Med college approvals get 3-mth relief

Med college approvals get 3-mth relief

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  09.06.2020

The Supreme Court on Monday extended the deadline for grant of permission to open new medical colleges or increase seats in existing colleges by three months to August 31 as the Board of Governors, appointed by the SC superseding the Medical Council of India, expressed inability to complete the process of granting permission by the May 31 deadline.

Advocate Gaurav Sharma told a bench of Justices R F Nariman, Navin Sinha and B R Gavai that because of the lockdown, officials could not inspect institutions seeking permission to start new medical colleges or to increase the intake of students in undergraduate course for the 2020-21 academic year.

Sharma said the SC had set a May 31 deadline for grant of permission to open new colleges but owing to closure of offices due to the lockdown, the inspection of infrastructure, faculty and facilities could not be completed.He sought extension August 31, which the court agreed.

Centre, states decide not to rush school reopening

Centre, states decide not to rush school reopening

‘Safety And Security Of Students Our Priority’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:09.06.2020

The Centre, the states/ UTs and stakeholders had a meeting on Monday to deliberate on reopening of schools which have been closed since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The state representatives suggested staggered classes, no compulsion to maintain attendance, calling students on alternative days and a flexible plan to be able to avoid any exigencies.

The meeting was chaired by Anita Karwal, secretary school education, ministry of human resource development and the states/ UTs were represented by respective education secretaries. The officials also deliberated on health and safety of students, hygiene measures in schools and issues regarding online and digital education.

Post the meeting, Ramesh Pokhriyal, Union HRD minister tweeted, “Obtained valuable suggestions from state governments regarding issues related to school education. Our priority has always been the safety and security of students and teachers. The suggestions received will be examined and sent to the health ministry and ministry of home affairs for appropriate actions regarding framing guidelines for education sector during Covid-19 times.”

According to a senior HRD official present in the meeting, “Nothing will be rushed without proper consultations and students' safety is the priority. No schedule has been decided on when schools will reopen and that decision will be taken after reviewing the current situation. A final decision will be taken by the ministry of home affairs and states will also have to keep the Covid-19 situation in mind in their particular state,” an official said.

Among issues that were discussed were preparedness for the opening of schools, what kind of arrangements will be made by the administration for the health and safety of students, and the hygiene measures in schools.

Universities and schools across the country have been closed since March 16, 2020 when the Centre announced a countrywide classroom shutdown to contain the outbreak. While the government has announced easing of certain restrictions, schools and colleges continue to remain closed.

The government on May 30, 2020 announced phase-wise easing of restrictions, it was decided that the schools, colleges and coaching institutes will be opened after consultation with states and UTs.

Universities & schools across the country have been closed since March 16

Kejri to undergo Covid test today

Kejri to undergo Covid test today

AlokKNMishra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:09.06.2020

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has developed Covid-like symptoms and will undergo test for novel coronavirus. After developing mild fever and sore throat, he has cancelled all meetings since Sunday and gone into self-isolation.

“The chief minster started feeling down since Sunday afternoon. He has fever and pain in the throat. He has put himself into self-isolation at his residence. All meetings have been cancelled since Sunday. He will undergo Covid test on Tuesday,” AAP MP Sanjay Singh said.

As Kejriwal has a medical history of diabetes for a long time, doctors have advised him to avoid meetings and stay isolated, Singh said. “I pray to God that everything is fine and he recovers very fast and returns to work,” he added.

During the complete lockdown, Kejriwal mostly worked from home and also attended meetings through videoconferencing before returning to the secretariat on a regular basis.

‘Will assess if there’s community transmission’

New Delhi:

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Monday said the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) will hold a crucial meeting on Tuesday to assess whether Covid-19 has entered the community transmission phase in the national capital.

Addressing an online media briefing here, Sisodia said if community transmission was taking place in Delhi, the AAP government would have to change its strategy accordingly to deal with the situation.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is the vice-chairman of the DDMA, has authorised his deputy, Sisodia, to attend this meeting on his behalf. Kejriwal has gone into self-quarantine after developing sore throat and fever. “There will be an important meeting of the state disaster management authority on Tuesday. Experts will also attend iy,” Sisodia said. PTI

Train makes emergency stop after migrants told to pay cash

PROBE ORDERED

Train makes emergency stop after migrants told to pay cash

Christin.MathewPhilip@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:09.06.2020

Two unidentified men allegedly demanded bribe from migrant workers travelling in a Shramik train from Bengaluru to Uttar Pradesh via Bihar on Sunday.

