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Health
Insurance For Parents Of Special Children Soon
By ugesh sarkar, Section Health
Posted on Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 02:23:42 AM EST
 If you're the parent of a special child who is either mentally challenged or autistic, or suffers from cerebral palsy or multiple disabilities, do insure yourself under a special scheme the ministry of social justice and empowerment will shortly launch.
When you're no longer there, the state will look after your child using the insurance money.
The scheme, called Asmita, to be launched by the National Trust the autonomous branch of the ministry that focuses on these four particular disabili- ties will provide life and acci- dent insurance cover to the par- ent or legal guardian of any child who falls in these categories.
Once you're gone, the money will be used by the National Trust to take lifelong care of your child.
Insurance companies have been asked to submit their bids by March 15. "We'll be working through the district collectors and var- ious NGOs working in this field, whom we are already in regu- lar touch with," said Atul Prasad, chief executive officer, National Trust. "We expect to launch in the next two months.
We hope to enroll around 10,000 parents in the first year."
"The premium will depend on the age of the parent. The older he/she is, the higher it will be," he added.
"Since this is a group insur- ance policy, the premium will be much lower than if a person insures himself individually," said Sanjay Pande, Managing Director, Amicus Advisory.
There are an estimated 22 lakh people suffering from these four forms of disability, accord- ing to National Trust statistics.
Source: Hindustan Times Insurance for parents of special children soon
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Pune's Health Facilities Inadequate, 12 Hospitals Defunct Due To Lack Of Staff
By akansha, Section Health
Posted on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 01:32:01 AM EST
From being the centre of the plague epidemic in the 19th century, to the recent H1N1, the city has witnessed its fair share of medical emergencies. In tandem with the changing times, healthcare facilities in the city have also seen a surge.
However, it seems, it's not enough, especially after the German Bakery blast last week, which has now raised questions on the medical response and infrastructure facilities in the city to tackle crisis, and the city's preparedness to handle the challenges.
According to the information provided by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) the city has 2.9 hospital beds available for every 1,000 people. Ironically, the civic body has constructed twelve new hospitals which remain closed for non-availability of staff. In a written reply to corporator Prithviraj Sutar, the civic administration has stated that twelve municipal hospitals are ready with all construction, but due to the unavailability of the required staff, these hospitals have not been started yet.
"As of now, the PMC has 43 units across the city, including 15 maternity hospitals, 28 dispensaries/OPDs, and major hospitals like Kamala Nehru, Naidu hospital and the new Rajiv Gandhi hospital at Yerawada. Total availability of beds in these civic hospitals is 750 and we plan to increase it upto 1,490 this year," said acting civic medical officer R R Pardeshi.
Besides, a few of these dispensaries and maternity homes also house family planning centre, motherchild care centre, immunisation centre, ant-rabies vaccine centre and integrated child development centre.
Source: Times Of India By Radheshyam Jadhav Pune's health facilities inadequate
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PCMC Proposes Health Cards For Poor Patients
By akansha, Section Health
Posted on Sun Feb 14, 2010 at 01:09:54 AM EST
The YCM hospital in Pimpri where the scheme will be launched
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will introduce health cards for the convenience of patients visiting the Yashwantrao Chavan hospital (YCMH). The total cost of the project is Rs 4.75 crore. However, the PCMC can save up to Rs 3.4 to 4 lakh each year which it spends on printing paper for case papers.
PCMC medical officer Nagkumar Kunchagi said, "Our target is to start the system in YCM hospital from May. A software, suitable for all civic hospitals, will first start functioning at YCM and will then be extended to six other civic hospitals in PCMC areas only. This process will not require the patients to carry their case papers, as is the situation now."
"Most of the people are poor and illiterate. They misplace their case papers. So they have to be given fresh papers every time for which they need to stand in long queues and shell out money as well. Even on part of the hospital, precious time and money is lost in the process," Kunchagi said.
The health cards will have a photo and other information of the patient. The information regarding the patient will be entered in the computer. So when the patient comes for a visit, his information is available on the click of a mouse.
"All seven civic hospitals will be connected through LAN in near future. So, a patient
with one civic hospital can go to another civic hospital in Pimpri-Chinchwad," he added.
Source: Times Of India PCMC proposes health cards for poor patients
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Civic Body Plans To Raise Health Allocation
By akansha, Section Health
Posted on Wed Feb 03, 2010 at 10:40:52 PM EST
PIMPRI-CHINCHWAD Cyberknife purchase under consideration: commissioner
The residents of PimpriChinchwad are likely to get something to cheer on World Cancer Day on Thursday, as the civic body is poised to increase its health budget. The increase is likely to reflect in the annual civic budget, to be presented by Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma in a week.
