members. The committee submitted its report on December 23, 2010 to the government.

According to the recommendation of the committee, the government has brought the Food Safety Wing of the Directorate of Public Health and the Drugs Control Administration under one umbrella and formed the TNFS & DA department. However the two departments will function under two different Acts. The drug controlling authority under the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945 will act as the Director of the DCA under the newly formed department. The new department will function under the administrative control of Health & Family Welfare Department.

With the creation of TNFS & DA, government has given sanction for the creation of additional posts of one Additional Director in the drugs control administration for the formation of a new zone IV in Chennai, five senior drug inspectors, 42 drug inspectors, one system analyst and 3 data entry operators for strengthening the department of drugs control administration.

In addition to this, for strengthening the existing drug testing laboratory, the government will create three posts of senior analysts, two posts of lab technicians and three lab attendants.

The government formed the department despite opposition from certain quarters for integrating the drugs control administration with the food safety wing. A former director of Tamil Nadu drugs control has filed a case with the Madras High Court against throwing away the independent stance of the drugs control department.

N.kumar

January 24th, 2012, 12:38 PM

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/cm-declares-open-gdmc-additional-building/954940.html

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today declared opened Rs 43.67 crore five storey additional building for Government Dharmapuri Medical College by video conferencing from Chennai. Dharmapuri Collector R Lilly, who spoke, thanked the Chief Minister for dedicating the building to the people of the district. Former Minister K P Anbazhagan MLA, Dharmapuri District Panchayat Chairman R Anbazhagan, GDMC Dean G Bharathi were among those present. Jayalalithaa also declared open by video conferencing the newly constructed Rs. 1.49 crore worth Block Development Office building at Pappireddipatti in the district. PTI COR

bonoslack7

January 25th, 2012, 07:03 AM

http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu/Jayalalithaa-opens-20-PHCs-across-Tamil-Nadu/356742.html

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday inaugurated 20 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) constructed at a cost of `7.71 crore in various parts of the State, through video-conferencing at the Secretariat here.

She also declared open new buildings for 5 panchayat unions built at an expenditure of Rs 7.84 crore at Papanasam, Pattukottai, Avinasi, Palladam and Papireddypatti.

Among the schemes launched on Tuesday, in the Western region, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts would benefit from initiatives such as water supply projects and health infrastructure schemes.

The CM declared open a three-storey building that would house various State Departments, a Government Hospital building and a PHC in Tirupur district.

She also inaugurated a five-storey additional building for the Government Dharmapuri Medical College built at Rs 43.67 crore. For Coimbatore, she launched the Pilloor Phase-II water supply scheme and dedicated a Solid Waste Management Transit Station at Ukkadam.

Both the Pilloor dedicated water supply scheme and solid waste management transit station have been implemented by the Coimbatore Corporation with funds from the Centre and State under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. While the Pilloor water supply scheme has been implemented at an estimated Rs 129.74 crore, the solid waste management station has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 crore.

The CM also unveiled a Rs 5.33-crore scheme to construct check dams and small ponds across rivers and streams to increase the groundwater table in Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Tiruvannamalai.

The new PHCs were located at: Samayapuram, Konavattam, Sumaithangi, Koratti, Senthanadu, Ammakalathur, Kanjikoil, Malaiyapalayam, Vadakkupalayam, Thumbivadi, Begapalli, Mathiravelur, Puliyampatti, Ilambalur, Kanappadi, Thenmalai, Kalyanakuppam, Rapposal, Okkanadu Kezhaiyur and Lourdammalpuram.

Madurai gilli

January 29th, 2012, 03:53 AM

Millions of Indians are suspected to be carriers of the drug-resistant bug

After the scary New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 or the “superbug” was detected two years ago, the world is now faced with the community-acquired methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (ca-MRSA) bacterium that is resistant to almost all common antibiotics.

In India, where poor hygiene and the availability of over-the-counter antibiotics lead to development of resistance, an estimated 100 to 200 million people are reportedly already carriers of these virtually unbeatable killer bacteria. The killer bugs have also reached England, presumably through medical tourists who travelled to India for cosmetic surgery, and reportedly already infected several hundred people. A few cases have also turned up in Germany.

The bacterium has become a serious health threat in the United States. India had protested the naming of the superbug after New Delhi and denied its presence then. Now, the ca-MRSA is all set to raise another storm.

There is only one antibiotic left — a drug that is normally not even used anymore owing to its potentially fatal side effects — that is still effective against these killer bacteria. In serious cases, people who become infected with these types of pathogens die of urinary tract infections, wound infections or pneumonia. And, in contrast to the highly drug-resistant hospital-acquired MRSA (ha-MRSA) strains, which primarily affect the elderly and people in hospitals and nursing homes, ca-MRSA affects healthy young people.

An article written by Philip Bethge, Veronika Hackenbroch, Laura Hoflinger, Michael Leockx and Udo Ludwig for German news magazine Der Spiegel says the two bacteria, ha-MRSA and ca-MRSA, are only two strains from an entire arsenal of pathogens that are now resistant to almost all available antibiotics. Less than a century after the discovery of penicillin, one of the most powerful weapons ever produced by modern medicine, it threatens to become ineffective.

FEAR OF ‘PANDEMIC'

The British medical journal The Lancet warns that the drug-resistant bacteria could spark a “pandemic.” And, in Germany, the dangerous pathogens are no longer only feared “hospital bugs” found in intensive care units (ICUs). Instead, they have become ubiquitous.

The pathogens thrive in warm, moist environments. They can be found in people's armpits, in the genital area and in the nasal mucous membranes. Their hunting grounds are the locker rooms of schools and universities, as well as the community showers of prisons and health clubs.

The bacteria are transmitted via skin, through towels, clothing or direct body contact. All it takes is a small abrasion to provide them access to a victim's bloodstream. Festering pustules develop at the infection site, at which point the pathogens are also capable of corroding the lungs. If doctors wait too long, patients can die very quickly.

The dangerous bacteria have even been detected on one of Germany's high-speed ICE trains. Likewise, more than 10 per cent of the residents of German retirement homes have been reportedly colonised by MRSA bacteria. In their case, every open wound is potentially deadly. The pathogens have also been found in beef, pork and vegetables.

ALARMING FINDING

Another alarming finding is that about 3 to 5 per cent of the population carries the so-called ESBL-forming bacteria in the intestine without knowing it. Even modern antibiotics are completely ineffective against these highly resistant bacteria, the article warns.

Infestation with multidrug-resistant bacteria is normally harmless to healthy individuals because their immune systems can keep the pathogens under control. Problems arise when an individual becomes seriously ill.

Israel even experienced a nationwide outbreak a few years ago. Within a few months, about 1,300 people were afflicted by an extremely dangerous bacterium that killed 40 per cent of infected patients. Even today, the same bacterium still sickens some 300 people a year.

http://www.thehindu.com/health/medicine-and-research/article2840805.ece

^^ Are they serious that no antibiotic is effective against this Superbug? What about the drugs Vancomycin, Spectinomycin etc. ?

Is theren't any Combination for Vancomycin group of drugs with B-lactamase inhibitors like Sulbactam,tazobactam etc ?

Another doubt is "Is Vancomycin group, not a widely used antibiotic for MRSA infections? Are there any serious side effects in prescribing it? Shyam (or) Doccbe can throw some light on this.

