News Analysis India

Tag: Doctors

  • IMA calls for adoption of villages by doctors to ensure 100 per cent vaccination

    Express News Service
    PATNA: National President-elect of IMA, Dr Sahajanand Prasad Singh, called upon the doctors on Sunday here to adopt villages across the country to ensure 100 per cent vaccination of people by December 31 this year. 

    Working president of Bihar IMA Dr Ajay Kumar, speaking to The New Indian Express, said that the president-elect has made the appeal to all doctors, either associated with  the IMA or not, to adopt the villages for 100 per cent vaccination. 

    “But the doctors associated with Bihar chapter of IMA have immediately decided to adopt the villages for helping the people in getting vaccinatied. And the IMA will felicitate all those doctors who ensure 100 per cent inoculation in their adopted villages,” Dr Ajay Kumar said.

    As per an official figures, there are 6,34,321 villages in the country including 45,077 villages in Bihar. And the IMA has more than 5 lakh of doctors as its members across the country including 11,000 alone in Bihar besides thousands of those doctors who are not members of IMA.

    “If we adopt at least one to two villages for ensuring 100 per cent vaccination by December 31 in 2021, we will render a great service to the nation as the IMA has more than 5 lakhs of active members,” Dr Ajay Kumar said.

    He added that the doctors should collectively step up to adopt the villages for vaccination setting an example of social responsibility globally.

  • Don’t create panic about third wave, Union Minister Jitendra Singh tells doctors

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Union Minister Jitendra Singh has urged medical professionals “not to create a panic” about a possible third wave of COVID-19 infection and stressed that the basic approach should be “precaution, no panic”.

    Instead of getting tempted to make alarmist observations one could be a little more reassuring, he said at the Public Health Summit 2021 on ‘Emerging Imperatives in Strengthening Public Health for India’.

    At the event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Singh said Covid-appropriate behaviour can act as a safeguard against the third wave.

    “I have a small request to medical colleagues to not create a panic about a possible third wave because the basic mantra is precaution not panic.

    “Let us put all our might together to fight the second wave instead of talking about the third one. Medical professionals have found a good platform in the media. So instead of getting tempted to make alarmist observations we could be a little more reassuring,” the minister said.

    He also said that public-private partnership in healthcare has strengthened amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

    All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Dr Randeep Guleria said, “As we now prepare for the possibility of the third wave and (the spread of) new variants like Delta Plus. We need to look ahead and see how we can strengthen our public health system focusing on lessons we have learnt from the past.”

    “What COVID-19 has shown us is that we need a robust healthcare system. We need to address the challenges that we have in front of us. One is under-investment in healthcare. Another is that the public healthcare system should be driven by technology and data that would help us make evidence-based decisions,” he said.

    The AIIMS director stressed on creating a specialised workforce, improving the health infrastructure as well as on increasing doctor-patient and nurse-patient ratios.

    “What COVID-19 has taught us is the importance of strength of a public-private partnership. We have to move out of silos.

    “We had a vaccine (available) in less than a year (of the onset of the pandemic) but most of the vaccines that came out were not developed by industry but by academia. It happened because of the partnership between the industry and public health experts. The need for it has been felt like never before,” he said.

  • IMA docs in nationwide protest on Friday demanding central law on violence against medicos

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Around 3.5 lakh doctors of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) will participate in a nationwide protest on Friday demanding a central law dealing with violence against medicos.

    IMA national president Dr J A Jayalal said besides its members, a number of organisations such as the Association of Physicians of India, the Association of Surgeons of India, the Medical Students Network, Junior Doctor Network will participate in the protest.

    In Bihar and central Kerala, doctors will close their clinics in the morning to press for the demand of a central law against violence against doctors.

    In the evening, public interaction has been arranged to form a coordination team in each branch of IMA to stop such violence from taking place.

    “We are deeply hurt to see increasing physical violence on doctors and healthcare professionals. It’s occurring day in and day out. The IMA is pressing for a central act against the violence,” the IMA said in a statement.

    The Health Services Personnel and Clinical Establishment (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019, which sought to impose a jail term up to 10 years for assaulting on-duty doctors and other healthcare professionals was dismissed by the Home Ministry saying the special law was not feasible as health is a state subject, it said.

    “There are many central health laws such as the PCPNDT Act and the Clinical Establishment Act.

    Currently, 21 states have local laws, but what we need is a strong central law to protect doctors from violence,” the doctors’ body said.

    Listing plans for Friday’s protest, the IMA said memorandums will be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior ministers including home minister Amit Shah.

    All branches of IMA would submit memoranda to local authorities.

    “All the 1,700 branches are organizing events to mark the protest. Students’ wings are very active on the event as they are the ones most concerned about how the issue is tackled and addressed,” the IMA statement said.

