HEALTH

Protest over shifting of gastroenterology 
ward at DMCH
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 10
The working at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital was disrupted for hours as the row over the shifting of gastroenterology ward further deepened after the renovation work of the gastroenterology unit was forcibly started by the management today.

Mr Chander Mohan Kalia, president of the DMCH union, alleged that they were not given prior information of the renovation work and a team of labourers led by an officer of the management started demolishing the duty counter of the ward. “Many members of the nursing staff were manhandled by these workers. We have already lodged a complaint to the police,” said Mr Kalia.

The union members also alleged that one patient was admitted to the gastroenterology ward on May 22 but the management quietly shifted him to some private room last night.

The management of the DMCH is adamant to shift the gastroenterology ward to Hero DMC Heart Institute but the union is reluctant to shift the ward to new premises till the status of both the entities will be made clear to them.

Dr Rajoo Singh Chinna, Medical Superintendent, when contacted, denied all these allegations. He said union was protesting over shifting of gastroenterology ward. “We have already issued the circulation to the heads of the various departments regarding the renovation work. When the renovation work at the unit was started today, union members forcibly took the labourers out and stopped the work. We believe that everything can be sorted out with dialogue,” said Dr Chinna.

Meanwhile, the management has also urged the union members not to create any kind of obstruction which could cause inconvenience to the patients. For the information of the hospital employees, the management reassured that their salary and service conditions would remain same under all circumstances.

‘Rectal cancer treatment revolutionised’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 10
The treatment of rectal cancer has been revolutionised by the introduction of stapling devices. Generally, most of the patients who undergo surgical treatment end up getting a permanent stoma (bag) on the abdominal wall from where they have to pass stool for the rest of their lives. But with the use of staplers, more than 95 per cent of the above said patients will not require a permanent diversion of stool into a bag, said Dr Rajeev Kapoor, Professor of Surgery, Christian Medical College and Hospital, as the institute introduced Advanced Colorectal Surgical Services recently.

Dr Kapoor said this technique of surgery was not practiced in the country because of reasons like lack of expertise and resources.

In North India, bowel cancer presented an augmenting risk of being the commonest internal malignancy of both the sexes and Punjab was at the most high risk. Rectal bleeding and alteration in bowel habits were the most frequent symptoms. Abdominal pain and anaemia could also be related to the bowel cancer.

Dr Rajeev Kapoor said colon and rectal problems like bowel cancer, ulcerative colitis, rectal prolapse were usually treated as general surgical cases in most of the medical institutes. However, as per the norms of international colorectal surgical societies, it was a super speciality practiced by colon and rectal surgeons who had completed advanced training in this particular field in addition to full training in general surgery. Colon and rectal surgeons were experts who treated benign and malignant conditions, performed routine screening examinations and surgically treated problems when necessary.

Dr Kapoor said with reinstating of colorectal surgery as a super-speciality at CMC, the patients could now be assured of highly specialised and contemporary techniques of medical investigation, screening facilities and treatment for colon and rectal problems like bowel cancer, polyps, ulcerative colitis, bowel incontinence and rectal prolapse.

Dr Kapoor said some risk factors were also involved. It was more common in the developed countries and slightly more common in men. Dietary factors appear to be important as bowel cancer was less common among vegetarians. Genetic factors were also a significant issue as a close relative increase the risk of bowel cancer threefold.

Doctors to observe black day today
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 10
PCMS doctors in the state will wear black badges on June 11 to protest against the move of the Punjab Government to sack all the 872 doctors selected during the tenure of PPSC Chairman Ravi Sidhu and deletion of the NPA from their pay.

In a press release, Dr Balwinder Kumar, general secretary of the Ludhiana PCMS Association, said that ''jan chetna rallies'' would be organised at district headquarters.

It was further decided by the PCMS to observe black day on June 11. The doctors of the Ludhiana district will also wear black badges on that day to protest against the government's move to sack all the 872 doctors selected during the tenure of Mr Sidhu. These doctors were selected for rural job.

Although the association supported the anti-corruption drive, victimisation of innocent doctors could not be tolerated.

Nishu, Rohit hit centuries
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, June 10
Nishu and Rohit hammered centuries as the Double Deckor Club recorded a convincing 73-run victory over the Chauhan Club in the 7th Invitation Cup Cricket Tournament, being organised by the College of Agriculture at the Punjab Agricultural University ground, here on Sunday.

Batting first, the Double Deckor Club scored 257 runs for the loss of two wickets in the stipulated 25 overs. Nishu hit 129 while Rohit remained unbeaten on 106. In reply, the Chauhan Club scored 184 for nine wickets, thus going down by 73 runs.

Brief scores: Double Deckor Club — 257 for 2 (Nishu 129, Rohit 106 n.o.).

Chauhan Club — 184 for 9 (Raj Kumar 41, Richa 40, Vicky 25, Tony 20 n.o., Vicky 3 for 42).

In the second match, the Friends Club scored a nine-wicket win against the Allrounder Club.

Brief scores: Allrounder Club — 126 for 8 (Chinton 31, Sony 27, Rinka 33, Rajan 2 for 22 and Kamal 3 for 20).

Friends Club — 128 for 1(Rajan 51, Satnam 55 n.o. and Kala 13 n.o.).