J A L A N D H A R    E D I T I O N

Shortage of specialist docs
Health authorities take to outsourcing
Jalandhar, August 18
Already suffering from the near non-existence of super-specialist doctors in the state-run health centres, the health authorities have decided to outsource the services of private super-specialists by paying them a remuneration of Rs 1,000 per hour.

Nursing students block traffic
Jalandhar, August 18
Scores of nursing students of the Punjab Medical Institute of Nursing, Suranussi, protested against the college management and blocked the Jalandhar-Suranussi-Kartarpur road near Suranussi for more than two hours this morning.

Students of the Punjab Medical Institute of Nursing, Suranussi, block the Jalandhar- Suranussi- Kartarpur road in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh

Shortage of specialist docs
Health authorities take to outsourcing
Amaninder Pal
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 18
Already suffering from the near non-existence of super-specialist doctors in the state-run health centres, the health authorities have decided to outsource the services of private super-specialists by paying them a remuneration of Rs 1,000 per hour.

The fact has come to the fore with the enrolment of super-specialist doctors in the non-communicable diseases (NCD) cell at the Civil Hospital here.

The same doctors are also working at various major private hospitals in the city.

The authorities cite the shortage of super-specialists as a reason behind the move. The presence of private super-specialists is seen as being detrimental for state-run health centres as insiders are of the opinion that private doctors may use the facility to divert patients from government hospitals to their clinics.

“Private doctors will use the facility to increase their clientele. Moreover, in any case, such doctors would not be accountable to the health authorities,” said Dr P.L. Garg, former Joint Director, Department of Medical Education and Research.

On the other hand, Dr J.P. Singh, Director, Health Services, said he was not aware of the fact that private super-specialists had been invited to render their services in the NCD cell, Jalandhar.

The NCD cell is being run on an experimental basis under the pilot project of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The super-specialist doctors here would mainly provide treatment for hypertension, diabetes, obesity and brain and heart strokes.

Under the project, the incidence of such diseases will be studied. Element of awareness is also a part of the project. Experts have also questioned the need of super-specialist doctors for such diseases. “Even specialist doctors of medicine can effectively treat ailments like hypertension and diabetes. It is really surprising why government needs only super-specialist doctors to treat such diseases,” said Dr Hardip Singh, president, Punjab Civil Medical Service Association.

The cell is the first such unit in the state and in the first phase, patients of five blocks of Jandiala, Kala Bakra, Jamsher, Adampur and Bilga will be referred to the cell.

If proved successful, the project would be extended to other districts, revealed Dr J.P. Singh.

Nursing students block traffic
Tribune News Services

Jalandhar, August 18
Scores of nursing students of the Punjab Medical Institute of Nursing, Suranussi, protested against the college management and blocked the Jalandhar-Suranussi-Kartarpur road near Suranussi for more than two hours this morning.

The protesters alleged mental harassment at the hands of the college authorities.

They also alleged that they were being served poor quality of food and had to pay exorbitant amount in the form of fines even for their petty mistakes.

The protesting girls also alleged that the college authorities used to impose inhuman restriction on them and did not let them move out of the hostel for days.

On the other hand, P. Madaan, Director of the institute, said the students were protesting as the college authorities did not permit them to use mobile phones in the hostel and college campus. The use of mobile phone was banned in the college and hostel and they could not allow them to use the same at any cost, she added.

The students lifted the blockade only after getting assurance of needful action from the administration. The group of nursing students later met the SDM-II, Anupam Kaler, and recorded their joint statement against the college management.

The matter had been resolved as the management had agreed to concede to the demands of the students, said Kaler, who visited the spot in the evening and pursued the both sides to settle the matter.

Rural women hold dharna against sarpanches

Alleging political vendetta against their sarpanches, women of over 20 villages surrounding Nakodar and Shahkot sat on dharna against the government in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here today.

Beating plates, the protesters raised anti-government slogans and criticised the UPA and SAD governments for the skyrocketing price rise.

Organised on the call of the Istri Jagriti Manch (IJM), the protest was led by manch convener Anita Peter. She claimed that Akali sarpanches had been harassing poor and handicapped residents in their respective villages on one pretext or another.

Peter alleged that the sarpanches of the ruling party had been harassing elderly, handicapped and other beneficiaries by not forwarding their papers for availing government schemes like widow pension, old-age pension, handicapped pension and certain other benefits.

She produced Ninder Kaur, Balbir Kaur and Rani of Jamsher, who had been struggling for window pension for the past a couple of months, while Arjun Paswan, Pachla Devi and Kamar Das of Mandhala village had been running from pillar to post for the old-age pension.

Similarly, beneficiaries of schemes for handicapped were at the mercy of their sarpanches.

Earlier, a delegation also met the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) and submitted a memorandum of their demands.