Special trains for Tirunelveli, Nagercoil

The Southern Railway on Saturday announced six special trains to clear the extra rush of passengers in the routes between Chennai, Tirunelveli and Nagercoil and have opened the reservation for the services.

On May 8, one of the trains would leave Tirunelveli at 10.55 pm and reach Chennai Egmore at 11.55 am the following day through the Chord Line. But on its way back, the train would take the Main Line after leaving Chennai Egmore at 10.45 pm on May 9.

On May 14, a superfast special train would start from Tirunelveli at 9.15 pm and reach Chennai Egmore the following day through the Chord Line. The return service would start at 9.05 pm on May 15 and reach Tirunelveli at 9.45 am through the same route.

On May 19, a superfast special train would leave Tirunelveli at 6.15 pm and reach Chennai Egmore at 7.20 am the following day. The same day (May 20) it would leave for Tirunelveli at 10.45 pm. Both the services would be through the Main Line.

On May 24, a superfast special train would leave Tirunelveli at 6.15 pm and reach Chennai Egmore at 6.05 am the following day. On the same day (May 25), it would leave Chennai Egmore at 6.50 pm and reach Tirunelveli at 6.30 am the next day. Both the services are through the Chord Line.

A train would leave Nagercoil at 5 pm May 17 and reach Chennai Egmore at 6.05 am the following day. Another superfast train would leave Chennai Egmore at 3 pm on May 18 and reach Nagercoil at 04.15 am the next day. Both the trains would go through the chord line.

Engineering colleges hope for good days

Almost all the 366 engineering colleges in Andhra Pradesh are hopeful that they would see a good year ahead, if the admission process begins on time.

During the last couple of years, most of the colleges were hit badly, as the admission process was delayed by over two months.

In 2013-14, admissions took place in the first week of October, due to the Seemandhra agitation, and in 2014-15 the process was conducted in the last week of September, because of bifurcation blues. As per the AICTE norms the admission process should be completed by the first week of August. In both years, over 50,000 students either joined deemed universities or opted for colleges outside the State. “Because of this exodus seats in many of the colleges, including top-rung ones, were unfilled.. “But this year, we expect to see the seats filled by quality students,” said Principal of Anil Neerukonda Institute of Technology and Sciences VSRK Prasad.

As of now there is no major hassle, unless and until the process is delayed to favour the deemed universities, as alleged by many colleges. The Intermediate results have already been declared and the EAMCET is scheduled to take place on May 8. “Even if the combined results (Intermediate and EAMCET) are declared by May last week, the admission process can begin by June second week,” said Gadde Rajaling, president of engineering colleges’ association in Krishna District. The ideal schedule would be to issue notification by June first week, first counselling by June 30, second phase by July 10 and third phase by July 20. “If this schedule is observed, then the classes could begin by August first week, which would be beneficial both for the students and the colleges,” said Prof. Prasad.

The only spoke in the process is the admission in Telangana, as the problem of debarring 146 colleges is yet to be resolved by the Telangana government.

“If the admission process in Telangana is delayed this might put some of the students who have applied for Telangana-EAMCET in a fix,” said Mr. Rajaling.

As per the statistics, about 44,000 students from Telangana have applied for AP –EAMCET and about 22,000 from AP have applied for Telangana- EAMCET.

Pharm.D graduates take to the streets..HINDU EDITION ANDHRAPRADESH

Demanding the creation of a separate cadre of clinical pharmacists in government hospitals in Telangana and elsewhere in the country, close to 300 Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) graduates took out a rally and held a public meeting on Saturday. The graduates pointed out that the number of candidates having completed the six-year Pharm.D course was increasing every year but so far, the government (State and Centre), had not created a cadre for clinical pharmacists.

The Pharm.D courses started in 2008 and there are nearly 1,200 pass outs in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh who do not have provision to practice and the government too has not created a cadre for recruitment in government hospitals, the protesting graduates said. Since 2008, the number of colleges offering Pharm.D courses has increased to 90 in both States.

The pharmacy graduates pointed out that the government was not utilising the huge number of Pharm.D candidates who were coming out of colleges and are equipped with experience and medical knowledge to serve the rural poor as Primary Health Centres (PHC) doctors.

BJP State president G. Kishan Reddy and LB Nagar MLA R. Krishnaiah participated in a meeting organised by the pharmacy graduates after the rally. The graduates also protested against Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), the legal body responsible for introducing Doctor of Pharmacy in India. Doctor of Pharmacy graduates and students from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu participated.

HC dismisses plea of student

The Madras High Court Bench here has dismissed a writ petition filed by a third-year mechanical engineering student in Tuticorin district who was reportedly prevented from writing examinations for having indulged in a violent protest and damaged college property following a suicide bid by a female student after she was reprimanded for indulging in malpractice during internal examinations. Stating that the student should face the enquiry by the college, Justice S. Vaidyanathan said: “There would be some emotional outburst from him on seeing the sufferings of his fellow student but it does not mean that he is empowered to act in a violent manner.”

Many city doctors wary about adopting new format,,,BY DNA

City doctors have expressed mixed reactions about the new prescription format made mandatory by the Medical Council of India. Speaking to dna, Dr Sanjay Agarwala, the medical director of PD Hinduja Hospital, said that while the new format holds merit, it is too comprehensive and will be difficult to use in day-to-day practice. “The MCI needs to be reasonable and consider the busy consulting hours that every doctor has,” he said.

He added that while the intention behind the new format is good, there are few things that need to be reviewed- like writing the prescription in capitals, and giving the address/email/contact number of the patient in the prescription. “Writing a long prescription in capitals can be quite a task. Also, sharing the patient's personal contact information is not done. As a doctor, I have been following safe prescription habits, by ensuring that everything related to the patient's treatment is there on the paper,” said Dr Agarwala.