TShyam

January 29th, 2012, 04:29 AM

--delete--

ganie006

January 30th, 2012, 04:23 AM

Meenakshi cardiac clinic opened @Thanjavur

SHARE · PRINT · T+
Meenakshi cardiac clinic was inaugurated by P.Vijayakumar, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Vallam subdivision, here on Sunday. The clinic has electrocardiogram, ECHO, tranesophageal echocardiography, treadmill test, laboratory services, and cardiology consultation. N.Sethuraman, Chairman of Meenakshi Hospitals, S.Gurushankar, chairman of the cardiac clinic, M.Rangasamy, Thanjavur MLA, and doctors Ananda Padmanabhan, Sampath Kumar, and Karthikeyan were present.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...cle2843804.ece

madurakarenda

February 2nd, 2012, 04:03 AM

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/2348/66254162.jpg

Dental clinics in 60 centers for rural hygiene across TN

madurakarenda

February 3rd, 2012, 09:03 AM

மருத்துவமனைகளில் மரக்கன்றுகள் நட அரசு டாக்டர்கள் திட்டம்

மதுரை, பிப்.3: அரசு மருத்துவமனை வளாகங்களில் மரக்கன்றுகள் நடும் திட்டத்தை மருத்துவர்கள் தொடங்க உள்ளனர்.

இதுகுறித்து அரசு மருத்துவர்கள் சங்கத்தின் மாநிலத் தலைவர் டாக்டர் கே.செந்தில் கூறியதாவது:

வரும் 12-ம் தேதி அரசு மருத்துவர்கள் சங்கத்தின் மாநில மாநாடு வேலூரில் நடைபெறுகிறது. இதில் 1000-த்துக்கும் மேற்பட்ட மருத்துவர்கள் கலந்துகொள்ள உள்ளனர். அரசு மருத்துவமனைகளில் பணிகளில் பாதிக்காதவகையில் மருத்துவர்கள் இதில் கலந்துகொள்வர்.

இந்த மாநாட்டின் முக்கிய அம்சமாக அரசு மருத்துவமனை வளாகங்களில் ஒவ்வொரு டாக்டரும் 1 மரக்கன்றை நட்டு பராமரிக்கும் திட்டம் அறிவிக்கப்பட உள்ளது. அதன்படி தமிழகம் முழுவதும் 15 ஆயிரம் மரக்கன்றுகள் நடும் திட்டம் செயல்படுத்தப்பட உள்ளது. இனி மருத்துவர்கள் மருத்துவச் சேவையுடன் பொதுமக்கள் நலன் சார்ந்த திட்டங்களிலும் கவனம் செலுத்துவார்கள். பொதுமக்களும் மருத்துவர்களின் பணிகளை புரிந்துகொள்ள வேண்டும். இந்த மாநாட்டில் மாநில சுகாதார அமைச்சரும் கலந்துகொள்ள உள்ளார் என டாக்டர் கே.செந்தில் தெரிவித்தார்.

http://www.dinamani.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D+%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D+%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%9F+%E0%AE%85%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%81+%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D+%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D&artid=547342&SectionID=164&MainSectionID=164&SEO=&SectionName=Latest

One sapling is to be planted by one doctor in Hospital (GH) premises and it will be maintained by him

murlee

February 7th, 2012, 10:59 PM

Tamil Nadu a role model in HIV/AIDS intervention: central team

A Central team from the National AIDS Control Organisation, New Delhi, which is in the State to evaluate the care, support and treatment programmes implemented by Tamil Nadu, has said that there are lessons here for the rest of the country to follow.

For instance, there is high praise for the targeted intervention programme undertaken for the transgender community, unlike in any other State in the country. Sanjeev Jain, technical expert, National Technical Support Unit, said, “Tamil Nadu is the first State that has taken efforts to provide services for transgenders. A welfare board for this community does not exist anywhere else in the country.”

Also, he remarked that 50 per cent of the high risk groups in the State have been linked with government services for care and continued support.

The programmes for targeted intervention groups that have been implemented in the State, some with the support of the non-governmental sector, are among the best in the country, Dr. Jain told The Hindu.

“All this should be converted to a learning site for the rest of the nation,” he added.

The broad categories that receive targeted intervention in Tamil Nadu are transgenders, female sex workers, men having sex with men, migrant workers, truckers and injecting drug users. Eighty-nine groups are being managed by TANSACS, in association with non-governmental organisations to take awareness, and care and support to these groups.

There are 43 centres providing anti-retroviral treatment for persons with HIV/AIDS in Tamil Nadu. About 90 Link ART centres have been started in government hospitals or block level primary health centres in rural and mofussil areas to take treatment closer to the people who require it. This includes 16 Link ART Plus Centres where testing and follow-up are also being done. Currently, about 58,000 people receive first line drugs and over 750, second line anti-retroviral treatment available in five centres.

Also, unique to Tamil Nadu is a project to provide free bus passes to people living with HIV so that they are able to travel to the ART Centre. They can travel twice a month to pick up drugs, which are also provided free of cost.

According to sources in TANSACS, efforts have also been initiated to bring private practitioners to report their cases to the State. While the identity of the patient can be concealed to preserve confidentiality, it is necessary to know the actual number of people who are being treated with ARTs in the private sector.

It is estimated that anywhere between 10,000 and 20,000 private practitioners are helping persons with HIV.

Already, this programme has been initiated in two districts, and has worked well in Kanyakumari district, sources added. It will be enforced in all districts soon.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2869702.ece

madurakarenda

February 8th, 2012, 08:38 PM

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/6048/73606392.jpg

30 beds to be added to Government hospitals

kongutamizhan

February 9th, 2012, 01:10 AM

Not related to TN. Thought it would be helpful for those who travel long-distance flight from/to US often.
----------------------------------------------------
http://uk.health.lifestyle.yahoo.net/economy-class-syndrome-a-myth.htm

Window seats on planes can up the risk of DVT
But economy class syndrome 'a myth'

Sitting in a window seat of an aeroplane during long distance flights can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), doctors say.

A window seat is one of the risk factors for DVT in long distance travellers outlined in new guidelines by the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), which say that a person's individual risk factors for blood clots should be taken into account before being offered preventative medicines.

Other risk factors highlighted include being elderly, pregnant or taking oral contraceptives.

The experts also say that so-called '"economy class syndrome" is a myth, as the risk of developing a blood clot during a long haul flight is the same for those travelling in first or business class.

Deep vein thromboses are blood clots which usually develop in the legs. If a clot breaks away, it can cause a potentially fatal blockage in the lungs known as a pulmonary embolism.

The new guidance, published in the journal Chest, says the risk of developing a blood clot on a long distance flight is "very small" for most people, but was strongest for flights taking longer than eight to ten hours, particuarly in those with other risk factors.

Prolonged sitting, such as in a window seat of a plane, where someone is less likey to get up and move around, can also increase the risk of DVT.

Guidelines co-author Dr Mark Crowther from McMaster University, Ontario, said: "Travelling in economy class does not increase your risk for developing a blood clot, even during long-distance travel.

"However, remaining immobile for long periods of time will. Long distance travellers sitting in a window seat tend to have limited mobility, which increases their risk for DVT. This risk increases as other factors are present."

Smoking and obesity were also identified as risk factors, but the doctors said they found no "definitive evidence" that either dehydration or drinking alcohol boosted the risk of DVT.

Medical conditions which can put a person at increased risk include having had recent surgery, a family history of blood clots and having heart disease.

The guidelines recommend that all long-haul passengers should take preventative measures such as getting out of their seats and walking around, and calf muscle stretches.