    “We demand that the government enhances security features in every hospital and declare hospitals as protected zones,” the statement said.

    On the issue of Yoga guru Ramdev’s recent controversial comments, the IMA said a number of police complaints have been filed across the country for his “malafide statements, which, in our opinion, is against the interest of the citizens of the country”.

    “Accordingly, we have urged the prime minister to take appropriate action against him. We respect Ayurveda as part of our culture and ancient science and we never go out and criticize it. Our job is to ensure that they (patients) get treated in the best way possible. We are not interested in controversies,” it said.

  • Bureaucrats, police officers who double up as doctors

    Express News Service
    JAIPUR/PATNA/BHOPAL:  They are qualified doctors by training, but bureaucrats or police officers by profession. They had donned the white coat of medical practitioners before clearing the civil service examinations and becoming IAS or IPS officers. 

    Now in this hour of crisis caused by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, besides doing their jobs as a chief executive or a district magistrate, they take out time to visit hospitals and double up as doctors to treat Covid patients. 

    Manju Sheoran JakharMeet Manju Sheoran Jakhar, S M Thiyagrajan and Anil Kumar among others, the first two being IAS officers of the Rajasthan and Bihar cadre respectively, and the third an IPS officer in UP. All three had studied MBBS. They are now putting their medical training to good use, playing a double role with ease. 

    Jakhar, a 2016 batch IAS officer, is the chief executive officer of the Udaipur District Council and oversees rural  development work under the MNREGA. She studied MBBS at the Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi and also completed her MS in gynaecology before cracking the civil services exam. Given her medical background, she was assigned the work of ensuring oxygen supply to patients and to fill the gap in Covid testing facilities.

    During her almost daily rounds of hospitals to ensure this, she takes out time to see patients in the wards of the RNT Medical College Hospital in Udaipur, among others. Jakhar also gives phone consultation to patients. “A lot of treatment is done on the phone itself as every family has someone or other suffering from Covid. I check their reports, symptoms and track their treatment. This will continue as I am doctor,” she said. To manage medical oxygen, her team collected data from hospitals requiring oxygen and then rationed it. 

    Never forgot that I was a doc: IAS officer on Covid duty

    “Our report told us that some of the hospitals had a per capita consumption of four cylinders daily, which is now reduced to two. With the same oxygen we are able to treat 200- 300 more patients without affecting the treatment quality,” said Jakhar. Nilesh Deore and Thiyagrajan are IAS officers in Bihar of the 2011 batch. While Deore is the district magistrate of Saran, Thiyagrajan is his counterpart in Darbhanga. Deore completed MBBS from the Terna Medical College and Hospital in Navi Mumbai.

    Dr Nilesh Deore“I never forgot that I am a doctor. Wherever I come across sick persons on inspection at hospitals and dedicated Covid care centres, I go through their prescription and offer advice,” he said, adding doctors often consult him whenever they face confusion.Thiyagrajan completed MBBS in 2008 from the Coimbatore Medical College and later joined the IAS. “My background has helped me in making arrangements. I advise doctors on usage of drugs, steroids and other lifesaving medicines,” he said.

    Anil Kumar, a 2016 batch IPS officer of the UP cadre and currently an additional deputy commissioner with the Kanpur traffic police, was made incharge of Covid-related work a t the Kanpur Po l i c e Commissionerate. He was earlier a doctor at the Jhalawar Medical College in Rajasthan and the Hindu Rao Hospital in New Delhi before hanging up the white coat for the khaki uniform. When the second wave of the pandemic struck, a Covid care centre was opened at the hospital in the police lines.

    Kumar used to sit at the flu OPD, screening patients along with Kanpur’s CMO. “With the help of the Kanpur CMO, Covid testing also started at the same OPD. It helped in early detection of the virus followed by timely home isolation or institutional treatment,” said Dr Kumar. Rajesh Sahay, SP Zonal Intelligence in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, is a 2002 batch state police service officer.

    He finished MBBS from Bhopal’s MGM Medical College and MD (Anaesthesia) from Indore. Along with another doctor, he is deployed at a Covid care centre with 16 oxygen beds where he treats patients. “No doctor will ever allow the doctor in him to become dormant,” said Sahay. He has been living in self-isolation in a room of his residence since April 28, away from his family.

  • IMA panel to probe death of 96 Covid-infected doctors in Bihar

    Express News Service
    PATNA: The Bihar chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Friday constituted a committee of prominent doctors in Patna to investigate the reasons behind the highest number of doctors’ death in the state.

    According to Dr Sunil Kumar, the honorary state secretary of Bihar chapter of IMA, 96 doctors including Dr TN Singh, director of Bihar Health department, Dr VK Sinha (skin specialist), Dr Rana Mithilesh (radiologist), Dr Shatrughan Ram (joint replacement surgeon), Dr JA Goswami (Bihar health services, Saran), Dr Ajay Aggarwal and Dr Prabhat Kumar (Patna’s topmost cardiologists) died of Covid during the second wave of Covid in Bihar.

