World Leprosy day 2020

Leprosy is curable and no more ground for divorce

• Elimination means a reduction in prevalence to < 1 case per 10,000 population
• Of the 16 countries reporting more than 1000 new cases annually in 2009, the greatest numbers of new cases were seen in India, Brazil, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Nigeria
• A study using active case finding by house-to-house surveys in Bangladesh recorded nearly fivefold more cases than were believed to exist in the area by passive case finding alone
• Leprosy is more common among males with a ratio of approximately 1.5 to 1....read more

USA, Japan and India to evacuate their citizens from virus-affected areas in China, Air India jet on standby

As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread, Air India awaits a government decision on whether to move the jet to evacuate Indians in China

An Air India Boeing 747 jet, 423 seater, double decker jumbo aircraft with 12 crew members, has been put on standby for the evacuation of Indians (including medical students) from Chinas Wuhan city where the coronavirus outbreak has already claimed the lives of 81 people and the administration has shut down the entire city to prevent the spreading of the virus....read more

Who am I? Know Your Soul Profile

“I am not my physical body, as I know, once my body dies, nobody wants to touch it.” (Adi Shankaracharya in the Bhaja Govindam)

“I am not my mind as I know whenever I am in trouble; the mind asks the heart for help” (Deepak Chopra in the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success).

“I am my consciousness which is residing in the core of my heart” (Svetasvatara Upanishad 5.8). ....read more

Health Sutras By Dr K K Aggarwal

Even adults need vaccination. Ask your doctor for flu, hepatitis B, Tetanus and pneumonia vaccine.

Healthcare News Monitor

TN IDMA to support TN govt’s initiative for bulk drugs park at Cheyyar to boost API production

Pharmabiz India – Peethaambaran Kunnathoor

The Tamil Nadu state board of the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) will extend full support to the efforts of the state government for setting up a Bulk Drug Park (BDP) at Cheyyar in Thiruvannamalai district under the central scheme, "Assistance to bulk drugs industry for common facility centre". According to sources from TN IDMA, the state industrial development corporation (TIDCO) has received in-principle approval for the park from the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP). But the proposal submitted by TIDCO has to be approved by the Scheme Steering Committee (SSC) of the DoP for grant of financial aid. The central government will sanction Rs. 200 crore for the BDP project under the Cluster Development Scheme (CDS). The park is open to all citizens in the country for their business investment. While briefing Pharmabiz, the leaders of TN IDMA, SV Veeramani and J Jayaseelan, said the state industry departments initiative will further boost the pharma formulation industry in the state. The park aims for import substitution of major bulk drugs being imported from China. Gradually, the states dependence on China for all kinds of APIs can be reduced, they expressed the hope. The industry leaders further hope that their earlier proposal for a Formulation Park (Pharma Park) will be materialised along with the project of TIDCOs BDP.

Ayush ministry warns public against fraudulent recruitment advertisements

Pharmabiz India

The Ayush ministry has warned the people about fraudulent advertisements on TV channels and internet portals registering themselves for government jobs. "Such fraudulent/ suspicious notices are issued typically by agencies with misleading names that sound like government bodies, and seek to elicit payments (described as “fees” of various types) through online payment methods," Ayush Ministry said in a statement. "The public in general and Ayush professionals in particular are hereby advised to kindly cross-check the facts stated in such advertisements and verify the identity/ authenticity of individuals/recruitment agencies who issue such advertisements, before responding to them," it added. The ministry said one fraudulent advertisement has come to its notice and it appeared on blog-publishing platform - Blogspot - in the name of Ayushgram Bharat, which claims to be the NRHM wellness centre in India. The Ministry hereby cautions all concerned that the Ministry of Ayush has no connection whatsoever to the aforesaid recruitment announcement by individuals / recruitment agencies who are misguiding job-seekers by promising them government positions.

Mumbai : Public hosp sees organ donation after 2 yrs

ET Healthworld – TNN

After a gap of two years, the city has witnessed an organ donation from a public hospital this week. Parel’s KEM Hospital on Monday facilitated the cadaver donation of a 52-year-old man whose liver saved the life of a Satara man. In an otherwise growing organ donation programme, the contribution of public hospitals has been lacking in the city. In 2019, for instance, out of the record number of 79 donations, not one came from a public hospital. In fact, the last time public hospitals contributed to a handful of donations was in 2017 when J J Hospital facilitated two and Sion one. KEM Hospital had last recorded a donation in May 2016. The recent donor was admitted to the hospital with a history of fall. Subsequently, he was diagnosed as having suffered a stroke. Dean Dr Hemant Deshmukh said the patient was declared brain dead after two apnea tests on Monday. “The family willingly consented to donate his organs. Due to certain blood parameters, his kidneys were not considered suitable for donation by the kidney committee of the Zonal Transplant Coordination Committee (ZTCC),” he said. The liver was allotted to Apollo Hospital, where the organ was transplanted into a Satara man. “We have restarted the program after over two years. The family has also expressed their desire to assist in spreading awareness about organ donation,” he said. Experts say the reasons for failure to convert brain deaths into successful donations in public hospitals range from inability to carry out timely apnea tests within six hours, finding doctors to complete the brain death certification process to maintaining the donor. “Lack of awareness among the clientele coming to public hospitals is also an issue. But the situation is changing fast,” said a social worker. He added that awareness drives by the state’s medical education department have managed to make people aware of the concept of organ donation.

Government Rajaji Hospital is fire-safe, old structures to be demolished soon: Dean

ET Healthworld – TNN

Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) dean Dr Sangumani J said that the hospital is well-equipped to prevent and handle fire accidents. The dean was speaking in the wake of Saturday’s fire accident at Kanyakumari Medical College Hospital, where an old building used for storing scrap and packing material was gutted. “Fire safety measures are in place in both old and new buildings at GRH. The fire department has also been continuing to hold periodical checks to see if all the buildings are well-equipped to prevent and handle fire accidents. “All employees are also being given awareness and training programs in fire safety by the fire department,” Dr Sangumani told TOI. Notably, a minor fire broke out last year in September at the plastic surgery department in GRH reportedly due to a live beedi left behind by someone. Hospital sources said that several of the old structures at GRH are not being maintained properly as many of them are leaking and developed cracks. However, there is no specific threat that could result in a fire. “Though maintenance has been poor, electric circuit boards and wiring, which is capable of causing fire, have all been replaced. Previously, we had aluminium wiring but now they have all been replaced with copper wiring,” said a hospital staff. Dr Sangumani further said that the few old structures at GRH, which have been left unused, are also going to be demolished soon. “Around 5% of the old structures are currently not in use but soon, they will all be demolished for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project, which plans to set up a seven-storey building on the GRH main campus near Goripalayam junction,” he said.