The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

Exercise must in life, says expert
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, September 19
“Human body requires exercise and not relaxation. But since we do not strain our body and believe in leading a luxurious life, it has led to an increase in backaches and slip discs”, said Dr P.S. Ramani, former Head, Department of Neuro and Spinal Surgery, Tata Memorial Hospital, and LTM Medical College and Hospital, Mumbai, while interacting with Ludhiana Tribune here today. Dr Ramani was in city to deliver a guest lecture on “Emergence of Spinal Surgery” at Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), organised by the Department of Neurosurgery today.

The president of the National Association of Neuro-Spinal Surgeons of India and former president of the National Neuro-Trauma Society of India said brisk walking, warming up and strengthening of muscles and then pulling them down for relaxation was a must.

“Spinal surgery was first performed in 1934. In the last 20 years there have been rapid technological advancements. Micro spinal surgery first took place in 1971. Earlier patients were discharged after 10-15 days of the surgery and they were asked to restrict their activities. But due to the recent advancement, patients could go home after a few hours of the surgery.”

On asking whether the treatment in India was on a par with that in the West, Dr Ramani said: “The health in the West is either in the hands of national healthcare system or fully insured, which means if there is a 100-bed hospital, they will cater to only 100 patients, but in our country we try to accommodate as many patients as we can. If there is a 100-bed hospital, more than 120 patients are admitted at the same time. They may be unable to get the beds, but they get the treatment. The surgery techniques are best in our country. There is a definite need for improving post-operative care in our hospitals”, suggested Dr Ramani.

He stressed that due to the present lifestyle more and more people were complaining of backaches and disc problems. He said 15 per cent of patients required surgery.

Dr Ramani said people felt that these surgeries were very expensive. “Compared with the West, surgeries in India are quite affordable. In corporate hospitals, patients could avail of the treatment according to their pocket.”

Earlier, during his lecture at the CMCH, Dr Ramani stressed that 2001-10 was the decade of spine surgeries. With the changing scenario, three types of surgeons were involved in spinal surgeries.

The seniors or masters who were adopting traditional methods, the younger generation who were heavily biased towards implants and the small group who believe in Minimal Invasive Spinal Surgery (MISS).

Dr Ramani demonstrated video clippings of various surgeries. Dr Yashbir Dewan, Professor and Head, Department of Neuro Surgery CMCH, who had organised the lecture said: “We stand on the brink of a new era in spinal treatment.”

Family welfare programme comes to an end?
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 18
The staff of Post Partum (family welfare) Centre at Dr B.L.Kapoor Memorial Hospital has been passing through mental agony due to the non-receipt of salaries for the past two years. Their salaries have been held up due to the non-release of annual grant-in-aid by the state government with a result that the programme is on the verge of closure.

Dr T.S. Cheema, Medical Superintendent, Dr B.L. Kapoor Memorial Hospital, while talking to Ludhiana Tribune said that it was unfortunate that the most important and basic programme for the state and country’s well-being, the Family Welfare Programme, was almost dead.

The programme was a great blessing for the people of this region for the past 30 years. Poor patients got their medical termination of pregnancies (MTPs), tubectomy, immunisation and other minor ailments treated free under this programme. “The winding up of this programme in the hospitals has not only belied the expectations of the poor people of Punjab but also sent shock waves of frustration and dismay,” said Dr Cheema.

Sources revealed that the authorities had sent their representatives to the officials concerned and ministers several times for continuing the post-partum programme but the grant-in-aid from the state government had not been released.

Meanwhile, sources revealed that the post partum centre at Christian Medical College and Hospital was also facing similar problem. It is also learnt that the Assistant Commissioner, Dr Parveena Goel from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, vide letter dated February 13, 2003, had brought the matter to the notice of Punjab Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare. But no decision was taken in this regard.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Central Government-sponsored Post Partum Programme was started in 1969 at district level and from 1980-81 at sub-district levels for providing an integrated package of maternal and child health care as well as family welfare services in the country.

Hero institute chosen for genomic project
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 19
The National Institute of Health, USA, and the University of Pittsburg have chosen Hero DMC Heart Institute along with AIIMS New Delhi, and PGIMER, Chandigarh, for Genomic Indo-US collaboration project on genomic studies on diabetes and premature coronary artery disease amongst Indians, specially Punjabis.

The prevalence of diabetes and heart disease is one of the highest in South Asian compared to other races. The major factor is considered to be the genetic in these diseases. The study will be conducted with a team of leading geneticists from the university of Pittsburg, USA. It will be carried on Sikh families affected with Type 2 diabetes belonging to either Khatri or Jat Sikh community of North India. Hero DMC Heart Institute, is expected to contribute significantly to this NIH, USA-funded project.