In addition to this, people at higher risk of DVT should sit in an aisle seat if possible and wear below-knee graduated compression stockings, they advised.

The doctors also advised against the use of aspirin or any other anti-coagulant medication to prevent DVT in long-distance travellers.

Drugs which can prevent blood clotting should only be considered on an individual basis for those at a higher risk of DVT as the "adverse effects may outweigh the risks," they said.

Dr Gordon Guyatt, who chaired the panel of experts which drew up the guidelines, said: "There has been a significant push in health care to administer DVT prevention for every patient, regardless of risk.

"As a result, many patients are receiving unnecessary therapies that provide little benefit and could have adverse effects."

"The decision to administer DVT prevention therapy should be based on the patients' risk and the benefits of prevention or treatment."

murlee

February 12th, 2012, 11:01 AM

Cethar to make foray into healthcare

Drawing up ambitious plans to venture into newer areas, leading private boiler manufacturer Cethar Limited has decided to make foray into the healthcare sector in a big way and in the information technology field soon.

The Tiruchi-headquartered company, which has positioned itself as one of the leaders in power plant equipment manufacture, has already embarked on constructing a 30-bed hospital here with specialities in women and childcare and gastroenterology.

The Rs.8-crore hospital with advanced equipment coming up in the upscale Thillai Nagar area is expected to go on stream in April. The multi-crore company also has plans to establish a state-of-the-art 300-bed multi-speciality hospital at Pirattiyur here and a 3,000-bed advanced hospital along the Tiruchi-Dindigul national highway near Ammapettai, a few kilometres from the city.

The 300-bed hospital is expected to start functioning in 2015, Chairman K. Subburaj said. As for the 3,000-bed hospital, he said it would come up in 105 acres by 2019.

The idea behind entering the healthcare sector was to enable people get high quality treatment in Tiruchi instead of going to Chennai, he told reporters on the sidelines of ‘Athenaeum 2012', a two-day international conference on management research organised by the Bharathidasan Institute of Management here on Saturday.

Stating that healthcare was a growing industry offering great opportunities, Mr. Subburaj said the company would pump in equity of Rs.100 crore into the healthcare sector and raise the balance funds through loans.

To help the poor patients, a separate trust would be started in which a certain portion of the company's profit would be deposited to foot their full medical expenses after obtaining their credentials, he said. Mr. Subburaj said the idea of venturing into the healthcare sector was his long-cherished vision adding that dedicated software would be developed with respect to hospital management system and insurance claims. The company also plans to venture into the information technology (IT) sector by starting a marketing office in the U.S. in July, he said.

With an employee strength of 8,500 and a turnover of Rs.2,500 crore, Cethar has planned to handle African companies by starting an overseas marketing office in Dubai in 2014. “We will be expanding our overseas office at Singapore”, added Mr. Subburaj.

http://www.thehindu.com/business/article2883323.ece

krishnaswamy

February 19th, 2012, 07:17 PM

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/426196_1897042162234_1727032514_921357_1685173368_n.jpg

madurakarenda

February 20th, 2012, 04:27 AM

Cooperative Medicare in Tamil Nadu

In a move that may significantly impact the healthcare system in Tamil Nadu, the cooperative department of the AIDMK govt has started a new insurance scheme that would primarily meet the medical needs of the poor people in the southern state.

Under the scheme, medical facilities of a high standard would be delivered to the needy, said cooperative minister S K Raju in Madurai.

About 100 identity cards have been distributed under the new scheme and 4 persons in each family would be able to avail themselves of 4 lakh rupees’ worth of medical facilities. The scheme is expected to cover nearly 7 hundred thousand people in Madurai district alone.

According to the cooperative minister, his department has already set up 100 medical shops where people are able to buy medicines at a reasonable price. More such medical stores would soon be established in the state.
The cooperative minister said his department is even toying with the idea of establishing a cooperative medical hospital in the state and he would soon be talking it over with the chief minister.

Sources knowledgeable on the cooperative affairs say the work being done by the State govt marks a milestone in the history of the cooperative movement in the country.

http://indiancooperative.com/maharashtragujaratncrandhrabiharkeralaorissaup/cooperative-medicare-in-tamil-nadu/

murlee

February 20th, 2012, 04:45 AM

Another medical insurance scheme?? Why can't this new one be dovetailed with the existing medical insurance scheme of the govt?? That is also for the poor, right??

karkal

February 20th, 2012, 04:56 AM

This is the same scheme but will be supplemented by co-op medical shops. It will help SG to negotiate better prices from drug manufacturers and maybe force few of them to put manufacturing plants here.

murlee

February 20th, 2012, 05:10 AM

cooperative department of the AIDMK govt has started a new insurance scheme that would primarily meet the medical needs of the poor people in the southern state.

Well.. It says in that article that it is a new scheme.. Anyways, as long as overlapping btwn the diff. schemes is avoided and it reaches the right people, its fine..

Still I would like to see a single integrated scheme avoiding any confusion..

karkal

February 20th, 2012, 06:48 AM

This article is from Indian cooperative society, they are trying to make it look like a cooperative insurance which in fact is just cooperative medical stores and I think it was reported earlier in the regular news articles.

madurakarenda

February 20th, 2012, 06:23 PM

I wanted to highlight that there are plans for Co operative hospitals my bad I didn't make it look bold

murlee

February 20th, 2012, 07:35 PM

U can do it now also.. Just press edit and do it..

madurakarenda

February 22nd, 2012, 03:33 PM

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/9615/11289374.jpg

MMHRC laboratory is said to be TN's largest. Is it true?

madurakarenda

February 26th, 2012, 02:13 AM

NEW DELHI: India's name has been struck off a shame list that the country hopes will not include it in the future. The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken India, which in 2009 had more polio cases than any other nation in the world, off its polio endemic list after not a single case of the crippling disease was reported for over a year.

Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad made the announcement on Saturday at a function where Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was also present. Now, only Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan are on the list as India has achieved a hard-fought success after years of sustained effort by the government, international agencies and dedicated medical professionals.

For the next two years, if India does not report any polio cases, it will be officially called "polio free" and Azad said that "WHO has taken India's name off the list of polio endemic countries in view of the remarkable progress that we have made during the past one year. Let us today resolve to make India polio free by 2014."

India's last case of polio was reported on January 13, 2011, from West Bengal.

Working to eradicate polio, thousands of volunteers have slogged in densely populated areas with poor hygiene and battled social and religious prejudice. It has meant working under difficult conditions and convincing local leaders, including religious figures, to support the anti-polio campaign.

According to the PM, the real credit for this major achievement goes to the 23 lakh volunteers who repeatedly vaccinated children "even in the most remote areas, often in very bad weather conditions. I commend each one of them for their dedication, for their commitment and for their selfless service."

India recorded 741 cases of polio in 2009 - nearly half the number of global cases. But in a remarkable turn of events, India reported one case of the crippling disease last year and recorded zero cases in over 12 months since then.

Globally, the fight against polio received a major impetus last year with India's successful containment of the virus. India's polio success led to a 34% decline in cases of paralytic polio in 2011 globally compared with the same period in 2010 (505 cases compared with 767 cases).

Also, cases due to the P1 strain of the virus - the more dangerous strain - declined by 35% (444 cases compared with 692), while cases due to the P3 strain dipped by 18% (61 cases compared with 75 cases).

