News Analysis India

Tag: Doctors

  • No separate law to prohibit violence against doctors, healthcare professionals: Centre

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Central government has decided not to enact separate legislation for prohibiting violence against doctors and other healthcare professionals, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

    In a written reply, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said that a draft of the Healthcare Services Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019 was prepared and was also circulated for consultations.

    “Thereafter it was decided not to enact a separate Legislation for prohibiting violence against doctors and other health care professionals,” he said to a question on the reasons for the withdrawal of the Bill, which intended to protect healthcare professionals and institutions.

    Mandaviya said that the matter was further discussed with relevant ministries and departments of government as well as all stakeholders, and an ordinance namely The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated on April 22, 2020.

    However, the government, on September 28, 2020, passed the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020 under which acts of violence against healthcare personnel during any situation were considered cognizable and non-bailable offences.

    Speaking with TNIE, Dr Rohan Krishnan, National Chairman, FAIMA Doctors Association, said that there have been many cases of violence against doctors and health professionals in the past few months inside the government hospitals, but the union health ministry has not taken their demand to have a separate law for providing safety and security to healthcare workers and doctors seriously.

    “The government needed us during the Covid-19 pandemic and came out with rules and regulations. We also felt safe and secure. But now that Covid-19 is declining and we were able to bring normalcy, the government is showing its true colours. It is shameful,” he said.

    “The government is not standing up to its promise of bringing a separate law to prohibit violence against doctors and healthcare professionals,” he added.

    “On the one hand, it has failed to provide mental and physical safety and security to the doctors and healthcare professionals; on the other hand, instead of having verbal communication with us regarding this matter, the government is denying any scope of providing a separate law in the future. This is a very serious issue. We will raise this issue at every level,” Dr Krishnan said.

    Under the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, the commission or abetment of acts of violence or damage or loss to any property is punishable with imprisonment for a term of three months to five years, and with a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 2,00,000.

    In case of causing grievous hurt, imprisonment shall be for a term of six months to seven years and with a fine of Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 5,00,000.

    In addition, the offender shall also be liable to pay compensation to the victim and twice the fair market value for damage to property.

    Since, law and order is a state subject, State, and Union Territory governments also take appropriate steps to protect healthcare professionals/institutions under provisions under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)/Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the minister said.

    To another question on the number of security guards hired/outsourced by government hospitals in the country, the Minister of State for Health Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar said that public health and hospitals are state subjects, therefore no such data is maintained centrally.

    NEW DELHI: The Central government has decided not to enact separate legislation for prohibiting violence against doctors and other healthcare professionals, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

    In a written reply, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said that a draft of the Healthcare Services Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019 was prepared and was also circulated for consultations.

    “Thereafter it was decided not to enact a separate Legislation for prohibiting violence against doctors and other health care professionals,” he said to a question on the reasons for the withdrawal of the Bill, which intended to protect healthcare professionals and institutions.

    Mandaviya said that the matter was further discussed with relevant ministries and departments of government as well as all stakeholders, and an ordinance namely The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated on April 22, 2020.

    However, the government, on September 28, 2020, passed the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020 under which acts of violence against healthcare personnel during any situation were considered cognizable and non-bailable offences.

    Speaking with TNIE, Dr Rohan Krishnan, National Chairman, FAIMA Doctors Association, said that there have been many cases of violence against doctors and health professionals in the past few months inside the government hospitals, but the union health ministry has not taken their demand to have a separate law for providing safety and security to healthcare workers and doctors seriously.

    “The government needed us during the Covid-19 pandemic and came out with rules and regulations. We also felt safe and secure. But now that Covid-19 is declining and we were able to bring normalcy, the government is showing its true colours. It is shameful,” he said.

    “The government is not standing up to its promise of bringing a separate law to prohibit violence against doctors and healthcare professionals,” he added.

    “On the one hand, it has failed to provide mental and physical safety and security to the doctors and healthcare professionals; on the other hand, instead of having verbal communication with us regarding this matter, the government is denying any scope of providing a separate law in the future. This is a very serious issue. We will raise this issue at every level,” Dr Krishnan said.

    Under the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, the commission or abetment of acts of violence or damage or loss to any property is punishable with imprisonment for a term of three months to five years, and with a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 2,00,000.

    In case of causing grievous hurt, imprisonment shall be for a term of six months to seven years and with a fine of Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 5,00,000.