Sources said the men, donning white shirt and black trousers —the uniform of travelling ticket examiners (TTEs) —demanded Rs 905 from passengers in three coaches (S10, S11 and S12).

Mukesh N, a worker from Bihar who lodged a complaint, said: “They asked to pay for tickets, but we did not have money.”

The train left KSR Bengaluru City at 6.08pm on Sunday to Gorakhpur with 1,668 passengers. While the state government has made travel free, the railways provides tickets for every passenger for identification.

Whitefield Rising, an organisation which has been helping workers to return to their hometowns from Bengaluru, on Sunday night tweeted that it received a distress call from workers aboard the train. “Uniformed personnel moved through compartments asking for ticket money. From S10 to S11 & S12. Many are scared of being taken out of the train (sic)”.

Responding to the tweet, Ashok Kumar Verma, Bengaluru divisional railway manager, wrote: “We’re trying to contact passengers and asking them to nab the persons. We’re trying to stop the train.”

The train made an emergency halt at Hindupur station and officials took statements from the passengers. Railway Protection Force (RPF) team collected CCTV footage from KSR Bengaluru City station and identified a group of men in white shirt and black trousers approaching the coaches.

AN Krishna Reddy, senior divisional commercial manager, said RPF is investigating the matter. “Strict action will be taken against those involved, even if it’s TTE or RPF employees. There are chances of people posing as railway staffers and demanding money.”

Board KSRTC buses from more areas

KSRTC on Monday announced more pickup points in Bengaluru for intra-state passengers: Navarang, Govardhan (Yeshwantpur), Goraguntepalya, Jalahalli Cross, 8th Mile, Hebbal, Yelahanka, Corporation Circle, Tin Factory, KR Puram, ITI Gate, Cauvery Bhavan, Kalasipalya, Nayandahalli and Kengeri. These are in addition to Majestic and Officials will allow passengers to board buses after thermal screening.

BMTC discount for seniors

BMTC will allow senior citizens to travel in its buses at concessional rates. They will have to wear masks and ensure social distancing. Earlier, the utility had restricted those aged above 65 since they were more vulnerable to Covid-19.

With no break for 3 months, docs say they’re cracking up

With no break for 3 months, docs say they’re cracking up

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:09.06.2020

Doctors, officials and other government healthcare workers on the frontline of the Covid-19 battle are complaining of burnout. They say they have been working without weekly offs for over three months, delivering under pressure, reporting to multiple committees and under unending public scrutiny.

On Monday, the Hassan branch of Karnataka Government Medical Officers Association shot off a letter to district in-charge minister K Gopalaiah, saying one of their colleagues suffered brain haemorrhage due to the workload.

“Dr CS Shivakiran, 48, a paediatrician deputed at the general hospital in Alur suffered brain haemorrhage on June 3 and is battling for life. It’s not just one doctor. Medical officers and all employees of the health department have been working without a break, ignoring their health and well-being. We request you to work out a system where doctors and others get some respite in batches...,” said the association in its letter.

In March, the health and family welfare department issued a circular instructing all employees to report to work on all Sundays and general holidays. “It’s being followed even now. Leave is sanctioned only in case of medical emergencies, death of a family member or a wedding,” a district health officer told TOI.

A doctor said, “Things have been complicated by farcical distribution of workload and responsibilities,” said a doctor.

Girijamba Devi, secretary, Trained Nurses Association, Karnataka, said, “Many nurses are facing depression, anxiety and acute stress. We have started online sessions for positive and productive empowerment.” The association is conducting breathing and meditation exercises and happiness programmes for members, in association with the Art of Living. Nurses have christened their programme Positive Productive Empowerment, a pun on PPE.

Doctors and officials working in vulnerable areas, even outside hospital premises, and part of surveillance activities have been advised to take hydroxychloroquine drug as a prophylaxis.

“We aren’t in a Covid-19 ward now, but we see all kinds of cases every day. Coronavirus concerns remain. The minute I enter home, I isolate myself and do not mingle with my children. The siutation has been tough on our families too,” said a doctor working in a general hospital.

The government is yet to conduct stress-relief activities and counselling sessions for doctors and other healthcare staff. “Whenever we raise issues, bureaucrats cite one example: the situation in Karnataka is not as bad as that in Maharashtra and Delhi,” said a senior official.

Another issue contributing to the stress is that officials have to report to multiple bureaucrats. “Priorities have not been set straight in handling of Covid-19 situation. A DHO is not only burdened with overlooking all cases, preventive care, overseeing institutional quarantine facilities and surveillance activities, but also updating various apps. How is it humanly possible to deliver the best on all grounds?” a DHO told TOI.

