HEALTH

NIMA criticises IMA’s statement
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 1
The National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) has strongly criticised a statement issued by the state unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in which it had said that NIMA’s demands were unjustified.

Dr Surinder Gupta, Secretary of the association, in a press note issued here today, said NIMA had no reason to seek the permission of the IMA for practicing modern medicine. The body said the right to practice medicine was a property of neither the IMA, an autonomous body of so-called allopaths, nor the MCI, that governed only the medical-education system.

Dr Gupta said the right to practice medicine was governed solely by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules. These rules had given the rights to practice whichever system of medicine to MCI’s recognised degree holders and other practitioners like dentists, veterinarians and the ISM-degree holders. Practitioners were registered also on the basis of experience. The MCI could issue guidelines only to its own degree holders and not the others, who had received education under the other Acts.

Dr Gupta said the Supreme Court of India had already given a verdict in favour of all general practitioners, including integrated-medical-degree holders, who practiced the modern system of medicine.

SPORTS

Titles for HPS, GCW cagers
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, November 1
Harkrishan Public School and the Government College for Women of Ludhiana won the titles in the junior boys’ and women’s sections, respectively, in the District Basketball League Championship that concluded in Guru Nanak Stadium here today.

In the boys’ final, Harkrishan Public School beat BCM School of Ludhiana, 60-46. Jagdeep and Ramesh scored 18 and 12 points, respectively, for the winners. Manikaran Singh scored 19 points for the losers.

In the women’s section, the GCW defeated Khalsa Senior Secondary Girls School, 39-29. For the winners, Kiranpreet Kaur scored 20 points and Manpreet scored 10 points. Taranjit Kaur (10 points) played well for the Khalsa school team.

Mr H.S. Sidhu, Senior Superintendent of Police at Ludhiana, gave away the prizes to the winners.

Meanwhile, the Government College for Women, Ludhiana, registered two consecutive victories in the meet yesterday.

GCW eves defeated Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, 22-16 with the main contribution coming through Manpreet, who chipped in 11 points. In their second match, Government College routed Gujjarkhan Girls High School 45-15. Kiranpret accounted 18 points for the winners, while Rajni scored 10 points for the losers.

In the men section, the Army team fought a pitched battle against Coaching Centre before emerging victorious 66-53. The winner led by five points (26-21) at half time. Balbir Singh and Rajbir Singh of the Army team excelled with 23 and 18 points, respectively, while Sukhwinder Singh contributed 25 points for the Coaching Centre.

In other matches (women), Khalsa Senior Secondary School beat Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar, 27-20 and Khalsa School drubbed GujjarKhan High School 28-12. and in the junior boy’s category, BCM Senior Secondary School defeated DAVPS 38-13.