    In addition, the offender shall also be liable to pay compensation to the victim and twice the fair market value for damage to property.

    Since, law and order is a state subject, State, and Union Territory governments also take appropriate steps to protect healthcare professionals/institutions under provisions under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)/Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the minister said.

    To another question on the number of security guards hired/outsourced by government hospitals in the country, the Minister of State for Health Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar said that public health and hospitals are state subjects, therefore no such data is maintained centrally.

  • 50% state superspeciality seats can be for NEET-qualified in-service doctors: Supreme Court

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday permitted the Tamil Nadu government to earmark 50% of superspeciality seats in government medical colleges to NEET-qualified in-service candidates for the academic year 2022-23 in the state.  The permission was granted by a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath in a clarification plea filed by the state government and in-service candidates as per the ruling of the Madras High Court on November 18. 

    On a plea filed by in-service candidates seeking a direction to the centre and the state to reserve 50% superspeciality seats in DM/M.Ch courses in government medical colleges for in-service doctors for the academic year 2022-2023, Justice Suresh Kumar of the Madras HC had ruled that since the matter is pending before the SC, the state can approach the SC seeking clarification regarding the applicability of the Tamil Nadu government’s notification dated November 7, 2020, of reserving 50% of seats in government medical colleges for in-service candidates for 2022-23. 

    The SC bench also directed the state to fill the seats as per the Tamil Nadu government order dated November 7, 2020, within a period of 15 days. On the 16th day, TN will inform the centre with regard to all the seats that remain unfulfilled from in-service candidates. The vacant seats will be permitted to be filled by the Union of India on the basis of all-India merit list, the apex court said while posting the matter for detailed hearing on February 14, 2023.

    In N Karthikeyan’s case, Justice LN Rao of the SC had refused to stay TN’s notification and had said that states are competent to provide reservation for in-service doctors in superspeciality courses.  

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday permitted the Tamil Nadu government to earmark 50% of superspeciality seats in government medical colleges to NEET-qualified in-service candidates for the academic year 2022-23 in the state.  The permission was granted by a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath in a clarification plea filed by the state government and in-service candidates as per the ruling of the Madras High Court on November 18. 

    On a plea filed by in-service candidates seeking a direction to the centre and the state to reserve 50% superspeciality seats in DM/M.Ch courses in government medical colleges for in-service doctors for the academic year 2022-2023, Justice Suresh Kumar of the Madras HC had ruled that since the matter is pending before the SC, the state can approach the SC seeking clarification regarding the applicability of the Tamil Nadu government’s notification dated November 7, 2020, of reserving 50% of seats in government medical colleges for in-service candidates for 2022-23. 

    The SC bench also directed the state to fill the seats as per the Tamil Nadu government order dated November 7, 2020, within a period of 15 days. On the 16th day, TN will inform the centre with regard to all the seats that remain unfulfilled from in-service candidates. The vacant seats will be permitted to be filled by the Union of India on the basis of all-India merit list, the apex court said while posting the matter for detailed hearing on February 14, 2023.

    In N Karthikeyan’s case, Justice LN Rao of the SC had refused to stay TN’s notification and had said that states are competent to provide reservation for in-service doctors in superspeciality courses.  

  • Non-binary people face bias from doctors, says study

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Non-binary people who don’t identify themselves with any gender face more social stigma, biases and less access to sexual and reproductive health from doctors and other frontline workers as they don’t understand their unique health concerns, according to a latest pulse-check survey conducted by Dasra, a philanthropic organisation, UNICEF and other NGO partners.

    However, it is not just the non-binary who face social stigma and discrimination. The survey found that women, especially unmarried women in the age group of 18-29 years, said they find it difficult to access contraception or approach healthcare and frontline workers like ASHAs and Aganwadi workers as they are at times not understanding, biased and don’t keep their information confidential. Single men, however, don’t face this uncomfortable situation.

    “Young people were not comfortable identifying themselves as non-binary. They said the biggest barrier was the high cost in finding healthcare providers, gynaecologists etc., who are respectful and can provide care to young people, specifically who don’t identify in the gender binary,” said Aditi Agrawal, Project Lead, Youth Ke Bol (YKB), a pan-India, diverse and representative one million-strong youth-led coalition. Dasra formed the YKB in partnership with UNICEF YuWaah, and other NGOs like Restless Development and Yuvaa.  

