HEALTH

Helpline for angioplasty patients 
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 29
Concerned about the rising use of illegal stents in intervention cardiology, PRAHAR (Public Response Against Helplessness and Action for Redressal), today launched a multi-city campaign titled, “Making cardiac care fair”. The objective is to bring the issue to the forefront and ensure stringent laws are passed in this regard.

As a part of its campaign to check the use of illegal stents, Prahar launched a patient helpline number — 011-30884200 — where victims can register their complaints and seek assistance. They can also get first hand information on matters related to cardiac care.

Mr Abhay Raj, executive committee member of the organisation, said: “What has been reported in the media is only the tip of the iceberg. Everyday, 85 patients are inserted unapproved pieces of metal while undergoing angioplasty in hospitals across the country. This is half of the total number of patients who undergo angioplasty in the country. This cannot be allowed and needs urgent redress.”

Dr T.S. Kler, Director of Electrophysiology, Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, said: “A large section of doctors have worked hard over the years to upgrade medical facilities. Just when we were about to celebrate the arrival of the Indian medical skill on the global map, practices like these have pushed us back.”

Dr Upendra Kaul, Director, Cardiology Services, Fortis Group of Hospitals & Vice-President, SAARC Cardiac Society, said: “At the heart of the problem is lack of a regulatory mechanism to control the use of medical devices which go beyond cardiac stents and straddle all possible categories.”

Mr Chris Sloan, former Director, US FDA, Cardiovascular Department said: “It is important for the patients to understand that drug eluting stents or DES are extremely technology-intensive products. Therefore, it is very important for the patients to know and opt for an approved and high quality stent.”

Clinic raided, sealed
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 29
The health authorities today raided a clinic at Bhainsa Tibba village this evening and sealed it after a matriculate was found prescribing allopathic medicines. A team of officials, including District Health Officer, Lalit Virmani and Drug Inspector, Kamaldeep Dhawan, conducted the raid after they received numerous complaints that a “quack” was operating in the area and prescribing allopathic medicines.

Upon reaching the village, the team found that Mast Ram, was sitting in the clinic. “He told us that he examines patients. The owner of the clinic, Dr Sushil Kumar Sharma, a BAMS doctor, runs a clinic in Chandigarh while Mast Ram takes charge of patients here. We also found medicines that were expired and allopathic medicines which BAMS doctors are not supposed to prescribe,” Dr Virmani said.

The team seized some medicines and sealed the clinic. Dr Sharma and his assistant have been asked to appear before the inquiry team on Monday. 

SPORTS

SAI coaches go on leave
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 29
Most of the coaches working with the Sports Authority of India have opted to go on leave, as they were not adjusted at the new centres. They have joined the new coaching centres after the transfer orders were issued earlier this month.

The coaches were happy by the manner in which senior functionaries of the SAI were grilled during the ongoing Parliament session on Thursday. Now the Director General, SAI, too has expressed his inability to help coaches. The coaches are now gearing up to redress their grievances on August 1 when they meet Mr Prithvi Raj Chavan, Minister of State, PMO, who has been given the sports portfolio.

One of the SAI coach on condition of anonymity alleged that the Secretary of the SAI, Mr B.K. Sinha, who is himself an IPS officer of Haryana cadre and does not enjoy a good reputation in the state, mooted the entire plan. He further alleged that Mr P.C. Kashyap, another key administrator of the SAI, had been charge sheeted and suspended for his autocratic style of working during his tenure as the Director-In charge, Northern Centre, Chandigarh.

Mr Suresh Harmilapi Director-In charge (North) today again visited the city and met the Joint Director Sports, UT, Dr J.P.S. Sidhu, on the issue of readjustment of coaches. Dr Sidhu said nine coaches of the SAI, who were on deputation with UT Sports Department and six coaches, were relieved but now they have sought 10 more coaches in different disciplines and would be writing to corporate office, Delhi.