However, while India was seeing numbers plummet, the other three polio endemic countries recorded a massive increase in their polio cases. In Nigeria, 2011 saw a fourfold increase in cases compared to the same period in 2010. Afghanistan and Pakistan suffered a 135% and 22% increase in cases, respectively - 20 cases compared to 47 cases, and 111 cases compared to 136 cases, respectively.

Since January 2010, 19 countries have had outbreaks of polio due to ongoing or new importations.

India has increased surveillance against polio along the Line of Control (LOC), bordering Pakistan which has recorded a major spurt in polio cases. Vaccination booths have been set up at Chakdabagh (Poonch) and Kaman (Baramulla) in Jammu and Kashmir, Munabao railway station in Rajasthan's Barmer district and at Wagah border and Attari railway station in Punjab to administer polio drops to all children below five years coming in from Pakistan.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/WHO-takes-off-India-from-polio-list/articleshow/12038508.cms

:cheers:

:applause:

karkal

March 4th, 2012, 02:02 AM

Health outlay to be hiked to 2.5% of GDP (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/government-and-policy/article2946471.ece)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/dynamic/00938/bl01_health_col_eps_938419f.jpg

The health outlay will be raised to 2.5 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) at the end of 12th Five-Year Plan (2017). This was decided in a meeting called by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

At present, allocation for health is around 1.4 per cent.

According to a statement issued by the PMO, now the Planning Commission will be requested to allocate adequate resources to achieve the target. This meeting was called on the direction of the Prime Minister.

It was also stated that as health is primarily a State subject, so the States' outlay for health would be critical in achieving this target. The Planning Commission may motivate and incentivise the States to allocate more funds for the health sector.

For this purpose the Planning Commission in consultation with the Health Ministry will also work out an appropriate mechanism or scheme for this purpose.

The Prime Minister has already stated the need for increased outlay on health sector during 12th Plan. He has also said that though funds for the health sector will not be a constraint, there is a need to create adequate capacity at the Centre and the States to meaningfully absorb the increased outlay.

The Health Ministry is working towards the goal of Universal Health Care for all.

In the meeting it was decided that the Ministry may set up a Central Procurement Agency early for bulk procurement of drugs. This has already been approved by the Cabinet. It is also required to prepare the Standard Treatment Protocols.

The Health Ministry has also been asked to strengthen facilities at the Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres and District Hospitals to provide a minimum package of care to all citizens through provision of cashless, hassle-free outpatient, inpatient and diagnostic care and supply of essential medicines.

karkal

March 4th, 2012, 06:09 AM

India Polio-free, Thanks to CMC War 30 Yrs Ago (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-poliofree-thanks-to-cmc-war-30-yrs-ago/235950-60-118.html)

VELLORE: It was a small war that started in Vellore. It then spread over to the entire Tamil Nadu and across India. Thanks to this relentless battle, the nation has been free of the dreaded polio for a year now.

Two institutions - the Christian Medical College Hospital and the Rotary International played a significant role in pioneering the drive against polio about 30 years back.

The man behind the initiative was vaccine expert Dr T Jacob John, a pediatrician-turned- virologist (now retired). Dr. John recalled that CMC and the Bombay Municipality were the only ones in the country which had access to polio vaccines way back in 1967, as the vaccines had to be imported from England.

Dr. John set up the country’s first diagnostic lab at CMCH after field studies indicated that in Vellore town alone, which had a population of less than 2 lakh then, as many as 51 children were affected by polio every year. His research also indicated that around 5 per cent of the children below the age of 5 were prone to polio attacks.

With the help of the Rotary Club of Vellore, vaccines gifted by the UK-based ‘Save the Children Fund’ were for the first time imported for mass vaccination programme. Oral vaccination using pulse immunisation technology developed by Dr. John was conducted in Vellore in 1981. School children from the district also took up a walkathon - ‘A walk for those who cannot walk’ - to create awareness on the disease. Over the nine months following the immunisation drive, no polio cases were reported in the town and by 1983, Vellore was polio-free.

In 1984, Clem Renouf, a past President of Rotary International from Australia, visited Vellore to learn about the programme. He was impressed by its success and advocated for it to be emulated not just in other parts of India but also at an international level. Thus was born the Polio Plus project. Dr John was then inducted into the planning committee of the Rotary International to supervise the global project. He helped procure a grant of US $2.6 million in 1986 to implement the project in Tamil Nadu with the cooperation of the then health minister Dr H V Hande in the MGR Government.

The vaccination drive from Vellore thus spread to other districts in the state and eventually to all parts of India.

At a special function organised by the Vellore Rotary Club here on Sunday, the pioneering members attached to Rotary District 323 as well as H V Hande are being felicitated here for their untiring efforts and contribution towards eradicating polio. Health Minister Dr. Vijay will be the chief guest on the occasion.

It Was an Accident

Vellore’s drive against polio vaccination happened to be an accident! According to Dr Jacob John, it all began with vaccination for measles. In 1978, the Vellore Rotary Club had received a gift of 12,000 doses of vaccine against measles from Canada and Jacob John and his team of doctors in CMC had vaccinated the children in Vellore, Arcot and Arakonam.

The state government, was inspired by the initiative and in 1985 Dr. John sent a proposal to the Planning Commission, Government of India to take up measles vaccination at the national level.

Going by Vellore’s success in measles vaccination, the World Health Organisation (WHO) partnered with Rotary International, UNICEF and the US-based Center for Disease Control for a global polio eradication initiative based on the Vellore model.

ganie006

March 5th, 2012, 05:09 AM

The Thanjavur Cancer Centre, run by the Jeeva Centenary Trust, has established a laryngectomy club to treat patients who loose voice due to head and neck cancer.

The club was inaugurated here on Saturday by Josh Thangaiah, deputy superintendent of police, Thanjavur Town.

Ten laryngectomy patients were enrolled and speech training was given by special oesophageal speech instructor Sorrfudin, who himself is a post-laryngectomy patient with an electronic larynx.

According to Arun Seshachalam, Radiation Oncologist of the Cancer Centre, nearly 4,000 cancer patients are diagnosed every year in composite Thanjavur district. Four hundred out of them have head and neck cancer.

Ninety per cent of head and neck cancer is caused by tobacco either by smoking cigarettes, beedis or chewing tobacco.

In western nations only 40 per cent of head and neck cancer patients come in a very advanced stage whereas in India 70 to 80 per cent of them come for treatment in an advanced stage. So, most of these people can not be cured by chemo radiation which is the treatment of choice for early head and neck cancer.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2962020.ece

karkal

March 11th, 2012, 09:20 AM

Novel study in TN to know gestational diabetes effects (http://www.thehindu.com/health/medicine-and-research/article2970820.ece) - Great initiative as we'll be the largest population affected by diabetes

For the first time in the country, 14,000 pregnant women will be screened for gestational diabetes (GDM), and equal number of women with and without gestational diabetes and children born to such mothers would be followed up for 15 years.

The screening programme was started two months ago by Dr. V. Seshiah Diabetes Research Institute and Dr. Balaji Diabtetes Care Centre in Chennai, together with the Tamil Nadu government. It is being done at three centres representing rural, semi-urban and urban populations. The three centres are at Thiruvallur, Siadapet and at Dr. V. Seshiah Diabetes Research Institute and Dr. Balaji Diabetes Care Centre. The World Diabetes Foundation is funding the programme.

Screening

“Screening of 14,000 women will be at random and those with gestational diabetes and equal number of women without GDM will be included in the programme,” said Dr. V. Balaji, Senior Diabetologist and Director of Dr. Balaji Diabetes Care Centre and Dr. V. Seshiah Diabetes Research Institute.