    The survey, compiled into a report Youth Speak, was conducted in tier-2 and tier-3 cities in six states, including Tamil Nadu, on young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health and potential solutions to ensure improved access to contraception.  

    The study said over 95 per cent of the respondents wished that all young people in India could confidently walk up to a store and buy reproductive health products, including contraceptives. Agrawal said non-binary shared that they are asked questions by healthcare workers like ‘why they need contraception’. 

    “They said there is a lot of discrimination based on their identity. They face stigma as they don’t fit into either male or female. Their appearance and dress etc., have led to a lot of stigmas. They have also shared that they experienced violence because of their gender identity,” Agrawal told this newspaper. “All young people, irrespective of their sexual identity, who were unmarried and accessing contraception, especially women, found themselves facing stigma,” he said. 

    Unmarried people face discriminationUnmarried women in the age group of 18-29 years said they find it difficult to access contraception or approach healthcare and frontline workers like ASHAs and Aganwadi workers as they are at times not understanding, biased and don’t keep their information confidential.

    NEW DELHI: Non-binary people who don’t identify themselves with any gender face more social stigma, biases and less access to sexual and reproductive health from doctors and other frontline workers as they don’t understand their unique health concerns, according to a latest pulse-check survey conducted by Dasra, a philanthropic organisation, UNICEF and other NGO partners.

    However, it is not just the non-binary who face social stigma and discrimination. The survey found that women, especially unmarried women in the age group of 18-29 years, said they find it difficult to access contraception or approach healthcare and frontline workers like ASHAs and Aganwadi workers as they are at times not understanding, biased and don’t keep their information confidential. Single men, however, don’t face this uncomfortable situation.

    “Young people were not comfortable identifying themselves as non-binary. They said the biggest barrier was the high cost in finding healthcare providers, gynaecologists etc., who are respectful and can provide care to young people, specifically who don’t identify in the gender binary,” said Aditi Agrawal, Project Lead, Youth Ke Bol (YKB), a pan-India, diverse and representative one million-strong youth-led coalition. Dasra formed the YKB in partnership with UNICEF YuWaah, and other NGOs like Restless Development and Yuvaa.  

    The survey, compiled into a report Youth Speak, was conducted in tier-2 and tier-3 cities in six states, including Tamil Nadu, on young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health and potential solutions to ensure improved access to contraception.  

    The study said over 95 per cent of the respondents wished that all young people in India could confidently walk up to a store and buy reproductive health products, including contraceptives. Agrawal said non-binary shared that they are asked questions by healthcare workers like ‘why they need contraception’. 

    “They said there is a lot of discrimination based on their identity. They face stigma as they don’t fit into either male or female. Their appearance and dress etc., have led to a lot of stigmas. They have also shared that they experienced violence because of their gender identity,” Agrawal told this newspaper. “All young people, irrespective of their sexual identity, who were unmarried and accessing contraception, especially women, found themselves facing stigma,” he said. 

    Unmarried people face discrimination
    Unmarried women in the age group of 18-29 years said they find it difficult to access contraception or approach healthcare and frontline workers like ASHAs and Aganwadi workers as they are at times not understanding, biased and don’t keep their information confidential.

  • Transfer of 48 doctors cancelled after being found to be against norms of UP transfer policy

    By Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: With the ongoing controversy over the transfers in various departments, UP CM Yogi Adtiyanath, on Saturday, cancelled the transfers of 48 doctors, all dentists, carried out by the state health department, allegedly against the state’s transfer policy.

    After taking action on the officials responsible for issuing the erroneous orders in violation of the current transfer police of the state government, the CM, who is seized of the matter and the respective probe reports over erroneous postings, has now cancelled the transfers, it was learnt.

    Early in the week, four health department officials were suspended for the alleged violation of rules with regard to the recent transfers in the department.

    As per highly-placed sources in the health department, in the transfer list of 313 level 1 medical officers, the names of 48 doctors of level 2, 3 and Ayush were added against the norms of transfer policy.  Following the protests by the transferred doctors, a probe was set up under Chief Secretary DS Mishra.

    On the basis of the probe report, the transfer order of 48 doctors figuring on the list of 313 level 1 doctors were cancelled. These transfers were done at the level of Medical and Health directorate allegedly against the rules which say that the doctors of level 2 and 3 should be transferred by the state administration only.

    In this connection, a departmental inquiry has been ordered against Additional Director (personnel), Dr Anurag Bhargava, who retired recently.