The increase in budgetary allocation is aimed at improving facilities at eight civic hospitals, primarily for treatment of cancer and swine flu.
Sharma said there was a need to take a relook at the allocation for health but claimed that the PimpriChinchwad Municipal Corporation was doing better than the Pune Municipal Corporation on the health front. He also pointed out that cancer hospitals are set up primarily by private initiative.
For years, the PCMC has been allocating around five per cent of the total budget for health. Of the total Rs 64 crore last year, Rs 27 crore was marked for salary of staff while Rs 14 crore went to the 750bed Yeshwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital. "This means the PCMC spends only Rs 23 crore annually for health of its 15 lakh citizens, which is woefully inadequate," said civic activist Shridhar Chalka.
PCMC medical chief Dr Nagkumar Kunachgi said the civic body purchased only the basic drugs.
"Costly medicines are not made available to the patients."
Source: The Indian Express By Manoj More Civic body plans to raise health allocation
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New Programmes To Be Implemented Under The National Rural Health Mission
By akansha, Section Health
Posted on Sun Jan 31, 2010 at 11:34:07 PM EST
While mental health and non-communicable diseases have been included as new programmes to be implemented under the National Rural Health Mission, the state government is also considering to start schools for nursing as part of the plan to upgrade facilities and provide staff at primary health centres.
Dr D S Dakhure, state director of health services, said presently there are 980 nurses in the government hospitals and the requirement is of nearly 5000 nurses. Proposals have also been sent towards upgradation of 1808 primary health centres, 456 rural hospitals and over 10,000 sub centres.
The main of NRHM is to provide accessible affordable and accountable primary health care.
It also aims at bridging the gap in rural health care through the creation of a cadre of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA). The NRHM includes existing programmes of health and family welfare including reproductive and child health (RCH), malaria, blindness, iodine deficiency, filarial, kala azar, TB, leprosy and integrated disease surveillance.
Mental health and other non communicable diseases have also been included under the NRHM.
Dr A S Ladda, additional director of health, said that there were 10-12 projects under NRHM which have been identified as "programme implementation plan." Each project officer is required to give a status report and requirements.
For instance, under the Reproductive and child health (RCH) programme there are several goals like reducing infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate. Accordingly interventions have been made to ensure early neo natal care and a similar programme has been proposed in the tribal belt in nine districts.
The government is also preparing a vision document "Mission 2020" and directed all the departments including health to submit their proposals towards infrastructure development.
Source: The Indian Express Nursing schools to plug rural gap
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Low Health Insurance Penetration A Matter Of Concern: IRDA Chief
By akansha, Section Health
Posted on Fri Jan 08, 2010 at 01:14:56 AM EST
Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) chairman J Hari Narayan has expressed concern over the "very low" level of health insurance penetration in the country. The situation, though, offers a great opportunity for health insurers to grow in a substantial way, he said.
Hari Narayan was delivering the key note address at a two-day seminar on `Health insurance and care' that got underway at the National Insurance Academy (NIA). NIA director Prathap Oburai presided over the function.
According to Hari Narayan, of the total health expenditure worth Rs 3 lakh crore, the spending on hospitalisation accounts for Rs 1 lakh crore in the country. Against this, the existing level of health insurance premium was worth only Rs 6,000 crore, which means that a majority section of the Indian populace does not have an insurance cover. "This a matter of great concern," he said.
Referring to standardisation of policy wordings, Hari Narayan said that the policy wordings can be improved upon by resorting to methods of rewriting or rephrasing, which, he felt, will clear the ambiguity currently prevalent in the policy wordings. Often ambiguities in policy writing is at the root of most disputes arising out of health insurance deals.
The IRDA chief also cautioned the health insurance industry to be prepared for the potential challenge in the form of a fresh tax liability that was recently levied on the third party assurers (TPAs), which play facilitators between health insurers and policy holders.
Source: Times Of India Low health insurance penetration a matter of concern: IRDA chief
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Rs67,114 Per Corporator, Rs18 Per Puneite, Civic Activist Demands Hike In The Provision For Citizens
By akansha, Section Health
Posted on Wed Dec 30, 2009 at 02:04:29 AM EST
 The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) seems to be more concerned about the health of corporators and civic staff than the citizens.
In the financial year 2009-10, the civic body has made a budgetary provision of Rs18 per citizen in the health sector while for each corporator, it has earmarked Rs67, 114.