    “Bihar reported the highest number of doctors’ death in the country. The committee formed by the IMA will investigate the reasons behind their death. These doctors attained martyrdom while serving the people,” Dr Sunil Kumar said.

    Recently, Dr US Kumar became the first doctor from Bihar to die of black fungus. At present, more than 400 Covid-infected health personnel are undergoing treatment.

    ALSO READ | Covid and mucor hunting together? Experts for studies to find out reasons for black fungus outbreak

    The IMA’s committee has Dr Sahajanand Prasad Singh as its chairman, Dr Ajay Kumar (convener), Dr (Capt.) VS Singh, Dr Manju Gita Mishra, Dr Basant Singh, Dr DP Singh, Dr Rajiva Ranjan and Dr Sunil Kumar as the members.

    “They will submit the report to the IMA after finding out the reasons behind the deaths of such a huge number of doctors. The probe report will also be shared with the government,” Dr Sunil Kumar said.

    More than 329 doctors died of Covid in the ongoing second wave in India.

    After Bihar, more than 73 doctors had died in Delhi, 41 in UP, 22 in AP and 20 in Telangana.

    Meanwhile, Pratyay Amrit, the additional chief secretary, who is heading the state health department, said the government is mulling to declare the outbreak of black fungus as an epidemic. Bihar has reported more than 197 cases of black fungus and four cases of white fungus.

    A Centre of Excellence has been set up in the Patna IGIMS and the AIIMS for the specialised treatment of black fungus patients.

    The medicines prescribed for black fungus patients have been made avaibale in all the government hospitals to meet the requirement, Amrit said.

  • Maharashtra government seems not serious to protect doctors against attacks: High Court

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government doesn’t seem “serious” about protecting its doctors against attacks by kin of patients, the Bombay High Court said on Wednesday.

    A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni was referring to an affidavit filed by the deputy secretary of the state Health department following the orders passed by the high court on May 13.

    In its order, the bench had directed the state government to inform the HC of the number of FIRs registered in cases of assault on doctors and hospital staff and the steps taken to protect them among other things.

    The affidavit submitted before the HC, however, merely made generic submissions and annexed the provisions of the Maharashtra Medicare Service, Persons and Medicare Institutions (Prevention of violence and damage or loss of property) Act, 2010.

    It submitted that a total of 436 cases had been registered across the state but failed to give timelines or details of such cases.

    The bench said the affidavit did not address any of the queries put forth by the high court in its earlier order.

    “This is so shocking, the one-page affidavit that has been filed.

    From the next time, we are not going to accept affidavits unless vetted by the government pleader.

    “The only word we can use is pathetic. This is absolutely callous. The state is not at all serious about protecting its doctors. Yet, the public expects doctors to give their all,” the bench said.

    The bench directed the deputy secretary, the state health department, to file an additional affidavit by the next week.

    It said that such affidavit must also include the state’s response to the various suggestions submitted by the petitioners last week on curbing such incidents and protecting doctors and medical staff.

    The HC was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one Dr. Rajeev Joshi seeking judicial intervention to curb violence against healthcare professionals.

    As per the PIL, Maharashtra witnesses the maximum number of such incidents of violence.

    Dr.Joshi also claimed in his plea that the Maharashtra government had failed to implement the existing legal provisions, including the 2010 Act, to curb attacks on doctors.

    The high court will hear the matter further on May 27.

  • 270 doctors have died of COVID in second wave of pandemic: IMA

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Tuesday said 270 doctors across the country have succumbed to the coronavirus infection in the second wave of the pandemic so far.

    The list of the deceased doctors includes former IMA president Dr K K Aggarwal, who succumbed to the deadly virus on Monday.

    Bihar saw the maximum number of 78 deaths of medical practitioners, followed by Uttar Pradesh (37), Delhi (29) and Andhra Pradesh (22).

    According to the IMA COVID-19 registry, 748 doctors succumbed to the disease in the first wave of the pandemic.

    “Last year, 748 doctors across India succumbed to COVID-19, while in the current wave, in a short period, we have lost 270 doctors.

    “The second wave of the pandemic is turning out to be extremely fatal for all and especially for the healthcare workers who are at the forefront,” IMA president Dr JA Jayalal said.

  • A webinar of Ravi’s teacher education institute, doctors gave important tips to avoid corona

    On May 10, a webinar on public awareness and rescue related to Kovid-19 was organized on behalf of Teacher Education Institute, Pt. Ravi Shankar Shukla University, Raipur. Inaugurating the webinar, Vice Chancellor Prof. Kesharilal Verma underlined his responsibilities towards the society of universities and educational institutions in this global epidemic. In this context, he referred to the efforts made by the university. In this, the facility of free vaccination for all sections of the society in the university campus and to provide all the necessary facilities for teachers and staff was prominent.

