HEALTH

Hero DMC faces financial crunch?
K.S.Chawla and Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, December 7
The prestigious Hero-DMC Heart Institute here that started with much fanfare is passing through a severe financial crunch, resulting in several senior doctors fleeing the institute, thereby seriously affecting its normal functioning. In an apparent damage-control bid, the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital management has put out advertisements for the recruitment of top professionals, while at the same time stopping commissions and some payments to the existing staff, as the management considered this necessary for “the recouping of the institution’s financial health”.

Acting president of the management, Mr Balraj Kumar, said the move to withhold doctors’ commission had been initiated in consultation with the faculty in the interest of the institution. Some doctors, on the other hand, have resented the move and termed the decision one-sided.

The Hero DMC Heart Institute, a 40-crore project, started with much pomp and show about a year ago and had brought open heart surgery and bypass surgery to the city. The institution is backed by the Hero Group of Industries, which invested about Rs 4.5 crore on the construction of the hospital. But there has been no thoracic surgeon in the institute for the past four months.

The heart institute had picked up very well as the initial rate of surgeries was quite encouraging and the success rate was also good. But now heart patients from Punjab have been going to Escorts and Apollo Hospital Delhi instead of the Hero DMC Heart Institute due to lack of enough staff in the latter.

Mr Balraj Kumar, when asked about this, confirmed that the institute was suffering because of the non-availability of surgeons. He said, “We are looking out for a good surgeon for the Hero DMC. Once we are able to get one, we will come at par with other well-known institutes”.

The institute was set up by procuring a loan of Rs 32 crore from two nationalised banks. The amount also included investment made by the serai for the relations and attendants of the patients in general hospital and the heart institute.

Inquiries show that the DMCH management has to pay a heavy rate of interest to the banks as it has been able to pay back only one installment of loan. 

Mr Balraj said it was not possible to build such an institution without loans from banks. “Once things stabilise, everything will be allright”, he said. All is not too well with the DMC either, which is governed by the same management. About half a dozen senior faculty members from the DMC would be retiring within the next six months and there would be another gap to fill the vacancies. Mr Balraj said only three doctors, including Dr Awasthi, Dr S.C.Ahuja and another doctor from medicine, would be retiring and the authorities had already started looking for capable persons to work at the DMC.

The hospital worries have been compounded as the MCI has denied recognition to the post-graduate department of surgery for postgraduate admissions, as a result a number of postgraduate seats have been cut in some other disciplines too.  Although hospital authorities (DMCH and Hero DMC Heart Institute) claim that the hospital has come to normal functioning after the employees returned after about two-month-long strike, the number of OPD patients and the admissions in different departments have not touched the same level as was prevalent before the start of the agitation by the employees in July. The number of daily out patients is stated to be between 600 and 700, whereas it used to be more than 800 in all OPD departments.

Similarly, the bed occupancy has not crossed 50 per cent so far and the wards remain idle. Some senior functionaries feel that the institute cannot be run by “remote control” or with the appointment of professionals. The management of such a big institute required personal touch to bring it back to its glory. The annual inspection of the DMC is also due and notice from the MCI can be received anytime.

SPORTS

Punjab hockey player impresses Spain
Anil Datt

Ludhiana, December 7
Though European countries dominate in the field of hockey, players from Punjab have impressed them with their technical skills, stickwork and dodging ability.

Jagroop Singh Bal, a student of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, who had gone to Spain in connection with his studies has been engaged by the Sonfer Club in Majorka. He represented the PAU in the Inter-agricultural Universities Hockey Meet and remained captain of the Combined University squad for two years i.e. 1999 and 2000.

Jagroop Singh, who was here last week, told Ludhiana Tribune that he was among 100 aspirants for the post and was selected on the basis of his origin i.e. Punjab and being a “Sikh”. Indian hockey stars Baljit Dhillon, Baljit Singh Saini, Gagan Ajit Singh and Dhanraj Pillai are quite famous in Spain and people consider Punjab as the real home of Indian hockey, he added.

“In Spain, there are more than 200 clubs having their own Astro turf and coaches. Sonfer, Trasha, Egara, Netalunia are some of the major clubs in Spain. Palboamat, Juan Asunare and goalkeeper Robin Juferre are some of the star hockey players of Spain who are the product of these clubs. Each player has to pay for joining these clubs. The game of hockey there is governed by the Real Federation of Hockey, and involves no political interference. The federation consists of retired senior players, who announce a coaching schedule for the clubs and observe their activities. They play seven to eight hours a week and the main stress is on stickwork, hit and penalty corner conversion exercise. There is a league for every age group on the basis of which the players for the national team are picked up,” Jagroop adds.

In Spain, hockey and football matches are played on Astro turf and sand turf grounds. They prefer sand turfs since these require no water and are cheaper as compared to Astro turf.

The trainees play six-a side, four-a-side on a 25-yard ground with two goal posts on either side.

Jagroop is imparting training to young promising players (u-14 years). His job is to train these budding players in taking the hit, stopping the ball, receiving the ball and dodging the defenders. His contract with the Sonfer Club is for one year.

Jagroop Singh said if India followed the system adopted by the European nations, it would certainly regain the top position in hockey.

Cops, officials play goodwill match
Our Correspondent

Jagraon, December 7
In a goodwill cricket match today between the police and civil administration in LR DAV College here, the civil administration XI under the captaincy of Mr Gurmeet Singh, SDM, defeated the police administration XI which was headed by Mr M.S. Chheena, SSP, by six wickets. The police XI after winning the toss decided to bat first. SSP XI scored 141 runs in 20 overs against nine players whereas the SDM XI scored 142 runs in 20 overs by losing their three players. Mr Gurmeet Singh, captain of the winning team, was out at duck. Mr Sarbjit Singh scored 101 runs and remained not out and was declared ‘the man of the match’. Mr Aliwal , a player of SSP XI, scored half-century whereas Mr Chheena scored only 12 runs.

Mr Gurcharan Singh Galib, MP, awarded trophies to both teams and the man of the match. Mr Ajmer Singh, SDM Raikot, Mr Jarnail Singh Dhaliwal, SP(HQ), Mr Jaspal Singh Dhanoa, DSP(D), DSP(H) and Mr Subhash Jassi, Executive Officer, Councillor, were also present.

SSP XI consisted of besides Mr M S Chheena (Captain), Mr Jatinder Singh Klair (DSP), Mr Harjit Singh Brar (DSP), Arvind Puri, Jaswinder Singh, Navin Kumar, Joginder Singh, Gorkha, Kewal Kumar Sharma, Davinder Singh while the in SDM XI comprised Mr Gurmeet Singh, SDM (Captain), Gurginder singh, Sarbjit Singh, Balwinder Singh, Prabhjit Singh, Narinder Kumar, Manjit Singh, Biran Pal, Bhupinder Singh, Bhatti and Maninder Singh. Mr Galib, MP, was presented the pride of Jagraon award.