Civic activist Vijay Kumbhar has shot off a letter to municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade asking him why the PMC administration has not given importance to citizens in the annual budget. "The common people should be given more priority than the city fathers," he said.
The PMC has made a budgetary provision of Rs6 crore to purchase medicine and health equipment for the general public.
"The city's population is around 33 lakh, which means that the civic body has made a provision of just Rs18 per citizen," Kumbhar said, adding, "A provision of Rs1 crore has been made for the corporators. There are 144 elected and five nominated members. Thus, the allotment per member is Rs67,114."
Similarly, the PMC has made a budgetary provision of Rs4.5 crore for its 19,500 employees i.e. Rs2,307 per employee.
As far as medical claims are concerned, the civic body has made a provision of Rs70 lakh for elected members and Rs8.5 crore for its employees.
"The policy makers, by giving priority to elected members and civic staff, are sending wrong signals to the common people," Kumar said, appealing to the municipal commissioner to look into matter and hike the budgetary provision for citizens.
Source: dnaindia.com Rs67,114 per corporator, Rs18 per Puneite
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Many Takers But Poor Response To Health Plan, Registration Extended By 15 Days
By akansha, Section Health
Posted on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 12:44:12 AM EST
 Beneficiaries find it tough to get income certificate; deadline likely to be extended by 15 days
Seeing the poor response to the medical assistance scheme floated by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the civic body is likely to extend the deadline for registration for the scheme to January 15 from December 31.
Under the scheme for people earning below Rs 1 lakh per annum, the PMC would incur 50 per cent of hospitalisation expenses of beneficiaries. The civic body expected more applicants. But the response was poor as people are facing problems in getting the income certificate, a mandatory document for applying for the scheme, from the district collector's office.
"There has been poor response. Only 114 families have applied," confirmed S T Pardeshi, PMC Assistant Medical Officer of Health. He added that though many citizens were eager to avail of the scheme, they haven't been able to do so as they haven't managed to get the income certificate.
It was expected that at least 12 lakh citizens from the city would be eligible for the scheme. The civic body had put a limitation of Rs 1 lakh annual income to discourage citizens earning well from applying even if they fell in the below poverty line or slum dwellers category. To avail of the scheme, citizens have to furnish documents like a proof of residence, ration card, birth certificate of children, two family photographs and income tax certificate along with the application.
Resident Deputy Collector Anil Pawar admitted that there were complaints of difficulties in getting income certificates. "There is no problem from our side though. People need to furnish certain documents to get the certificate. Since the certificate can be used for any purpose, we need to be careful while issuing it. We have suggested that the PMC can rope in social workers to assist people in putting together the relevant documents," said Pawar.
"The civic hospitals lack advance medical facilities and private hospitals are often unaffordable for the poor. Under the scheme, the beneficiaries will be eligible to get 50 per cent of hospitalisation expenses up to a maximum limit of Rs 1 lakh in any of the 44 listed private hospitals," said Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade.
Source: The Indian Express Many takers but poor response to health plan
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Medical Cover For All Civic School Students
By akansha, Section Health
Posted on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 02:03:39 AM EST
With reports of rising health problems among students of civic schools, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)'s education board on Tuesday announced medical insurance for all the 95,000 students in its schools. However, over 50 per cent of the proposed budget of Rs 180 crore for 2010-11 goes in salaries of the employees due to the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission.
According to budget proposal of the education board, "The medical check-up of students has revealed that they have health problems. Thus, we need to pay special attention to the health of students. A provision of Rs 1 crore to provide medical insurance has been proposed in the budget for 2010-11."
The scheme will enable the students who fall ill to get financial assistance of at least Rs 20,000 for medical treatment.
The board has also proposed Rs 7 crore for maintenance and repair of the infrastructure of the civic schools. To enable emergency repair work, the schools have been empowered to take up maintenance work up to Rs 1 lakh on their own as against the practice of getting done through the respective ward offices.
The demand for English medium schools has also been given preference in the budget with a provision of Rs 1 crore to start more English medium schools. Simultaneously, a provision of Rs 1 crore has been made to increase the number of divisions in Sanskrit-medium schools.
The budget has been tabled in the standing committee and would come before the general body for final approval.
Source: The Indian Express Medical cover for all civic school students
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Liver Clinic Opened In City Hospital
By akansha, Section Health
Posted on Wed Dec 23, 2009 at 01:37:41 AM EST
Over 4.5 per cent of the Indian population is hepatitis B positive and almost two per cent of them need liver transplant, said liver transplant surgeon Anand Khakhar of Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. Khakhar was speaking at the launch of a liver clinic at Jehangir hospital in the city recently.