    Pro. CD. Agashe Director, Institute of Teacher Education, Pt. Ravi Shankar Shukla University gave this information. He said that in the first session of the webinar, Dr. KP Sarabhai, a renowned pediatrician from Chhattisgarh, discussed the work of protecting children and infants below the age of 18 from the outbreak of that epidemic. Dr. Sarabhai made a special mention that regular vaccination of children should not be interrupted during the Kovid epidemic, otherwise it will be even more damaging to the health of the children in future.

    In the second session of the webinar, Dr. Tej Prakash Sinha of AIIMS, New Delhi, Emergency Care Department gave a very smooth presentation on the measures to be taken to protect against the Kovid epidemic. Dr. Tej Prakash performed those common exercises to avoid lung infections, so that we can keep our lungs healthy. Dr. Tej Prakash also highlighted the importance of proper diet and mental health to be healthy.

    In the third session, Dr. Avinash Ingle of AIIMS Raipur described the vaccine produced in the country as very effective. According to Dr. Ingley, the vaccine prepared in the country has been approved after all the tests. Therefore, any kind of doubt on this is not justified. According to Dr. Ingle, people should avoid rumors and get vaccinated. He also gave important information on protecting himself and the symptoms of Kovid-19 in this odd situation.

  • Doctors to lose their license upon failing to discharge duties properly in Jharkhand

    By Express News Service
    RANCHI: Amid surge in COVID-19 cases in Ranchi, doctors posted at Sadar Hospital, the dedicated COVID Hospital in Ranchi, were warned that their license will be cancelled if found negligent towards their duties or they remain absent without any official permission.

    During a meeting held with the doctors of Sadar Hospital, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan told them not to force him to take stringent action against them as this is a war like situation.

    The meeting was called after the district administration observed that many of the doctors were absent during duty hours.

    “I called a meeting and told them not to run away from their duties and do not force the district  administration to take stringent action against them. Already notices have been served against them and if they do not come back to their duties, the district administration will be compelled to take actionagainst them,” said DC Chhavi Ranjan. He appealed the doctors not to force district administration to take action against them, he added.

    ALSO READ: COVID patient dies outside hospital while minister was on inspection inside in Jharkhand

    Ranjan said that since it is a war like situation, this is the time to face it strongly rather than surrendering before it. He asked them to give their 100 per cent and prevent the virus spreading further, especially those who are posted in Covid hospitals.

    Notably, many of the attendants who had gone to admit their patients in Sadar Hospital in Ranchi complained that due to negligence of doctors or delay in treatment, they lost their near and dear ones.

    The harsh reality of the situation of health services post sudden rise in COVID-19 cases was on display onTuesday, when a patient who was brought from Hazaribagh to Ranchi for better treatment, died outside Sadar hospital waiting for the doctors to attend him while his daughter kept on shouting doctor-doctor seeking help for her father.

  • Chhattisgarh: Allopathy-Ayurveda doctors confront each other on ‘Mixopathy’

    By Express News Service
    RAIPUR: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) doctors on Sunday protested against the practise of ‘Mixopathy’ in Chhattisgarh.

    While doctors against ‘Mixopathy’ called it an ‘unscientific’ approach, the health professionals practicing Ayurveda countered citing ‘the integration of systems of medicine will only benefit the people.’

    “Every system of medicine has its own separate fundamental principles and cannot be mixed. Just like Ayurveda remedies rely on Vata, Pitta, and Kapha (the three-body ayurvedic types), the modern medicines system depends on symptoms and diagnosis where various types of tests of the patients ahead of the surgery are carried out.

    “There are different levels of anesthesia treatment during surgical operations and various medications with remedy are used to prevent infection. The patient is consistently kept under observation. It would be better if everyone also knows how the surgeries and the complications during operations or other surgical emergencies are been carried out in Ayurveda,” said Dr Mahesh Sinha, president of the Chhattisgarh unit of IMA.

    Earlier the state president of the Ayurveda Doctors Association Shivnarayan Dwivedi objected to the spreading of misconception about their practices by the IMA. “There remains a shortage of doctors in the state and the country. The postgraduate Ayurvedic doctors are capable to carry out every type of treatment including the surgery which is allowed under Mixopathy. The Ayurvedic doctors too can run a campaign in support of Mixopathy and against the IMA protest,” averred Dr Dwivedi.

    Meanwhile, the representative of the state unit of IMA visited Raj Bhawan and handed over the memorandum protesting against the ‘Mixopathy’ in the name of the President, demanding its withdrawal.