During the first year 7,000 women will be screened and another 7,000 women will be screened next year, bringing the total number of women who would be screened to 14,000.

15-year study

The programme will follow-up GDM mothers and children born to them for a period of 15 years (study group). During the same period, equal number of non-GDM mothers and their children will be followed up as controls. For instance, if 2,000 women with GDM are found during the screening, 2,000 non-GDM women will be enrolled as controls.

Gestational diabetes hovers at around 16 per cent in India. Studies have shown that children born to women with uncontrolled gestational diabetes are more prone to suffer from childhood obesity and have a higher risk of developing a metabolic syndrome like diabetes during their adulthood. Similarly, women with uncontrolled gestational diabetes also stand to suffer from diabetes at a later point in their life.

In this programme, the glucose level of all women with gestational diabetes will be controlled either through diet manipulation or insulin. Though some studies show that children born to mothers with gestational diabetes are more prone to developing diabetes, there is no hard data to support this. According to Dr. Balaji, this study will be the first to provide long term data of factors that cause diabetes in children even when they are born to women whose gestational diabetes has been controlled.

“Screening of pregnant women for gestational diabetes will be done immaterial of the gestation period,” said Dr. Balaji.

This becomes essential as gestational diabetes can be detected as early as at 16 weeks of gestation and even in those who have normal glucose level in the first and second trimester can turn up positive for gestational diabetes during the third trimester.

The pilot study conducted by Dr. Balaji, Dr. Seshiah and Dr. Madhuri Balaji together with the State government has been rolled out throughout the Tamil Nadu. Controlling gestational diabetes has now become a national programme and has been implemented in four States, including Bihar.

bonoslack7

March 14th, 2012, 03:21 PM

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1188999/1/.html

The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) has invested US$100 million for a minority stake in India's eye and dental care provider Vasan Health Care.

The Chennai-based company said in a statement that the investment was made through GIC's affiliates.

GIC joins Sequoia Capital and Westbridge Capital who are already investors.

Vasan will make use of the investment proceeds to expand its network of 102 eye hospitals and 14 dental clinics through a mix of organic as well as inorganic means.

Vasan's Chairman and Managing Director, Dr A M Arun said: "I am confident that the partnership with GIC will give Vasan the leverage to emerge as the world's leading healthcare provider."

Meanwhile, GIC's Global Head of Direct Investments Group Mr Ang Eng Seng said: "We are delighted to begin this partnership with Vasan. Dr Arun has, in a short span of time, built Vasan as a leader in the healthcare sector."

He added that "the completion of this transaction also underscores our commitment to increase our investments in India".

Vasan started off with a single eye care hospital back in 2002.

It has since expanded its footprint across the country with state-of-the-art eye care hospitals and dental clinics.

Currently, it employs over 600 ophthalmologists and over 140 dentists as part of its more than 6,000 workforce.

Vasan's hospitals treat over 25,000 patients on average a day and performs around 100,000 cataract surgeries a year.

karkal

March 14th, 2012, 03:56 PM

Singapore Sovereign Fund GIC has already invested in FORTIS and now VASAN. Looks like they are also building a large portfolio of healthcare companies similar to khazana's investment in Apollo which is a Malaysian Sovereign fund.

Hopefully Apollo's and Vasan's could grow into mega multi national companies having footprint across the globe.

chennaidesi

March 14th, 2012, 07:17 PM

True Vasan's kind of took assembly line eyecare into new heights and their franchise model is also doing well. These investers are smart invest only in money spinning companies.

kannan infratech

March 14th, 2012, 07:18 PM

IQ 180+ behind this.

karkal

March 14th, 2012, 10:44 PM

Health consequences in adults with low birth weight studied (http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/article2995004.ece)

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00951/TH15-CHILD-BRSC_951471f.jpg
CAUSE AND EFFECT: Nearly 30 per cent of infants born in India are underweight (less than 2.5 kg) due to under-nutrition in women before and during pregnancy. Photo: Vino John

Apart from reduced lean body mass, adults with low birth weight had higher diastolic BP

A unique study has found that male adults born more than 20 years ago with low birth weight (LBW) show differences in muscle mass, fat content and diastolic blood pressure compared with those born with normal body weight.

The study was done on adults from a rural area (Kaniyambadi) near Vellore, Tamil Nadu. The results were published recently in the European Journal of Endocrinology.

In total, 117 adults born at the Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, Tamil Nadu between 1986 and 1990 were recruited. Of these, 61 belonged to the low birth-weight category (less than 2.45 kg), while the rest had normal birth weight (between 3.1 kg and 3.5 kg). Low birth weight refers to individuals who weighed less for a given gestational age at birth.

The study gains importance as nearly 30 per cent of infants born in India are underweight (less than 2.5 kg). The primary reason for this is the under-nutrition in women before and during pregnancy.

This study, which looked at people who are more than 20 years old, provides vital information on what the long-term health effects are when born with low birth weight. The study has a limitation — there is no information on growth parameters collected at regular intervals during the last 20 years, particularly during childhood.

Babies who are underweight preserve their body fat at the cost of muscle mass even at the foetal stage. As a result, the muscle mass in these individuals is less than those with normal birth weight.

“Those adults born with low birth weight had reduced lean body mass than those with normal birth weight,” said Dr. Nihal Thomas, Head of the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, CMC, Vellore. He is the first author of the paper. Lean body mass refers to muscle mass. Muscles play an important role in glucose uptake and hence reduced muscle mass may probably increase the possibility of these individuals developing insulin resistance at a later stage.

“There is more risk of developing diabetes at a later stage when the muscle mass is less,” Dr. Thomas said. “So reduced lean body mass is an early marker for diabetes.”

Apart from reduced lean body mass, adults with low birth weight had decreased total mineral content.

Males belonging to both groups showed normal insulin sensitivity. However, five males (nearly 10 per) who had low birth weight had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), an early stage of diabetes. However, the study has no information on physical activity of the individuals. According to him, unpublished data shows that there was no difference in physical activity between the two groups.

Blood pressure

They also found that adults with low birth weight had higher diastolic blood pressure (2 mm Hg) than the control group. According to him, even this small difference is significant.

“Even though the difference is only 2 mm Hg, this difference is seen at an early age and in those with low Body mass index (BMI),” Dr. Thomas said. “As they grow this difference would probably become even more significant.”

Explaining the reason behind the increased blood pressure seen in the LBW group, he said, “the nephrone mass in the kidneys appear to be lower and their ability to excrete sodium [salt] is lower. Hence the retention of salt increases blood pressure.”

The adults who belonged to the low birth weight group were also relatively shorter than the control group. However, the parents of these people were also shorter than the control group. Hence a strong link between weight and height cannot be established.

karkal

March 19th, 2012, 08:49 PM

Diabetes costs India $38b annually: WHO (http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/diabetes-costs-india-38b-annually-who-457)

With 61.3 million people in India suffering from diabetes, care for the patients’ costs over $38 billion to the country annually, says the latest study by World Health Organisation.

The world spends $465 billion annually on the lifestyle disease and this is 11 per cent of the total healthcare expense.

According to the study, 366 million people across the globe were affected by diabetes in 2011, up from 346 million in 2008. It also predicts that 552 million people will be suffering from the disease by 2030. In India, which ranks second in terms of incidence, the total number of diabetic patients will grow from 61.3 million to 101.2 million by that time.

