HEALTH

AFDR backs minister on regulation
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 21
The Association For Democratic Rights (AFDR) has come to the defence of the Health Minister over the recent decision to impose a regulation on private hospitals regarding the fee structure and unethical practices. Taking a serious note of the statement by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the AFDR said by opposing such a regulation, the IMA was ignoring a right of the common man.

Welcoming this decision, Prof A.K. Malery, president of the district AFDR, in a press note issued here today, said the regulation on exorbitant fee structure and unethical practices of private hospitals was the need of the hour to protect the constitutional right to health of citizens. Considering the economic restructuring under way in the country and across the world since the past decade, the changing role of the private sector in providing health care would also have to be addressed, he said.

He said currently the contribution of private health care was limited to curative services only. With the increasing role of private healthcare, the need for statutory licensing and monitoring of minimum standards of diagnostic centers/medical institutions became imperative.

“The state is fully responsible for protecting the rights of citizens. It should address the issues regarding the establishment of a regulatory mechanism to ensure adequate standards of diagnostic centers/medical institutions, conduct of clinical practice and delivery of medical services”, he said.

Professor Malery also questioned the unequal and unplanned distribution of doctors among the population in India, where 90 per cent private hospitals were concentrated in city centres for only 40 per cent population, whereas for 60 per cent rural population only 10 per cent hospitals were serving. He demanded a regulatory body for medicare system to stop exploitation and provide right to health to common man.

Workshop on rehabilitating disabled
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 21
The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), North Zone, under the chairmanship of Dr E.M. Johnson, Chairman, RCI, Zonal Advisory Committee, conducted a workshop here today.

Dr E.M. Johnson said: “The declaration of the United Nations in 1978 involved almost all countries, to which India was one of the signatories.The main objective of the declaration was ‘help for all’. In September 1999, a meeting of all the Health Secretaries of state governments along with rehabilitation experts in India was convened in New Delhi.”

SPORTS

16 boys selected for tourney
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 21
At the end of the training-cum-coaching camp, 16 boys have been selected to represent the Punjab school team (u-16) in the 48th All-India Vinoo Mankad Schools Cricket Championship scheduled to be held in Delhi from December 23 to 30.

The camp which began on December 5 and 21 players drawn from different schools of the state, concluded at the local Satish Dhawan Government College for Boys today.

Mr Des Raj, cricket coach with the Sports Department, imparted training to these boys. Mr Jugraj and Mr Tarkeshwar Bharti of Dashmesh Public School, Faridkot, assisted Mr Des Raj.

Talking to the Ludhiana Tribune, Mr Des Raj expressed confidence that the boys would fare well in the championship.

The names of the players are: Rahul Mattoo of Amritsar, Vikram Narula of Faridkot, Rakesh Kumar of Amritsar, Sonu Mandora of Patiala, Harmanjit Bajwa of Amritsar, Chanandeep of Faridkot, Rinku of Patiala, Tarang Bharti of Ludhiana, Harman of Ropar, Anmol Sharda of Ropar, Manjot Singh of Hoahairpur, Shivam Maini of Ludhiana, Manjodh Singh of Sangrur, Vipan Kumar of Amritsar and Jaskarn of Ropar.

Mr Des Raj will accompany the team as coach while Mr Jugraj and Mr Tarkeshwar Bharti will be managers.

Results of Malwa sports festival
Our Correspondent

Samrala, December 21
On the second day of the three-day sports festival of the local Malwa Sports Association, the main attractions were the bullock-cart races, kabaddi matches, dog races, weightlifting and races of men and women. The results are: Bullock-cart race (single): Mr Jhanda Singh (1), Mr Narinder Singh (2) and Mr Bhupinder Singh (3).

Weightlifting: 69-kg category: Sukhminder Singh of Khanna (I) and Tejinder Singh of Ludhiana (2); 85-kg category; Harvinder Singh of Khanna (I) and Pritpal Singh of Khanna (2); 94-kg category; Kamaldeep Singh of Ludhiana (I) and Nazar Singh of Khanna (2); and open group; Gurmeet Singh of Ludhiana (I) and Kamaljit Singh of Khanna (2).

Races 800 m (girls): Manjeet Kaur of Ludhiana (1) and Akwinder Kaur of Khanna (2); 100 m; Rupinder Kaur of Kila Raipur (1) and Baljit Kaur of Ludhiana (2); 800 m (boys); Kamaljeet Singh (1) and Jagminder Singh (2); 100 m; Gurmeet Singh of Ludhiana (1) and Santosh Singh of Ludhiana (2).

On this occasion, Mr Malkiat Singh Dhillon, its president, donated Rs 1 lakh to the association, whereas Toni Kheernian donated Rs 11,000 and Harbhajan Singh donated Rs 51,000, according to Mr Jagtar Singh Bhatti, general secretary, and Mr Behari Lal Saddi, press secretary of the association.

Hockey team probables

Ludhiana, December 21
Following are the probables for the Prithipal Singh Punjab State Hockey Championship to be held here from January 1 to 5: Gurpreet Singh, Harbans Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Mohinder Kumar, Rajinder Singh, Mandeep Singh and Mandeep Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Maninder Pal Singh, Sarbjot Singh, Tejinder Singh, Tej Paul Singh, Sandeep Kumar, Harsimran Singh, Parmeet Singh and Gurtej Singh; Ramanjit Singh, Ravneet Singh, Harpal Singh, Yadwinder Singh and Sukhdeepak Singh; Lakhwinder Singh and Pargaar Singh of the P&T; Tejinder Singh of Arya College; Varinder Pal Singh of S D Government College and Balwinder Singh.OC

ADMINISTRATION

Holding of circus cancelled by admn
Our Correspondent

Khanna, December 21
The inaugural show of Jambo Circus which was to be staged here last evening was cancelled when the local SDM, Mr Manvesh Singh Sidhu, did not grant permission for the holding of the circus. The SDM said that the circus authorities had failed to show the permission of the Animal Welfare Board of India, which is necessary to run a circus.

The show was to be inaugurated by the Senior Superintendent of Police.

It is learnt that members of the PFA Ludhiana had complained that the circus was running without the permission of the Animal Welfare Board of India to the Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana, who referred the complaint to SDM Khanna. The SDM asked the circus authorities to show the permission but they failed.

Manager of the circus, Mr Raghwan, said that they had fulfilled all formalities. They had deposited Rs 3500 on the demand of the Animal Welfare Board and Rs 25000 on the demand of the board on February 4.

But the board has not sent the permission despite repeated reminders of the Circus Federation of India and the management of the Jambo Circus. He said they are bound to close the show till the permission is granted.