HEALTH

‘Implement national blood policy’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 21
Despite the formulation of a national blood policy, a lot remains to be done to ensure rational use of blood, which is safe and free from infections like HIV, AIDS and hepatitis, and to have well-equipped blood centres with adequate infrastructure and trained manpower.

Stressing the need for effective implementation of the national blood policy, participants at a CME organised by the Department of Transfusion Medicine at the PGI, stressed the need for separate blood banks at all medical colleges and major hospitals. “ More than the formulation of the blood policy , it is the implementation part which is more important, and this is a challenge before the health care professionals in the field of transfusion medicine,” remarked Dr J.G. Jolly, Professor Emeritus in Transfusion Medicine.

He said Transfusion Medicine should be declared a distinct academic speciality, apart from starting of MD course in the subject at all medical colleges. “The biggest challenge for the health workers and NGOs is to curb the rampant trading and commercialisation of not just blood but even of organs in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal,” he cautioned.

Dr Jolly said it is only the combined effort of hospitals, private nursing homes and clinics that can put a check on trading and commercialisation. He said he was hopeful that the insignificant speciality of transfusion medicine would not just remain confined to providing safe blood but would also stress on its rational use so that every drop and component is utilised

The Director of the PGI, Dr S.K. Sharma, while inaugurating the CME, stressed the need for the implementation of the national blood policy, regarding safe transfusion practices and centralisation of transfusion services in the country.

The Head of Transfusion Medicine, Dr S.K. Agnihotri, stressed the need for rational utilisation of blood and blood products. “The problem of infectious risks related to transfusion such as HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis B and C need to be taken care of so that the risk can be minimised,” she stated.

A majority of participants were of the view that the blood transfusion service in India was highly decentralised and lacked many vital resources like manpower, adequate infrastructure and financial base. They felt that the main issue which plagues blood banking system was fragmented management.

Recent transfusion management protocols were discussed in relation to haemophiliacs, trauma and immuno-deficient patients. Future options like introduction of new technologies in the form of automation, computerisation and stringent quality control practices were highlighted for safe transfusion practices.

During the workshop on blood components, hands-on experience was given to delegates regarding prepration, storage, handling and quality control of blood and its components and strategies for blood conservation.

MLA for action against doctor
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, September 21
A doctor of the Civil Hospital in Phase VI, who was absent from emergency duty for about an hour, should be reprimanded as it was a serious lapse on his part.

This was stated by Mr Birdevinder Singh, Kharar MLA, while addressing a press conference here today. Showing his helplessness he said what action could be recommended against the doctor when the latter had been called by the Punjab Health Minister. He said though he personally felt that some action should be taken against him.

Dr Anil Joshi was not present in the hospital when a 75-year-old kidney patient, Mr Sarwan Singh, was brought there at about 8.55 last evening. The patient had to suffer for an hour or so before the hospital in charge could make arrangements for another doctor who referred the patient to the PGI, Chandigarh.

Mr Birdevinder Singh said it had been verified that the doctor had gone to see a minister who was suffering from giddiness. He said Dr Joshi rang up Dr M.S. Bains, SMO in charge of the hospital, and informed him about his absence from duty about 45 minutes after he had left the hospital. The call was made from the bedrooms of the minister.

The MLA appealed to all senior bureaucrats and politicians not to call doctors to their residences. They should visit the government hospitals personally as this would help to maintain better services at hospitals and the staff, too, would remain more alert. He also asked the doctors to resist such calls from higher authorities, especially when they were on emergency duty.

He said it had now been decided to make arrangements for an ambulance medical officer who would attend calls from ministers and MLAs. The facility would be available round-the-clock and the services of doctors would be provided on call. The SMO could be approached in this regard and he would make the arrangements.

Mr Birdevinder Singh said complaints had been brought to his notice that certain doctors of the Civil Hospital were advising patients to go to Fortis hospital instead of referring them to the PGI and other government hospitals in Chandigarh. Some ulterior motive must be there behind such moves, he added.

He said he had asked the Ropar SSP to provide security at the hospital as some women staff members had complained that when on night duty they had to face harassment at the hands of persons who came to the hospital in a drunken state.

Dr Bains said he had apprised the higher authorities last night’s developments. Dr N.K. Singla, Assistant Civil Surgeon, and Dr S.K. Khullar, DMC, Ropar, had also come to inquire into the matter.

SPORTS

Amit, Dhan Bahadur steal show
Our Sports Reporters

Chandigarh, September 21
Dhan Bahadur of DAV College coaching centre, Sector 10, and Amit of Sports Complex, Sector 7, stole the limelight on the penultimate day of the 30th Chandigarh State Gymnastics Championship played here at Indoor Hall, Sports Complex, Sector 7.

Dhan Bahadur was placed first in the floor exercises, Roman rings and parallel bars, while Amit secured first position in vaulting horse and horizontal bars.

Amit and Deepika Rawat were declared overall best gymnasts. The three-day meet is being organised by the Chandigarh Gymnastics Association. Today’s results: Floor exercises: Dhan Bahadur 1, Amit 2, Lalit 3. Roman rings: Dhan Bahadur 1, Amit 2, Hargun 3. Pommeled horse: Gurpreet 1, Amit 2, Dhan Bahadur 3. Vaulting horse: Amit 1, Dhan Bahadur 2, Rishab 3. Parallel bars: Dhan Bahadur 1, Amit 2, Rishab and Hargun 3. Horizontal bar : Amit 1, Dhan Bahadur 2, Hargun 3.

All round best gymnasts: Sub-junior boys: Amit 1, Dhan Bahadur 2, Rishab 3. Sub-junior girls: Deeopkia Rawat 1, Ritu 2, Shivani 3.

Football meet

The Chandigarh Sub-Junior Boys Football Championship for Sanjay Trophy will be held from September 25 to 28 at Football Stadium, Sector 17. This was stated by Mr Ravinder Talwar, President, Chandigarh Football Association. He said the four-day meet was being sponsored by Sanjay Public School, Sector 44, and the players born on or after January 1,1987 were eligible to take part in it. Entries close on September 23 with Secretary, CFA at 3039, Sector 21, Chandigarh.

ADMINISTRATION

Illegal hoardings along Madhya Marg removed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 21
The Estate Office swung into action today and removed illegal hoardings and neon signs put up by top outlets, shops, banks and restaurants in the Sector 9 and 8 markets along the Madhya Marg.

A team of the Estate Office comprising SDM Central, Mr Prithi Chand and Enforcement Magistrate, Mr Ishwar Singh had requisitioned a hydraulic ladder used by electricity repairmen to reach the hoardings and bring them down. As many as 90 hoarding were removed. These were illegal as the shopkeepers had used the space outside their panels to set up the neon signs.

In the past residents of several localities had alleged that the Estate Office does not touch the influential persons in the city. Today’s drive had a cascading affect as several shopkeepers in the adjoining Sector 7 market on the Madhya Marg removed their hoardings voluntarily.