According to Vijay Viswa-nathan, managing director of M Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre and MV Hospitals in Chennai, which collaborated with WHO for the study, the annual cost was $31.9 billion in 2010 and it grew to $38 billion by 2011.

“The median annual direct cost per person in 2011 is $525 and indirect cost is $102. Direct medical cost includes medicine, consultation and investigation charges and direct non-medical cost in transportation expenses. Indirect costs refers to loss of salary and loss of working days of both the patient and attendee due to the illness,” he said. Globally, $1274 is spent on per person for diabetes care.

“For expenses over Rs 30,000, 81 per cent was made from personal savings of the patient and only two per cent was paid by health insurance companies.

ganie006

March 23rd, 2012, 05:22 AM

Thanjavur Meenaktshi hospital to open on June 2012

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3649/ce2303mn28tnjl.jpg

satishanu

March 23rd, 2012, 05:35 AM

^70 crores for multi speciality hospital in thanjavur. Not bad.

madurakarenda

March 23rd, 2012, 06:00 AM

^^ Great!! :) Now they have to go for the next plan of theirs!! i.e 160 acres Medicity and Medical varsity and Multi Specialty Hospital in Kottagudi near Melur in Madurai for which they were about to get funds via loan from HDFC six months back and land acquisition already over :cheers:

Source (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/article2231712.ece)

karkal

March 24th, 2012, 04:39 PM

State-run hospitals rake in moolah from new medical plan (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/State-run-hospitals-rake-in-moolah-from-new-medical-plan/articleshow/12387140.cms)

CHENNAI: Government hospitals have been displaying an uncharacteristically competitive streak since the state launched the new health insurance scheme two months ago. Treating more patients and earning more revenue in claims under the scheme, the hospitals plan to plough back the money into upgrading equipment and amenities and become a viable option for patients who now prefer private healthcare facilities.

Government hospitals have since January 11 submitted claims for 12.4 crore, more than a quarter of the total number of total payouts under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. The Government General Hospital, Chennai, the top earner among state-run healthcare facilities, submitted claims for 4.6 crore.

The state has from this year allowed government hospitals to use their earnings from the insurance scheme instead of handing the money over to the government and then waiting for grants. It has directed hospitals to use 60% of their profits on consumables and 25% to upgrade facilities. To encourage healthcare workers, the government has asked the hospitals to distribute 15% among doctors, nurses and paramedical staff as incentives.

Hospitals are awaiting guidelines from the government for distribution to staff, but most hospital administrators are happy with their revenue growth. "We plan to use the money from these funds to improve cleanliness and facilities in the wards," GH dean V Kanakasabai.

In May 2011, chief minister J Jayalalithaa scrapped the DMK's Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam, stating that government hospitals received only a negligible percentage of total medical payouts under the health insurance scheme. In around two years, of the 850 crore paid out under the previous health insurance scheme, only 1.2% or 10.49 crore went to government hospitals.

"We realized that making government hospital compete with private healthcare leads to cherry-picking. It left the government treating older and sicker patients. Easier cases were handled by private hospitals. The new regulation was brought in to improve productivity, quality and efficiency within government hospitals," said T S Selvavinayagam of Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project.

United India Insurance Company, which is implementing the scheme, had till Friday paid out more than 48 crore for around 17,000 procedures. General Hospital is followed by Government Stanley Hospital (1.3 crore) and Royapettah Government Hospital (62 lakh) among the three state-run facilities with the largest submitted claims.

Mukkesh

March 24th, 2012, 05:46 PM

[QUOTE=karkal;89769677]

The new scheme is definitely helping govt hospitals within one year. Let s hope this will improve facilities in GH.

If govt bans private practice by govt doctors like central institutes ,the revenues by govt hospitals may improve ten times.:nuts:

karkal

March 26th, 2012, 03:42 AM

Madras Medical College all set for new home (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/madras-medical-college-all-set-new-home-661)

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_vertical/article-images/26LEAD.jpg.crop_display.jpg
The new medical college building that is coming up at a cost of Rs. 57 crores at the erstwhile central prison premises. —DC
The prestigious Madras Medical College is all set to move into the new building coming up at the old Central Prison premises.

The construction work, which began on the sprawling 11-acre prison land in October 2010, is nearing completion and would be inaugurated by May, said sources.

The Medical College, currently located at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, is more than 100 years old and was not being able to satisfy the current requirements of the Medical Council of India (MCI).

The council had pointed out that the current classrooms in the old premises couldn’t accommodate additional students and better infrastructure was required for sanctioning more seats.

The state-of-the-art new building, which is being built at a cost of Rs 57 crore, has six floors (ground plus five) and will house the Anatomy, Microbiology, Forensics, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Community Medicine departments along with laboratories, hostels, canteen, common halls and examination halls.

Though the classrooms were designed to accommodate only 150 students, the MCI had made it clear that unless the infrastructure was improved to accommodate more students, the legendary institution would not be allotted additional seats.

“With the new building, we are trying to meet the criteria set by the MCI and make sure that the infrastructure is state-of-the-art and that it also meets future requirements,” said Dr Kanagasabai, dean of Madras Medical College.

Once the college is shifted to the new premises, the old building would be used for expanding the hospital.

karkal

March 28th, 2012, 07:04 AM

In Tamil Nadu, keep your homes clean or pay fine up to Rs 50,000 (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/in-tamil-nadu-keep-your-homes-clean-or-pay-fine-up-to-rs-50000/articleshow/12437352.cms)

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government is working on a proposal to impose fines up to 50,000 on people who don't clean their water tanks or have puddles that breed mosquitoes.

After nearly 73 years, the state is planning to bring amendments to the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939, which will empower civic bodies to monitor, inspect and fine people for allowing mosquitoes to breed in their homes and offices.

Though states like Maharashtra, Delhi and Kerala impose hefty fines for people who don't maintain clean premises, laws in Tamil Nadu had remained weak and unimplemented. When the health minister moves the demand for grants for his department on April 10, he is likely to push for amendments to the Act, senior officials said.

"We have not yet decided on imprisonment for repeat offenders, but we want to increase the fines. Now no fines are collected because the Act prescribes 2 to 10," said director of public health Dr R T Porkai Pandian. In rare cases, cities like Chennai have imposed fines of up to 1,000.

Stagnant water in sumps, water tanks and gardens are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. According to figures from the country's National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, India records around 1,000 deaths every year due to malaria. The World Health Organisation puts the number much higher, at 15,000. Nearly 60% of malaria cases in Tamil Nadu are reported from Chennai. There is also an increase in the number of dengue and chikunguniya cases across the state in the last five years. Though civic bodies like Chennai Corporation deny that there have been deaths, doctors say they have been seeing deaths due to dengue.

Health authorities say they have tried options, including repellents and a species of fish to kill larvae, besides taking up fogging operations. They blame the spread of the disease on people's carelessness in not properly cleaning their properties and eliminating mosquito breeding grounds. "We have been seeing mosquito-borne diseases throughout the year. Most of these diseases are caused due to breeding in fresh water in and around the house. The majority of mosquito breeding occurs in as little as 5mm of water - such as in plant pots or coconut shells. If we don't stop this, we won't be able to prevent diseases," said Dr Pandian.

Senior healthcare experts are sceptical about the government's plan. "There are enough powers vested with the civic authorities even now, but prevention work does not happen. Despite a ban we have not been able to stop smoking and spitting in public places. Many laws remain just on paper," said a general physician, who refused to be named.

