The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

Water-borne diseases on rise
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 22
With the onset of summers, several cases of typhoid, cholera, jaundice, fever, stomachache, dehydration and sunstroke have been reported in city hospitals and clinics. Though the district health administration has started an awareness drive, cases of water-borne and air-borne diseases are on the rise.

Dr Ritu Gupta, Medical Superintendent, Shri Raghunath Charitable Hospital, admitted that the number of patients in the OPD was increasing day by day. She said during summers people should start taking preventive measures well in advance. “There are cases of viral diarrhoea and dehydration. Patients come up with symptoms of vomiting, mild fever followed by loose motions. Most of the patients are below the age of three. For this oral dehydration solution (ORS) is the best,” said Dr Gupta.

She also suggested that antibiotics should be avoided. A child suffering from viral diarrhoea should be given small frequent feeds.

The other common ailments reported these days are oral ulcers and high fever. She said asthma also precipitates these days.

Dr Sandeep Puri, Medical Superintendent, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, said preventive measures like consuming boiled food and water, avoiding stale and over ripe fruits and maintaining hygienic conditions around the house should be taken.

Col P.K. Dhandona (retd), Professor of Medicine and Respiratory Problems, Christian Medical College and Hospital, said cases of indigestion and dysentery had increased.

Meanwhile, the district health department has started a campaign to create awareness among residents. Dr J.S. Bhullar, Civil Surgeon, said the department was trying to create awareness, especially in the targeted areas, including Old Courts, Bharat Nagar Chowk, Old Sabzi Mani, New Shivaji Nagar, Bhai Bala Chowk, Ghumar Mandi, Kapoor Hospital and Daresi Grounds.

A meeting between the District Administration and the Civil Surgeon was held yesterday to review the situation in the district.

Don’t abolish NPA, say doctors
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 22
The PCMS Association has decided to oppose any move to abolish non-practising allowance (NPA) for of doctors and commercialisation of state health services.

Dr Hardeep Singh, Dr Tejpal and Dr Ajay Bagga, state president, vice-president and press secretary of the association, respectively, said in a joint statement today that the allowance was a part of the pay of PCMS doctors and was given to them keeping in view their odd duty hours and emergency duty of 24 hours. They said the allowance had nothing to do with private practice. The name of the allowance was misnomer and it should be renamed as ‘risk allowance’ keeping in view the risk of various deadly infections faced by these doctors, they said.

The president said the decision about private practice was a different matter. Private practice by PCMS doctors had been banned with a view to reserve their services for the common man and to check commercialisation of their services. He said any move to allow private practice would see PCMS doctors stepping into a new phase of commercialisation and it would be fatal for the state health services.

The association members said the major cause of absenteeism among doctors was private practice. Legalising it would increase the problem manifold.

They urged the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, to check commercialisation of health services in the state and to halt any move to abolish NPA from salary of doctors . They said the government should provide a better infrastructure to fully utilise the services of health professional.

Close monitoring of hospitals needed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 22
The National Forum for Consumer Rights (NFCR) has demanded close monitoring of medical practitioners and hospitals from the government in the city for ensuring better medical services for public. The forum has also demanded implementation of the strict price control policy for all drugs and medicines.

According to a press release issued here today, general secretary of the forum, Dr Ajay Shahi, lamented, “the charitable hospitals in the city are overcharging for substandard medical services. He further said, “in the medical stores of the private and charitable hospitals, the substandard medicines are being sold at exorbitant prices.”

Dr Shahi said, “there are doctors in the city who use superfluous memberships as part of the degree to lure the patients.

ADMINISTRATION

DIG holds press conference
Our Correspondent

Jagraon, May 22
Mr Rohit Chaudhary, DIG, Ludhiana range, who was on visit to the police line here, held a press conference at the SSP office. The DIG said the purpose of his visit was to direct police officials to keep an eye on the activities of criminals so as to check crime in the area.

He said he had drawn a 16-point programme for the better working of the police, establishing healthy police-public relations and to inculcate a sense of discipline among police personnel. According to Mr Balkar Singh Sandhu, SSP, the 16-point programme would include issuance of job cards to policemen, supplementary job cards for temporary duties, holding public meetings in different police stations on fixed days and making police officials available for listening to the grievances of general public, speedy disposal of complaints, mobile public centre at Jagraon, grievances disposal squad and to improve dealing of the police with public.

About the required infrastructure and funds for the purpose, Mr Chaudhry said he would try his best that the financial constrains did not come in the way of proper implementation of the programme.