DAV-8 boys trounce GTB School-15
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, July 29
DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, boys continued with winning spree when they routed boys of Guru Teg Bahadur School (GTB), Sector 15, by five goals to nil to advance into the semifinals of the ongoing Pre-Subroto Soccer Tournament in the under-17 category here today. In another match of the day, Government Model School, Sector 42, team comprising mostly boys of the Chandigarh Football Academy, trounced St Xavier’s School, Sector 44, by 6-0.

Meanwhile, the under-14 final slated to be held between winners of DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, and St Stephen’s scheduled to be held tomorrow, has been postponed. Last evening, during a semi-final tie, between DAV School boys and St John’s boys, St John’s after trailing in the match conceded on the pretext that DAV boys played a rough game.

When contacted Mr Ravinder Talwar, Principal of the DAV School, said in football, boys had to play a tough game. What else could be expected from a losing team which had tried to show their frustration by making formal protest on the issue of overage players. He said they had submitted the details about the players to the secretary, Inter-School Sports Committee and said the details were genuine and most of the boys were already selected in the day-boarding scheme by the Sports Authority of India.

A few of the sports officials had condemned the organisational part by the UT Education Department as in most of the matches, non-technical members were asked to be referees. Mr Rakesh Bakshi, secretary of the Chandigarh Football Association, said it happened every year when referees in plain clothes could be seen officiating in various matches.

Meghna, Mayank, Ravi emerge winners in TT tourney
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 29
Meghna of Sacred Heart School today defeated Kalayani of Tender Heart School in the cadet (girls) category 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-6 on the opening day of DAV Public School Open Table Tennis Tournament held at Table Tennis Hall, Sector 23, here.

The tournament is being organised by DAV Public School, under the aegis of the Chandigarh Table Tennis Association.

In the kids (singles) final between DAVPS-8 paddlers, Mayank Sharma won the first two games comfortably 11-7, 11-7. In the third game, Mayank Kapur resisted and won 12-10 but lost the fourth game 11-7.

In the cadet (boys) section Ravi Dangi of Patiala beat Shubham of Panchkula by 11-8,11-7,11-8.

Today’s results(finals): Cadet (girls): Meghna (Sacred Heart) beat Kalayani (Tender Heart) 11-8,11-9,10-12,11-6. Kids (singles) Mayank Sharma(DAVPS-8) beat Mayank Kapoor(DAVPS-8) 11-7,11-7,10-12,11-7.

Cadet (boys): Ravi Dangi(Patiala) beat Shubham (Pkl) 11-8, 11-7, 11-8.

Naveen leads in chess

Chandigarh, July 29
Naveen Bansal, Sanjeev Biswas and Nitin with four points each were leading at the end of the fourth round of the 16th Chandigarh Chess Championship-2005 being played here at Jawahar Navodya Vidyalaya, Sector 25. The points position at the end of the fourth round are: 4 pts: Sanjiv Biswas, Naveen Bansal and Nitin;

3.5 pts: Anmol Razdan and SS Cheema; 3 pts: Himal Gusain, Anil Raina, Satpal, Sanjay Chadda, Ashwani, Swapan Biswas, A.P. Singh, Manish Sehgal, Vipnesh Bhardwaj, Simranjit Singh, Varun Khullar, Rajinder Kumar, Sarvpreet Singh and A.P. Saksena; 2.5 pts: C.M. Oberoi, Agangpu, Himanshu Gupta and Amit Gulati. OSR

Carrom tourney at St Stephens
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 29
The XV Chandigarh State Carrom Tournament will commence at St. Stephen’s School, Sector 45, here, from tomorrow. In this four-day tournament, 251 players from Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali will take part.

The city team will be selected on August 2. They will participate in the forthcoming 33rd Sub-Junior National and Inter-State Carrom Championship which is being organised by the Chandigarh Carrom Association.

The 5 th Panchkula District Carrom Championship will be organised at Saupin’s School, Sector 9, Panchkula, from tomorrow. The championship which was originally scheduled for three days (July 30 to August 1) will now be conducted for two days(from July 30 to 31).