Officials are poring over legislations from other states to define and describe how to prevent vector breeding and control pests and rodents at homes, hotels, public places and industries. Modifications to the rules will soon make it mandatory for people to take vector-control certificates before getting building approval. "We will ask people to pay a small fee to the civic bodies to under take vector control measures in all construction sites," said a senior official.

Government is also planning amendments to the public health code that will give it powers to screen passengers at airports and sea ports, and impose health safety measure at congregations.

kongutamizhan

March 31st, 2012, 06:25 PM

Thought of posting it in AA. But it's an important issue and don't want it to get lost in the midst of AA thread, so here. Many of us may not even know that we may be suffering from it :)
------------------------------

மனநோயோடு மல்யுத்தம்!

அகிலேஷ்வர் சகாய். வயது 50. டெல்லிக்கு அருகில் குர்கானில் செயல்படும் ஒரு பெரிய நிறுவனத்தின் போக்குவரத்து தொடர்பான பிரிவின் இயக்குனர். நிறுவனத்தின் மிக முக்கியமான கை. அவருடைய ஒவ்வொரு நிமிடமும் பல்லாயிரம் ரூபாய்கள் மதிப்பு வாய்ந்தது. எப்போது பார்த்தாலும் பிசினஸ் மீட்டிங். விமானத்தில் பறந்துக்கொண்டே இருப்பார். பரபரப்பாக இயங்கிக் கொண்டிருக்கும் அகிலேஷ்வர் ஒரு செயின் ஸ்மோக்கர். ஆறாவது விரலாய் சிகரெட் புகைந்துக் கொண்டேயிருக்கும். சிகரெட்டின் தீமையை நன்கு அறிந்திருந்தும், “நான் ஓய்வே இல்லாதவன். நொடிக்கு நான்கு முறை கோபப்படும் மனிதன். இதனால்தான் சிகரெட் பழக்கம்” என்று புன்னகைக்கிறார். ஏழு ஆண்டுகளாக இந்த நிறுவனத்தில் பணிபுரிகிறார். தீவிரமான மனநோயோடு ஒரு நிறுவனத்தின் உயர்பதவியில் பணிபுரிபவர், அனேகமாக இவர் ஒருவர் மட்டுமாகதான் இருப்பார்.

அடுத்த ஒரு பத்தியினை கொஞ்சம் லேசாக கற்பனை செய்துப் பாருங்கள்.

உங்களை நாளை காலை தன்னோடு வாக்கிங் அழைத்துச் செல்ல பிரதமர் மன்மோகன் சிங் அழைத்திருக்கிறார். மறுநாள் மதிய உணவு அமெரிக்க அதிபர் ஒபாமாவுடன். அதற்கு அடுத்த நாள் மாலையில் பிரான்ஸ் அதிபர் சர்கோஸியுடன் பாரிஸ் நகரை வலம் வரவேண்டும். இடையில் இங்கிலாந்து ராணி வேறு சந்திப்புக்கு நேரம் கேட்டுக் கொண்டிருக்கிறார். உலகநாடுகளின் அதிபர்களும், தலைவர்களும் உங்களை சந்திக்க, பேச, பழக ஒற்றைக்காலால் தவம் செய்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள்.

புன்னகையோடு படித்திருப்பீர்கள். கற்பனைக்கு நன்றாகத்தான் இருக்கிறது, இதெல்லாம் நடக்கிற காரியமா என்று யதார்த்தமாக யோசித்துவிட்டு, அடுத்தப் பத்திக்கு நகர்ந்து விட்டீர்கள் இல்லையா?

அகிலேஷ்வருக்கு இந்த இடத்தில் தான் பிரச்சினை. இதுமாதிரியான அதீத கற்பனை அவரது உள்ளத்தில் தோன்றும். அந்த கற்பனை உண்மையென்று நினைத்து, அது தொடர்பான முயற்சிகளில் மூழ்கிவிடுவார். அதாவது நிஜமாகவே நாளை காலை மன்மோகன் சிங்கோடு வாக்கிங் போகவேண்டுமென்று நினைத்துக் கொண்டு, டிராவல் ஏஜென்ஸியில் டெல்லிக்கு பிளைட் டிக்கெட் புக் செய்துவிடுவார். டெல்லியில் இருந்து வாஷிங்டனுக்கு... அங்கிருந்து பாரிஸுக்கு...

பின்னர் இதெல்லாம் நடக்காதபோது அவருக்கு ஏற்படும் மனச்சோர்வுக்கு எல்லையே இருக்காது.

நினைத்துப் பார்க்கவே விபரீதமாக இல்லை?

ஒருமுறை இப்படித்தான். திடீரென்று தன்னுடைய வங்கியின் வாடிக்கையாளர் சேவைப்பிரிவுக்கு தொலைபேசினார் அகிலேஷ்வர். தனக்கு உடனடியாக மூன்று லட்ச ரூபாய் லோன் வேண்டும் என்று கேட்டு வாங்கினார். அடுத்த நான்கு நாட்களிலேயே மூன்று லட்ச ரூபாயை எதற்காக செலவழிக்கிறோம் என்ற உணர்வே இல்லாமல் செலவழித்து விட்டார். என்னென்ன செலவழித்தோம் என்று அவருக்கு நினைவேயில்லை. அதன் பின்னர் அவர் தனது மணிபர்ஸில் ஐம்பது ரூபாய்க்கு மேல் வைத்துக் கொள்வதே இல்லை.

இது எந்தமாதிரியான பிரச்சினை? ஸ்க்ஸோப்ரீனியா மாதிரி வாயில் நுழையாத எண்ணற்ற மனநோய்களில் ஒன்று பிபோலர் டிஸார்டர் (Bipolar Disorder). இந்த நோய் இருப்பவர் பணித்திறன் குன்றியிருப்பார். குடிக்காமலேயே குடித்தவரைப் போல நடந்து கொள்வார். அல்லது ஏடாகூடாமாக சிந்திப்பார். ஆரம்பத்திலேயே தகுந்த மனநல மருத்துவரிடம் சிகிச்சை பெறாவிட்டால், மிக மோசமான விளைவுகளுக்கு இந்நோய் இட்டுச்செல்லும்.

இயல்பான மனநிலையை மாற்றியமைப்பது தான் இந்நோயின் மோசமான ஒரு தாக்குதலாக சொல்லலாம். மகிழ்ச்சியாக இருக்க வேண்டிய நேரத்தில் மிகவும் சோகமாக மனம் உணரும். தூங்க வேண்டும் என்ற மனநிலை வரவே வராது (Insomnia). தூக்கமின்மையால் தன்னம்பிக்கை குறையும். நாளுக்கு நாள் இனம் தெரியாத குற்றவுணர்ச்சி அதிகரித்துக்கொண்டே செல்லும். இறுதியாக தற்கொலை எண்ணம் வலுப்பெறும்.

அகிலேஷ்வர் சகாய்க்கு ஏன் இந்நோய் வந்தது என்று குறிப்பாகச் சொல்லமுடியவில்லை. அவருடைய கடந்தகால பணிகளும் இதற்கு காரணமாக இருந்திருக்கலாம்.