Physiotherapists cannot use ‘Dr’ prefix, says court

Physiotherapists cannot use ‘Dr’ prefix, says court

Vasantha.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: 08.06.2020

Occupational therapists and physiotherapists cannot use the prefix ‘Dr’ along with their names, and they have to follow instructions of a physician, a city court has said.

Making this observation, the 24th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Balagopalakrishna acquitted two doctors of a private nursing home in an 18-year-old medical negligence case registered under section 338 of IPC. The court noted that a medical practitioner in a private hospital is not a competent witness in the case and the evidence provided by the complainants — Deepa Prashanth, her husband HG Prashanth and daughter Pragathi — is not valid.

The complaint against Dr A Prakash, proprietor of Brindavan Nursing Home, and gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Rajalakshmi V Rao, was filed in 2002. Physiotherapist Arathi Prasad had deposed as Dr Arathi Prasad, medical practitioner in a private hospital, as the witness.

The complaint stated that Deepa, who was admitted to the nursing home on August 5, 2001, underwent a forcepsassisted delivery. But the left hand of the baby looked twisted at the wrist, elbow and shoulder bones.

Stating that Dr Rajalakshmi could have conducted Csection, Prashanth alleged that her negligence led to dystocia and Erb’s palsy and the baby has become disabled.

Complainants are at fault here: Judge

Additional chief metropolitan magistrate Balagopalakrishna, observed that physiotherapist Arathi Prasad is not a competent witness in the case and her opinion has no value.

He noted that when the complainants alleged negligence against a doctor, they should have got opinion from another expert who has qualifications of MBBS and MD in gynaecology and obstetrics. The judge also relied upon a Patna court ruling, brought to his notice by BR Deepak, counsel for the accused.

Delhi, UP pay resident docs most, interns in Maha among worst paid

Delhi, UP pay resident docs most, interns in Maha among worst paid

Hemali.Chhapia@timesgroup.com

09.06.2020

Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar pay resident doctors (MBBS degree holders pursuing postgraduation) the most. Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Haryana are also among the better paymasters for doctors at different levels in government-run hospitals. Interns (those in the final year of their MBBS course) in Maharashtra are among the worst paid even after a recent hike; only three other states, Rajasthan, MP and UP, pay lower. And specialists – senior residents pursuing a superspecialty course – are better off in the rural parts of Chhattisgarh, Haryana and UP where they earn Rs 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh a month, compared to Maharashtra where they get an average Rs 59,000.

Interns at Centre-run hosps get highest pay

At a time when resident doctors across the country are on the frontlines attending to Covid-19 patients, there is wide variation in their stipend depending on which part of India they serve. Chhattisgarh pays the maximum. UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, all pay Rs 80,000-Rs 1 lakh a month while Maharashtra and the southern states lie in the mid-range, paying a monthly stipend of Rs 40,000-Rs 60,000. The Medical Council of India plans to make stipend post-MBBS uniform across the country, but the plan is yet to be cleared by all states.

Interns posted in central government-run hospitals are paid the highest, Rs 23,500 a month. Across India in staterun hospitals, their stipend varies from as low as Rs 7,000 in Rajasthan to the highest in Karnataka now at Rs 30,000. Medical interns are students who have completed four-anda-half years at a med school and do their compulsory rotational residential internship at a hospital attached to the medical college before getting the MBBS degree.

While interns in Maharashtra get a stipend of Rs 6,000, it was recently hiked to Rs 11,000 by the state. But BMC hospitals in Mumbai are yet to effect the change. Residents and senior residents in the state get Rs 54,000 and Rs 59,000, respectively (average of three years). The BMC recently announced a temporary stipend of Rs 50,000 for MBBS interns for their work in the Covid-19 wards. But a permanent increase of Rs 10,000 is expected for residents, said the head of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research in Maharashtra Dr T P Lahane.

At the postgraduate level, the stipend varies for every state as also for each year of the resident. In some states, there are multiple scales; to attract talent, the stipend offered to residents in rural areas is higher compared to what is paid in urban centres. For instance, in Chhattisgarh, residents in rural areas are paid Rs 20,000-30,000 more and seniors are paid Rs 1.5 lakh as compared to their counterparts in city hospitals who take home Rs 1.3 lakh a month. One of the reasons Bihar, UP, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand pay government doctors much higher, experts say, is because of the dependence on the public healthcare network in these states as compared to Maharashtra, TN or Karnataka, which have more hospitals driven by charitable trusts and private practitioners.

Founder member of Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare Dr Babu KV has for long been writing to the MCI for a uniform stipend for interns, residents and seniors.

Full report on www.toi.in