    ALSO READ | Black is the new gold: UP’s rice bowl strikes it rich

    The official sources did not rule out the cancellation of more transfers of doctors done by the health department.

    Significantly, since the first week of July, the doctors and other medical staff had been protesting against the transfers done by health department, saying that these were in violation of the state transfer policy.

    Even Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who holds the health portfolio, had sought a reply in this regard from the additional chief secretary, medical health, Amit Mohan Prasad. Besides, an inquiry was also conducted into the transfers by the health directorate.

    It had come to light that the ACS had released all the transfer orders without consulting Pathak when he was away in Telangana to take part in the BJP national executive meet.

    As a result, Pathak briefed CM Yogi Adityanath in this connection and wrote him a letter also mentioning that the transfers taken place in health department were against the state transfer policy and plagued with a lot of irregularities.

    The deputy CM had claimed in his letter to the CM that in the state capital, a number of specialist doctors were transferred without appointing their replacement.

    Besides the doctors, UP chapter of Indian Medical Association had lodged objection to the transfers of senior doctors.

    However, after the probe report furnished by the committee headed by the Chief Secretary, four officials including Dr Rakesh Kumar Gupta, additional director medical and health services (para-medicals), Dr Ashok Kumar Pandey, additional director, medical and health services (health/administration), Dr Arvind Kumar Verma, joint director (paramedical) and Mohammad Ismail, administrative officer in the health department, were suspended.

    LUCKNOW: With the ongoing controversy over the transfers in various departments, UP CM Yogi Adtiyanath, on Saturday, cancelled the transfers of 48 doctors, all dentists, carried out by the state health department, allegedly against the state’s transfer policy.

    After taking action on the officials responsible for issuing the erroneous orders in violation of the current transfer police of the state government, the CM, who is seized of the matter and the respective probe reports over erroneous postings, has now cancelled the transfers, it was learnt.

    Early in the week, four health department officials were suspended for the alleged violation of rules with regard to the recent transfers in the department.

    As per highly-placed sources in the health department, in the transfer list of 313 level 1 medical officers, the names of 48 doctors of level 2, 3 and Ayush were added against the norms of transfer policy.  Following the protests by the transferred doctors, a probe was set up under Chief Secretary DS Mishra.

    On the basis of the probe report, the transfer order of 48 doctors figuring on the list of 313 level 1 doctors were cancelled. These transfers were done at the level of Medical and Health directorate allegedly against the rules which say that the doctors of level 2 and 3 should be transferred by the state administration only.

    In this connection, a departmental inquiry has been ordered against Additional Director (personnel), Dr Anurag Bhargava, who retired recently.

    ALSO READ | Black is the new gold: UP’s rice bowl strikes it rich

    The official sources did not rule out the cancellation of more transfers of doctors done by the health department.

    Significantly, since the first week of July, the doctors and other medical staff had been protesting against the transfers done by health department, saying that these were in violation of the state transfer policy.

    Even Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who holds the health portfolio, had sought a reply in this regard from the additional chief secretary, medical health, Amit Mohan Prasad. Besides, an inquiry was also conducted into the transfers by the health directorate.

    It had come to light that the ACS had released all the transfer orders without consulting Pathak when he was away in Telangana to take part in the BJP national executive meet.

    As a result, Pathak briefed CM Yogi Adityanath in this connection and wrote him a letter also mentioning that the transfers taken place in health department were against the state transfer policy and plagued with a lot of irregularities.

    The deputy CM had claimed in his letter to the CM that in the state capital, a number of specialist doctors were transferred without appointing their replacement.

    Besides the doctors, UP chapter of Indian Medical Association had lodged objection to the transfers of senior doctors.

    However, after the probe report furnished by the committee headed by the Chief Secretary, four officials including Dr Rakesh Kumar Gupta, additional director medical and health services (para-medicals), Dr Ashok Kumar Pandey, additional director, medical and health services (health/administration), Dr Arvind Kumar Verma, joint director (paramedical) and Mohammad Ismail, administrative officer in the health department, were suspended.

  • Days after sacking 112 doctors for ‘unauthorised leaves’, 16 more get notices in Jammu and Kashmir

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  Ten days after sacking 112 doctors for remaining absent without permission, the government is planning to show the door to 16 more doctors. The J&K Health and Medical Education Department have issued separate final show-cause notices to these medical practitioners for their absence from duties.

