HEALTH

Drug-coated stents become popular
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 9
With the information technology making fast inroads into our daily life and reaching every nook and corner of the country, the percolation of the newer technology to the lesser world has become very rapid. Medical field, too, is not lagging behind and new techniques are not only available but are benefiting the entire population.

Treatment of heart disease was revolutionised by the technique of stent angioplasty a few years ago giving many patients a new lease of life without much suffering and trauma related to heart surgery. But the major problem with the use of stents had been natural stent blockage (instant restenosis) during first six months or eight months of follow up. The stent blockage rate had been to the tune of around 20 per cent at six months.

Recently another revolution has occurred in the field of cardiology — the concept of using the drug-coated stents has emerged all over the world to prevent and minimise the stent stenosis rate.

The drug coated stents containing sirolumis (cipher) and packitaxcl (taxol) — anti-proliferative agents have been successful in virtually eliminating stent stenosis as has been proved by the results of the latest studies. Sigma Heart Institute, too, has joined the campaign and started routine implantation of the latest drug elating stents as is being done elsewhere in the world.

Mr Vinod, a resident of Nawanshahr had suffered a heart attack recently and was getting repeated chest pain. The patient, being young and educated was aware of the benefit the newer technologies. He approached the doctors at Sigma Hospital, who performed coronary angiography of the patient which revealed that the right sided coronary artery had 90 per cent stenosis in mid portion.

A team of doctors successfully performed balloon angioplasty of right side artery and implanted drug elating taxus (pactitaxel) stent. The patient was progressing well after the operation the doctors claimed.

Health employees threaten stir 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 9
The paramedical employees working at the district Health Department are sore over the non-payment of salaries for more than five months. The members threatened to launch an agitation if they were not paid the salaries by July 15.

One of the members of the para-medical staff stated that approximately 100 employees had not been paid salaries since January. "The employees who have not been paid for more than five months come under the Planned Scheme of the Central Government. We are regularly in touch with the head office in Chandigarh who maintain that they are helpless because the salaries are to be released by the Finance Department. There was some procedural delay by the Central Government or the Finance Department. Once the formalities were complete, they would be given their salaries,” he said.

These paramedical employees are working in the family planning, tuberculosis control and leprosy control projects of the Health Department. Mr Sukhwinder Singh, state president, Punjab Health Department Subordinate Officers Clerical Association, said they had sent a number of reminders to the authorities concerned regarding the early release of the salaries but to no avail. He said earlier also their salaries were not disbursed but were paid after protests.

The members also demanded that their budget plan should be formulated by the state government instead of the Union Government.

Meanwhile, the employees have been given an assurance by the Civil Surgeon that the salaries would be released by July 15 and he would personally look into the matter.

SPORTS

Hockey star visits schools, gets warm welcome
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 9
Indian hockey team goalkeeper Kanwaldeep Singh was accorded a warm welcome by various educational and sports organisations here today. He interacted with students and gave tips to budding goalkeepers of local school.

Meanwhile, various local institutes have decided to honour the hockey star.

Despite his tight schedule Kanwaldeep visited Sanatan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Mahatama Gandhi Memorial National Senior Secondary School and Guru Hargobind Khalsa Senior Secondary school.

According to Mr Rajneesh Sharma Gudoo, President of Municipal Council, the hockey star will be honoured at the local town hall on Independence Day by Mr Rachhpal Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police at Malerkotla.

Sports channel launches new programme
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, July 9
The ESPN Star Sports channel is launching a new show — ‘Harsha Unplugged’ from Wednesday. In a press release issued by the channel yesterday, it was informed that Harsha Bhogle, the host, who redefined the role of a sports presenter during his long stint with Asia’s leading sports channel would cover a range of sports-related subjects, solicit opinion from a cross-section of people, initiate discussions among people and have a vote at the end of that particular episode.

According to Mr Sricharan Iyengar, vice president, Affiliate Sales, ESPN Software India Private Limited, some of the sportspersons to be featured in the earlier episode of this weekly programme to be telecast on every Wednesday at 9 pm include Ajay Jadeja, Narain Karthikeyan, Parthiv Patel and Dennis Lillee. Interactive and outdoor in nature, ‘Harsha Unplugged’ would showcase sportspersons outside the studios, in an environment comfortable to them, Mr Iyengar informed.

ADMINISTRATION

38 tractor-trailers impounded
Our Correspondent

Mandi Gobindgarh, July 9
Regional Transport Authority (RTA), Patiala, Mr Harmail Singh impounded 38 tractor trailers which were allegedly used for goods transportation at Mandi Gobindgarh on Tuesday. As the local police declined to take these into possession they were parked in the local PWD rest house, these vehicles were challaned under the Motor Vehicle Tax Act 14-B, said the RTA.

The Gobindgarh Mini Truck Operators Association, at a meeting on Monday had asked the Chief Minister and transport authorities to stop the plying of tractor trailers in Gobindgarh for the transportation of goods which was affecting the business of mini truck operators who had to pay Rs 800 as tax per quarter, Rs. 1500 a year for its passing besides road tax and goods tax. In case of minor delay in tax payment, they were heavily fined.

A press note issued by Mr Hardev Singh Bains, general secretary of the association, said around 500 tractor trailers were plying in Gobindgarh. At the time of the registration of tractors, the owner files an affidavit to make use of it for agriculture purposes although-he may have no land at all for cultivation.

At the same time, the mill owners/traders also save huge amount by way of taxes by sending the goods without billing. Police sources said, they have no authority to check the goods loaded on tractors. The government incurs heavy loss by way of tax evasion.

Talking to the mediapersons here today, Mr Bains said the operation of bus service from July 11 between India and Pakistan would further add to their woes.

They had to depute a mini truck by rotation on “begar” (unpaid labour) to the police in the past to lift a police party for safe passage of the bus up to the boundary of the next police station and the practice might be revived again.