"There are a large number people suffering from liver diseases in Pune and surrounding areas. Hepatitis B and C and alcohol are among the main causes behind this. If diagnosed and treated in time these patients may be saved from liver failure," Khakhar said. However there are also patients with end stage liver disease that need liver transplantation, he added.
Speaking on liver transplantation, Khakhar said that patients who have acute liver failure or chronic liver disease and those with limited liver cancer may need liver transplantation. "Liver transplantation is a replacement of diseased liver with a healthy, whole liver or a part of the whole liver. The liver can come from a brain dead donor or from a living related donor. In case of the brain dead donor, the whole liver is transplanted," Khakhar said.
A
lmost all living donors are discharged in 7-10 days time, and can return to work in about four weeks. In the long term, the donors lead a completely normal and active life, he said. "A liver transplantation can be performed even on a two months old infant. The maximum upper age limit is 70 years," said Khakhar. Following the liver transplant, the recipients lead a normal active life, he added.
Transplant recipients cannot be distinguished from other people of same age and background. They can engage in strenuous activity, go on expeditions and very much do what they want. With over 90 percent success rate, liver transplantation is an accepted form of treatment for liver failure across the world, Khakhar added. "Hepatitis B can lead to liver cancer which is still believed to be one of the major life threatening diseases."
The liver clinic at Jehangir hospital will be a joint collaboration with Apollo hospitals, Chennai. It will deal with all forms of liver ailments including cancer and liver failure.
"The liver clinic concept envisages a team doctors comprising a liver transplantation and HPB surgeon, medical gastroenterology and hepatology specialist and medical oncologist. All of them will work together to treat liver, gastroenterology and hepatobiliary-pancreatic diseases comprehensively," said George Eapen, CEO of the hospital.
Source: Times Of India Liver clinic opened in city hospital
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TIGHTER REGULATIONS - Firms Have To Register With Govt For Clinical Trials On Humans
By ugesh sarkar, Section Health
Posted on Fri Dec 04, 2009 at 01:36:29 AM EST
Mandatory registration should start in three months; human drug trials have so far not been monitored closely
Organisations conducting clinical trials on humans will soon have to register with the government to be able to carry out such studies as India looks to tighten regulations and enhance transparency in drug research.
Mandatory registration of contract research organisations or clinical research organisations (CRO) should start in three months, said Surinder Singh, drugs controller general of India (DCGI).
"This is a very good move by the government," said Muralidharan Nair, partner, health sciences practice, at audit and consulting firm Ernst and Young. "In today's world, it (the existing system) gives a poor impression of India that anyone can have a CRO. The registry will allow people to know the strength of a CRO, the services it offers, its credentials and therapeutic segments it covers."
Such a registry, he said, was a basic requirement for the industry.
India is one of the fastestgrowing clinical research destinations with a growth rate that is two-and-a-half times that of the overall market growth, but human drug trials have so far not been monitored closely.
Source: Live Mint By Radhieka Pandeya TIGHTER REGULATIONS - Firms Have To Register With Govt For Clinical Trials On Humans
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PMC Unveils Health Scheme For The Poor
By akansha, Section Health
Posted on Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 12:13:55 AM EST
The Pune Municipal Corporation on Tuesday announced the launch of a health assistance scheme for which the civic body will incur 50 per cent -the maximum would be Rs 1 lakh--¿ of hospitalisation expenses of patients who take up the plan.
The scheme will be only for families with less than Rs 1 lakh annual income.
"The prime responsibility of the civic body is to provide better health services to citizens. Civic hospitals lack advance medical facilities and impoverished citizens have to approach private hospitals for treatment that is unaffordable to them," said Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade at a press conference.
According to the scheme, the beneficiaries will be eligible to get 50 per cent of hospitalisation expenses up to a maximum limit of Rs 1 lakh in any of the 44 listed private hospitals.
"The scheme is only open for slum-dwellers and people below poverty line having an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh. Around 12 lakh citizens are likely to benefit from the scheme," said Zagade. To be part of the scheme, the eligible citizens have to register their family with the civic body at an annual fee of Rs 100 per family, which would include the couple, parents and first two children till they reach the age of 25 years. It will be applicable to the third child born before January 1, 2005.
However, the scheme will not be applicable for citizens who are eligible for assistance from other government or private organisations.