    Earlier, most of the doctors had neither replied to the previous notice nor reported back on duty.“Their continuous unauthorised absence from official duties for such a long period of time clearly indicates that they are non-serious towards their official duties and not interested in the government job,” reads the order.

    The 16 doctors have been asked to reply to the notices within 15 days failing which disciplinary proceedings will be taken against them.  Acting tough against the doctors for unauthorised leave for years, the administration on June 20 terminated the services of 112 doctors.

    The Lt Governor administration in J&K has gone tough against its workforce, and over three dozen employees have been suspended so far for alleged anti-national activities. Some other workers have been suspended for unauthorised absence from duties or alleged involvement in corruption cases.

  • Jammu and Kashmir administration sacks over 100 doctors for taking ‘unauthorised leaves’

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday sacked 112 doctors for taking unauthorised leaves. The J&K Health and Medical Education Department in a series of orders on terminated the services of 112 doctors, including Medical Officers, Consultant Surgeons and B-Grade Specialists, for being absent from duty without authorisation. The sacked medicos have been absent from duty over different periods between 2005 and 2020.

    While many of these doctors have been sacked for remaining absent for over five years, some others have been terminated for taking unauthorised leaves during their probation period. The Lt Governor administration in J&K has been going  tough against its work force and over three dozen employees have been suspended for alleged anti-national activities and some more have been suspended for unauthorised absence from duties.

    The Administrative Department and the Director of Health Services of Kashmir and Jammu regions had earlier issued showcause notices to the absentee doctors. They neither responded to the show cause notices nor resumed the duty.

    “The cases of these doctors have been examined thoroughly and it has been found that these doctors have not resumed their duty despite notices issued to them. Their act is voluntary and they are liable to be discharged on account of unauthorised absence from duty for more than five years,” read the order issued by Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Manoj Kumar Diwedi.

    The order stated that these doctors neither replied to notice nor reported back for duty. As per rules, “willful absence from duty after the expiry of leave renders a government servant liable to disciplinary action”.

  • ISRO taking help of doctors in developing human-rated spacecraft for Gaganyaan mission

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Space Research Organisation is taking help of doctors in building its human-rated spacecraft for the Gaganyaan mission, India’s first human spaceflight that aims to take astronauts into a low earth orbit.

    The ISRO has roped in doctors to understand the impact of the spaceflight on humans and will design the spacecraft accordingly.

    The astronauts selected for the mission have also been involved in making of the orbital module. “There are four astronauts who are part of Gaganyaan. We talk to them. They sit in a cockpit. We ask them to go through this and tell us whether the placing of equipment is correct, whether the lighting is correct or whether the edges are causing discomfort,” ISRO Chairman S Somnath said during a brainstorming session with health experts on the use of space technology in emergency medical services.

    Somanth said scientists at the ISRO were developing the human-rated spacecraft.

    “We also look at various measures of quality to increase the reliability and finally to prove the redundancy,” Somnath said, adding that space agencies the world over, including ISRO, have imbibed developing failsafe systems as a culture.

    “We are also looking at how doctors can connect with the human spacecraft design. There is an interaction happening with doctors and engineers on the designing of the human spacecraft. If you have to conduct a successful human space flight and sustain it in India, we need a strong pool of doctors who will get involved in this human spaceflight mission as well,” he said.

    Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said that the first unmanned mission in the Gaganyaan series was expected to be launched next year. This would be followed by another unmanned mission, before Indian astronauts board the spacecraft for a sojourn in a low earth orbit.

    According to a senior ISRO official, a human-rated spacecraft should be able to accommodate the crew as if they are living in normal acceptable conditions and they should be able to perform various activities during their stay.

    The engineers have to design the spacecraft by identifying potential hazards and developing systems to control such happenings. The spacecraft also should have the facility to safely recover the crew from any hazardous situation.

  • Madhya Pradesh: Patients, kin must not misbehave with health personnel, says President Kovind 

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: Patients and their kin must not misbehave with doctors as health personnel too are human and may commit mistakes sometimes, President Ram Nath Kovind said here on Saturday.

    Speaking at a function to dedicate health infrastructure and lay foundation stones for upcoming projects cumulatively costing Rs 399.72 crore, the president said doctors work with great care and responsibility to save the lives of patients.