The city's private hospitals are waiting for the new format to be sent to them by the Maharashtra Medical Council. Dr Tarang Gianchandani, CEO, Jaslok Hospital said, “So far, we have not received any instructions. But we are following an extensive format based on guidelines laid down by National Accreditation Board of Hospitals and Healthcare (NABH). Anything related to the patient's safety, however, is welcomed. We will wait for the MMC or the right authority to send us the new format and decide accordingly.”

Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation run hospitals are going to adopt the salient features of the new format. Dr SJ Nagda, director of major civic hospitals in BMC, said, “We have already issued a circular to incorporate the salient features of the prescription format designed by the MCI.”

Dr Nagda said that while giving the prescription to the patient, the concerned doctor has to mention department, his/her name, ward no, patient details etc. “We have made the head of the department accountable for implementing and following these instructions,” said Dr Nagda.

Ensure that doctors use clear new format for writing prescriptions: MCI to Maharashtra Medical Council

Doctors in Maharashtra should soon begin writing prescriptions in a new format that is easy to read for patients and contains more details than the format used now, says the Medical Council of India. On Wednesday, the MCI is set to instruct the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to make its member doctors follow the new format.

In response to a query by dna on Tuesday, Dr Jayshree Mehta, President, Medical Council of India, said, “In the month of January we issued the new format in which prescriptions should be made out. It is the state medical councils' duty to ensure that doctors use the new format. State councils have to take proper measures to implement it in the state. Now we will instruct the Maharashtra state council to do so.”

As per the MCI directive, it is mandatory for all allopathic doctors to follow the new format that mentions the doctor's full name, his/her qualification, patient's details, name of the generic medicine or its equivalent along with the dosage, strength, dosage form and instructions, name and address of the medical store with pharmacist's name and date of dispensing, and doctor's signature and stamp. This format is more comprehensive than the one currently in use.

In several countries the printed doctor prescription is pushed forward by policy makers as a safer option, as it not only provides clarity but also constitutes a database of medication that the patient has taken over the years.

In India, though, the MCI is finding it hard to implement the new directive. Dr V N Jindal, Member of Executive Committee, MCI, said, “Maharashtra Medical Council is an independent body. We can direct them but can't force them. MMC has to take proper measures to implement our rules in its state.”

MMC is a statutory body having powers to suspend a doctor's license if s/he is found guilty of malpractice. Only those doctors registered with the MMC can practice in Maharashtra. Over 70,000 doctors are registered with the MMC.

“This format is important from the safety point of view for patients and doctors. We have already uploaded this prescription format on our website and informed the major organisations like Indian Medical Association, Maharashtra Branch, about it,” said Dr Kishore Taori, President, MMC.

Taori, however, said that the responsibility for enforcing the new format lay with other government bodies, not the MCI.

“The public health services, civic health department and Food and Drugs Authority have to keep a watch on doctors from the state, and ensure that they use the new format,” he said

Retirement at 75: Mixed reaction to MCI proposal for medical teachers..THE INDIAN EXPRESS

A Medical Council of India (MCI) proposal to raise the maximum age set for retirement of the medical teachers’ fraternity in India to 75 years is being challenged by various quarters in Maharashtra where the retirement age has been raised to 64 years against the existing limit of 70.

The proposal made in Delhi to address shortage of faculty—there are 398 medical colleges in the country that together account for over 52,000 MBBS seats— has already opened a debate on the pros and cons of the move and the MCI has invited feedback. One of the main reasons being put forward to oppose the move is that it would stymie the movement of young and deserving junior doctors up the seniority rung.

Dr Kishore Taori, chairman of the Teacher Eligibility and Qualification Committee of the MCI told The Indian Express that there was an increasing demand from states like Kerala to start new medical colleges, which would further increase the demand for teachers.

The issue of increasing retirement age limit cropped up in a meeting of the MCI in Delhi. As per MCI norms, the maximum possible retirement age of a medical education teacher is 70 years. No state can exceed this bar. MCI authorities say that in the 398 medical colleges across the country, there are more than 52,000 MBBS seats and to maintain the teacher-student ratio, state governments often increase the retirement age within the prescribed limit.

Taori said the MCI was open to suggestions from the state medical education departments. “We do not want to put a stop to promotion of young colleagues, but there is a need to address shortage of faculty in colleges,” Taori said.

The proposal has not gone down well with the Maharashtra Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) in Pune.

Dr Pravin Shingare, Director of the DMER told The Indian Express that there was at least 20 per cent shortage of staff across government medical colleges in Maharashtra. In the state, the retirement age of teachers has been raised to 64 years. “We are conducting a special drive to fill up vacant posts of teachers,” Shingare said.

Despite DMER’s reluctance, experts and former deans of government medical colleges spontaneously agreed that retirement age should be raised. According to Dr M A Phadke, former Dean of B J Medical College in Pune and former Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), “If teachers have the capacity, zest and mental stamina to teach, they should be allowed to continue teaching. Raising retirement age should, however, not come in the way of promotion of young junior doctors,” Phadke said.

She said that earlier, it was the duty of senior doctors to guide the young medical community overlooking monetary considerations. “Our teachers gave hands-on training and showed young doctors to correctly diagnose the patient without looking at the patient with commercial interest alone,” she said.

Dr Sharad Agharkhedkar, Vice President of the Indian Medical Association (Maharashtra) is strongly in favour of raising the retirement age and said it would not pose any threat to young doctors movement up the ladder. He said, Teachers are in perennial demand so why not allow senior and experienced teachers to guide students?

Other experts like Dr Arun Jamkar, the Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, said that increasing the retirement age could be frustrating for young doctors. Promotions should not be blocked. The middle path is to involve the senior lot in non-administrative capacity, he said.