தன்னுடைய இருபதாவது வயதில் சகாய், டெலிகிராப் அலுவலகத்தில் பணிபுரிந்து கொண்டிருந்தார். இரவுகளில் பணி. பகலில் படிப்பு. படிப்பு முடிந்தவுடன் தேசிய வங்கி ஒன்றில் பணியாற்றினார். 1991லிருந்து 1997 வரை கொங்கன் ரயில்வேக்காக அவர் பணியாற்ற வேண்டியிருந்தது. பணப்பரிமாற்றத்துக்கு பொறுப்பாக இருந்ததால் ஒரு நாளைக்கு பதினெட்டு முதல் இருபது மணி நேரங்கள் வரை அவர் உறக்கமின்றி பணியாற்ற வேண்டியிருந்தது. பணியாற்றிய நிறுவனங்களில் எல்லாம் வேலை பார்ப்பதில் இவர் சூரப்புலி என்றே பெயர் வாங்கினார்.

மிகச்சரியாக இதே காலக்கட்டத்தில் தான் அவருக்கு மனநோய் உருவாகியிருக்கும் என்று தெரிகிறது. வேலையை எழுதிக் கொடுத்துவிட்டு எஸ்ஸார் ஸ்டீல் நிறுவனத்தில் இணைந்திருந்தார். வேலை பார்ப்பது அவருக்கு கசந்த காலக்கட்டம் இது. இவரது வாழ்க்கையை மனநோய் கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சமாக தின்றுக் கொண்டிருந்தது. தூக்கம் என்பதே அரிதாகிவிட்டது. சோம்பல், சோர்வு. வாழ்வதே நரகம்.

நண்பர்கள் சிலரின் ஆலோசனையின் பேரில் மனநல மருத்துவர்களை தொடர்பு கொண்டார். மருத்துவர்கள் உதவியால் தனக்கு பிபோலர் டிஸார்டர் இருப்பதை கண்டுகொண்டார். இந்நோய் மூளையின் செயல்பாடுகளை கடுமையாக பாதிக்கிறது. நம்மில் நூற்றில் ஒருவர் கடுமையாகவும், நான்கு பேர் மிதமாகவும் இதே மனநோயால் பாதிக்கப்படுகிறோம். இந்நோயின் தாக்கத்தை குறைக்க வீரியமான மருந்துகள் தேவைப்படும்.

இந்தியாவில் பெரிய நிறுவனங்களில் உயர்பொறுப்பு வகிக்கும் அதிகாரிகள் மட்டத்தில், அனேகமாக இந்நோய் கண்டறியப்பட்டிருப்பது சகாய் விஷயத்தில் தான். பலருக்கும் இருக்கலாம். ஆனால் சமூகத்தில் பெரிய பெயருடன் இருப்பவர்கள் மனநோய்க்கு மருத்துவம் பார்ப்பதை வெளிப்படையாக சொல்ல விரும்புவதில்லை. தமக்கு மனநோய் இருப்பதாக மருத்துவரால் சொல்லப்பட்டாலும், அதை ஒத்துக்கொள்ள பெரிய மனிதர்களின் ஈகோ இடம் தருவதில்லை என்பதும் இங்கே குறிப்பிட வேண்டிய ஒன்று. அமெரிக்க கார்ப்பரேட் நிறுவனங்களில் பணிபுரியும் அதிகாரிகளில் ஐந்து முதல் பத்து சதவிகிதம் பேருக்கு மனச்சோர்வு நோய் இருப்பதாகவும், அவர்களில் 90 சதவிகிதம் பேர், இதற்காக சிகிச்சை எடுத்துக் கொள்வதில்லை என்றும் ஒரு ஆய்வு தெரிவிக்கிறது.

தற்போது சகாய் பணிபுரியும் நிறுவனத்தின் தலைவர் வினாயக் சாட்டர்ஜி, இவரது மனநோய் குறித்து தெரிந்தே பணிக்கு சேர்த்தார். சகாயை இந்நிறுவனம் குழந்தை மாதிரி பார்த்துக் கொள்கிறது என்று சொன்னால் மிகையாகவே தெரியும். ஆனால் அப்படித்தான் பார்த்துக் கொள்கிறார்கள்.

“அவர் அடிக்கடி கோபப்படுவார். திடீரென விடுப்பு எடுப்பார். அதெல்லாம் எங்களுக்கு பிரச்சினையில்லை. அலுவலகத்தைப் பொறுத்தவரை அவர் வைரம். வைரத்தை யாராவது வேண்டாமென்று சொல்லுவார்களா?” என்று சொல்லி சிரிக்கிறார்கள் சக அலுவலர்கள். சகாய் வேலை பார்க்கிறாரா என்பதைவிட ஒழுங்காக தூங்குகிறாரா என்பதை உறுதி செய்துக் கொள்கிறது அவரது நிறுவனம். ஏனெனில் உறக்கம்தான் பல பிரச்சினைகளுக்கும் தீர்வான ஒரே மருந்து.

“இப்போது எனக்கு ஏற்பட்டிருப்பது தற்காலிக நிவாரணம். எவ்வளவு நாட்களுக்கு இந்த நிலை நீடிக்கும் என்று தெரியாது. வாரத்தில் ஏதாவது ஒருநாள் மறந்துபோய், நான் மருந்து உட்கொள்ளாவிட்டாலும் கூட பழைய நிலைக்கு போய்விடக் கூடிய ஆபத்து எப்போதும் இருக்கிறது. மனநோயை தனிமனிதனாக வெல்வது என்பது சாத்தியமற்றது. சமூகத்தின் ஒத்துழைப்பு இல்லாமல் யாரும், எதையும் வென்று விடமுடியாது!” என்று பணிவாக சொல்கிறார் சகாய்.

நிறுவனங்களின் கடமை!

இன்றைய பரபரப்பான சூழலில் நம்மில் பலருக்கும், நாம் அறியாமலேயே மனம் தொடர்பான நோய்கள் இருக்கக்கூடும். உடல் தொடர்பான நோய்களைப் போன்று வெளிப்படையான அறிகுறிகள் தென்படாததால் நாம் இயல்பாக இருப்பதாகவே நம்பி தேவையான சிகிச்சை எடுத்துக் கொள்வதில்லை.

குறிப்பாக விளம்பர நிறுவனங்களில் பணிபுரிபவர்கள், பத்திரிகையாளர்கள், பி.பி.ஓ பணியாளர்கள் போன்றவர்கள் காலக்கெடுவுக்குள் (Deadline) பணியை முடிக்க, தூக்கத்தைத் துறந்து பணியாற்றுபவர்களுக்கு மனச்சோர்வு நோய் ஏற்பட வாய்ப்புகள் அதிகம். இதனால் பணித்திறன் குறைந்து இவர்களுக்கு அலுவலகத்திலும் கெட்ட பெயர். பணி உயர்வு, சம்பள உயர்வு போன்றவை இல்லாது, அலுவலக டென்ஷனை வீட்டிலும் ‘வள்’ளென்று காட்டுவார்கள். சில நாட்களிலேயே சமூகத்தோடு ஒன்றமுடியாமல் தங்களை தாங்களே தனித்துக் கொள்வார்கள்.

தங்கள் ஊழியர்கள் ஒழுங்காக உணவு உட்கொள்கிறார்களா என்று கேண்டீனெல்லாம் அமைத்து அக்கறையோடு பார்த்துக் கொள்ளும் நிறுவனங்கள், அவர்கள் உறங்கினார்களா, பணிச்சுமை ஊழியர்களுக்குள் சமமாக பகிர்ந்துக் கொள்ளப்படுகிறதா என்பதையும் கண்காணிக்க வேண்டும்.

(நன்றி : புதிய தலைமுறை)