    “Doctors work with great care and responsibility to save a patient’s life. They are burdened with work. Despite this, skilled doctors work with devotion and care in all circumstances. But sometimes, incidents of misbehaviour against doctors are reported,” he said.

    “It must be understood that doctors too are human and they can also commit mistakes. Thus, patients and their relatives should show patience and restraint,” Kovind said, adding that he visits foreign countries and meets doctors of Indian origin who are immensely respected in those nations.

    The president congratulated health personnel, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, for their immense contribution and relentless hard work to provide relief to the masses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    He said people from abroad are now coming to India to avail treatment, which had made the country a medical tourism hub.

    “If health care facilities expand and advanced centres come up, people in the country will benefit. Expansion of medical tourism will bring in more foreign exchange,” President Kovind asserted.

  • Vice President calls for mandatory rural service for doctors before first promotion

    By PTI

    HYDERABAD: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said that serving in rural areas should be made mandatory before granting the first promotion to doctors in the government sector.

    Speaking at the 11th annual Medical Teachers’ Day Awards function here, the Vice President said three to five years service in rural areas for young doctors was essential while pointing out that 60 per cent of the country’s population lives in the villages, an official release said.

    “It (serving in rural area) must be made mandatory. I know that it will not be liked by many. But, I feel that is the need,” Naidu said.

    The Vice President stressed the need to increase the number of medical colleges while referring to the government’s efforts to bridge the gap in doctor-patient ratio in the country.

    He said the doctor-patient ratio was 1:1,456 as against the WHO norm of 1:1000.

    Expressing his appreciation at the government’s plan to establish at least one medical college in each district, he also pointed out that the urban-rural ratio of doctors was also highly skewed with more medical professionals opting to work in urban areas.

    Describing the medical profession as a noble mission, he advised doctors not to give any remission or commit omission, but to serve the nation with passion.

    Asking the doctors to remember the core value of compassion for humanity in all their actions, he said “let that be your moral compass when in dilemma and always adhere to the highest level of ethics.

    If you can serve with a spirit of selfless dedication, you derive boundless and real happiness.

    ” Calling for creating state-of-the-art health infrastructure across the country, particularly in rural areas, the Vice President said the COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the need for better health infrastructure and advised the state governments to bestow special attention on this aspect.

    Naidu further emphasised that both medical education and treatment should be affordable and within the reach of the common man.

    He said that top priority should be accorded to education and health sectors with a greater allocation of budget.

    Referring to the fast-changing technological world, the Vice President urged medical colleges to ensure that those passing out of their portals stay abreast of the latest diagnostic and treatment systems.

    “This has become all the more imperative in the wake of the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 as everything about the novel coronavirus is new learning to all—from scientists to doctors,” he said.

    Naidu also expressed his appreciation to the Association of National Board Accredited Institutions (ANBAI), an apex organisation of many leading hospitals and medical institutions in India for partnering with the Government in providing post-graduate medical education, the release said.

    The Vice President also paid his homage to the former President and statesman-philosopher, the late Shri Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary on Sunday.

    He also paid his respects to all his teachers, who mould and shaped his career.

    Earlier, he presented the Life-Time Achievement Award to well-known cardiologist and President of Public Health Foundation of India, Dr K Srinath Reddy and others including Dr Devi Shetty, the release added.

  • Jack O’Connell, Matthew Duckett board romantic drama ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: Jack O’Connell, best known for the 2014 war film “Unbroken”, and Matthew Duckett of “Doctors” fame have joined “The Crown” star Emma Corrin in the new feature film adaptation of DH Lawrence’s classic novel “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”.

    The project will be the first film to be produced under the new partnership where Sony Pictures will offer Netflix a first look at any films it intends to make for streaming, reported Deadline.

    The story follows the life of Lady Chatterley, a woman born to a life of wealth and privilege, who soon finds herself married to a man that she eventually falls out of love with.

    Lady Chatterley engages in a torrid affair with a gamekeeper on their English estate, discovering more desire and intimacy than she thought possible.

    When she realises that she has fallen heart and soul, she breaks all traditions of the day and seeks happiness with the man she loves.

    Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, known for “The Mustang” and “The Act”, will direct the film from “Life of Pi” writer David Magee’s script.

    Laurence Mark, Pete Czernin and Graham Broadbent of Blueprint Pictures are producing “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”.

    Marisa Paiva and Nikki Cooper are overseeing the film for Sony’s 3000 Pictures.