HEALTH

Less charity, more commerce at hepatitis-B camps
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 24
The holding of hepatitis-B camps by various individuals, institutions and doctors has become a lucrative business here with one camp fetching on an average at least Rs 20,000 to the organisers. Of late, there has been a great rush for holding such camps by doctors, which has even led to rivalry among them. Some dubious charitable institutions have also mushroomed in the city which are also doing a flourishing business. However, there are several genuine charitable institutions also which do not do it for profits.

Information collected from various “charitable organisations” over a period of several weeks revealed that it is not charity or concern for the human lives that prompts most of the people, including doctors and institutions, to hold such camps. But simple economics, as the camps generate massive profits.

In order to check the unscrupulous elements and vested interests from exploiting people in the name of such camps, the Health Department has made taking of permission for holding such camps mandatory. A senior official of the department said that any individual, institution or organisation, which wants to hold such a camp, has to seek permission from the Civil Surgeon.

The average cost of a 10-ml vial of hepatitis-B costs Rs 550. This makes 10 doses for adults. While for the children, one vial of 10-ml provides 20 doses. The charitable institutions and doctors who organise these camps charge Rs 100 for one injection from adults, while Rs 50 are charged for minors. Rough estimates of additional expenses per vial are put at Rs 50. This includes handling and syringe charges also. Thus anyone who holds a camp — whether an institution or an individual — makes a net profit of Rs 400 per vial in the name of charity. It is anybody’s guess how many people come to get vaccinated here for the hepatitis-B under the general impression that the dose is cheaper in the camps than in the market.

The element of crass commercialisation has crept into the charity business. There are reports that more than one camp is held in a single locality on same day. Not just that the doctors and institutions holding the camps launch massive publicity campaigns and raise banners to get maximum number of people, obviously for maximum profits. In several cases, the doctors would slash down the charges depending on the level of competition. Recently in a locality in the old city, two self-claimed charitable institutions had a clash over holding of the camp. Like professional marketeers, one of these slashed the price to Rs 80 per dose for adults and Rs 40 for minors. To outsmart this, the rivals brought it down further at Rs 70 and Rs 30 per dose for adults and the minors respectively.

However, there are some organisations which provide high-quality injections on no-profit no-loss basis. Some of them have also declared that the profits collected from these camps will be donated for the relief of Gujarat quake victims. But again, who knows how much amount of the profit made is really sent to Gujarat.

Govt doctors, private practice
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, March 24
Punjab’s Director, Health Services, Dr G. S. Preet, has alleged that political pressure, coupled with undue interference, is preventing the department from taking action against government doctors indulging in private practice. Several attempts by the department to check private practice have proved futile and the moves have been abandoned under political pressure.

He said that the department was very concerned about the increase in the number of complaints against doctors indulging in private practices. But unless the government was itself serious about tackling the issue, nothing much could be done. Terming private practice by government doctors as unethical, Dr Preet said that doctors had no right to indulge in private practice when receiving a non-practicing allowance.

The director however added that department was trying to find a way to initiate disciplinary action against those found guilty on this account.

Dr G. S. Preet, who was in town to inaugurate the ‘Paediatric advance life support’ training course, organised by the district branch of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, told ‘The Tribune’ that the government had launched a drive against unregistered medical practitioners. So far 7,400 FIRs had been registered, but once FIRs were registered, the cases went to the courts and department of health did not have any role in taking these cases to their logical conclusions. As a result, many such people go scot free and restart their practice. He said that over one lakh unregistered medical practitioners were still practicing all over the state.

The Director also alleged that a large number of untrained nurses were working in private nursing homes and clinics. To curb the problem of uneducated staff, the government was contemplating to enact the Nurses Act, so that only educated nurses were allowed to practice in nursing homes and hospitals.

Reacting to non availability or poor supply of medicines in Civil Hospitals, Dr Preet said as against a request for Rs 16 crore, the recent budget allocated Rs 4 crore towards purchase of medicine, as a result it would not be possible to supply free medicines for all diseases. However, the department was working out details to ensure maximum utilisation of available resources.

Dr Preet also cautioned people against holding private Hepatitis-B vaccination camps. Terming them ‘illegal’, Dr Preet said that unless they sought permission of the district Civil Surgeon, these camps should not be held. He said a lot of unscrupulous people were taking the public for a ride and he advised people not to participate in camps that were unauthorized.

Dr G.S. Preet was in the city to inaugurate the two-day training programme on Paediatric advanced life support, organised by the district branch of Indian Academy of Paediatrics.

Dr Rajinder Gulati, organising secretary said that for the first time in Punjab, the course was being organised by an association of paediatricians outside a medical college. He added that a total of 44 paediatricians would be attending the two-day course. The delegates have come from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

Dr Daljit Singh, course coordinator, stressed the need for such courses so that they were able to keep themselves abreast with the latest knowledge and techniques.

SPORT

Vet college wins hockey match
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 24
Gurpreet Singh of Thapar Engineering College, Patiala, and Mandeep Singh of host Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College Patiala scored hat-tricks in the sixth Pilot Officer M.S Gill Memorial All-India Inter-Professional College Hockey Tournament that started here today.

In the first match Veterinary College of the Punjab Agriculture University team beat Thapar College Patiala 9-4. The half time score was 4-1. Gurdeep Singh scored three goals, Navdeep Singh Honey and Navdeep Singh Bajwa scored two goals each and Sukhdeep Gill and Munish Kumar scored one goal each for PAU and for Thapar College Gurpreet Singh of PAU and for Thapar College Gurpreet Singh alone scored four goals, including one hat-trick in second half of the game.

In another match, GNE (A) team beat Lala Lajpat Rai College (Moga) 7-1. The half time score was 3-1 in favour of GNE (A). Mandeep Singh, captain of the winner team, scored four goals, including a hat-trick, which he struck in the second half of the game.

Prior to this, an exhibition match was played between Girls XI and Staff XI teams. Girls XI won the match 1-0. Neelanjeet Kaur Gill scored the winning goal in the second half of the game.

The 10th Lubhaya Dharma Memorial Shooting Volleyball Tournament started here on Saturday. The tournament is being organised by the Madhopuri Welfare Association at the Madhopuri Volleyball ground. The tournament was inaugurated by Mr Kasturi Lal Arora. In first match Youth Club, Sonepat, beat Jaghar 2-0 (16-11, 16-14). In another match, Vidarbha beat Chandigarh 2-0 (16-10, 16-4), Haridwar beat HMT Punjab 2-1 (13-16, 16-5, 16-8).