Source: The Indian Express PMC unveils health scheme for the poor
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Private Hospitals Told To Update Bed Vacancy Status On Internet
By akansha, Section Health
Posted on Mon Nov 02, 2009 at 11:09:09 PM EST
 The state government has decided to use the power of Internet to rein in private hospitals that are denying free treatment to patients from Economic Weaker Section (EWS) of the society.
Bed networking knowing how many beds are available in each hospital and referring patients accordingly will soon be a click away.
In a recent meeting with medical superintendents of private hospitals which had acquired land at concessional rates promising free treatment to BPL patients the state health officials instructed them to update the "bed vacancy" at the end of each working day on the website of Directorate of Health Services (DHS).
"The idea is to keep government hospitals informed about the bed vacancy in private hospitals," said JP Singh, Principal Secretary. "Most state-run hospitals are over-burdened as private players were not keeping up their end of the deal. We want government hospitals to start referring BPL patients to private hospitals as a routine," he said. The procedure of bed networking has already been worked out. As of now, private hospitals send a fax every morning with information about bed vacancy. This will be done online.
"With a click of mouse we will know which hospital is best suited for the patient, keeping in mind the location and the speciality required," said Dr Amit Banerjee, Medical Superintendent of Lok Nayak Hospital. The hospital is already referring seven to eight patients a day to private hospitals.
If this works as planned, it will mean that patients will no longer have to share beds, limiting cases of infections.
"This is a step towards a future where a poor patient will confidently walk in to a private clinic and be treated with dignity without paying a single paisa," Banerjee added.
The state government recently appointed a nodal officer exclusively for Indraprastha Apollo hospitals which had gone to court against paying for consumable to treat poor patients.
A doctor has been posted there for three months to ensure that 200 beds are kept aside for BPL patients.
Source: The Indian Express Private hospitals told to update bed vacancy status on Internet
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"Oseltamivir" In Syrup Form Available In Market Now For Swine Flu
By akansha, Section Health
Posted on Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 02:04:06 AM EST
The city received its first stock of the syrup form of Oseltamivir for private sale across the 12 designated chemists' shops having schedule X licence from Monday. A consignment of 250 bottles, meant for swine flu infected children below the age of 12 years, has been made available for sale strictly against the prescription of a qualified doctor of allopathy.
"A bottle of 75 ml Fluvir syrup is priced at Rs 520 per bottle," said Mahendra Pitaliya, chief co-ordinator of Chemists' Association of Pune District.
Oseltamivir is the generic name of the drug. The brand name of Oseltamivir capsules produced by one pharmaceutical company is known as Tamiflu. The Oseltamivir capsules and syrup the city received now from a Hyderabadbased company are known as Fluvir, said Pitaliya.
Fluvir capsules are available in doses of 35 mg, 45 mg and 75 mg. But the stock that the city has received contain only 75 mg capsules. "Only those patients who are above the age of 12 years can take this capsule. The syrup form of Oseltamivir can be used for children of below 12 years of age," said Pitaliya.
"The chemists who are selling Fluvir capsules and syrup will have to submit the monthly sales reports to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the end of each month," said A.B. Joshi, assistant commissioner (drugs), FDA.
When contacted Chetan Shah, one of the distributors of Fluvir in the city, said: "The pharmaceutical company has communicated a set of guidelines regarding distribution of Fluvir capsules and syrup to avoid indiscriminate use of the drug." Fluvir tablets and syrup will be given only against the prescription of a qualified doctor of allopathy, Shah added.
Source: Times Of India Oseltamivir in syrup form available in market now
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Manifestos Mum On Public Health Care Plans
By akansha, Section Health
Posted on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 01:19:53 AM EST
As the voters in the city will be exercising their franchise on Tuesday, the health activists in the city have pointed out that none of the election manifestos of political parties envisage concrete plans to revive the city's limping healthcare system. Even with the threat of pandemics becoming increasingly real, there is hardly any candidate stressing on establishing an effective integrated disease surveillance network.
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Stating that health care facilities at government-run and civic hospitals are virtually non-existent, Abhijit Vaidya, who is the national chief of Arogya Sena, said: "Political parties seem to be washing their hands off this responsibility. There is hardly any party whose manifesto envisages concrete plans to address the issues plaguing the public healthcare system."
Arogya Sena recently released a manifesto to sensitise parties and candidates about public health issues. The declaration demands enactment of the State Health Act and increasing government expenditure on public health from current 1 per cent to 3 per cent of the GDP in five years. The manifesto demands reduction of medicine prices and declaration of respective essential drug list by all state governments.
Source: Times Of India Manifestos mum on public health care plans
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