Three docs among 11 arrested for illegal sale of Remdesivir

Three docs among 11 arrested for illegal sale of Remdesivir

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.05.2021

As many as 11 city healthcare workers including three doctors were arrested in the past 24 hours for selling Remdesivir at an excess price in the black market. Initial investigations by police revealed that they either imported the drug from Bangladesh or sourced it from the government and private hospitals they worked in and the exclusive counter at Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital.

TOI on April 23 reported how sale of the drug was flourishing in the city’s black market, with people paying up ₹14,000 per vial. Based on the report, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies CID unit started cracking the whip by conducting inspections across the state. On Thursday, a team lead by S Santhi, superintendent of police (SP) from the special unit, arrested Dr Mohammed Imran from Tambaram along with three others. One of them, Vignesh, a temporary medical staff at the Tiruvannamalai Government Medical College Hospital, sourced the drug from the GH and handed it over to Imran, who sold it for ₹20,000 per vial.

On Friday, the police team arrested another doctor, 28-year-old Deepan from Pallikaranai, and seized six vials from him. Hours later, the team nabbed Joseph Kinsley, 41, a pharma vendor from Pallavaram, for selling imported stock of the drug at ₹12,500 a vial. Police also set up two traps based on specific tips and arrested Karthikeyan, 33, a pharmacy assistant from Mint Street, for procuring Remdesivir from KMC counters using forged medical certificates and selling it in black. His aid Jano is absconding. In the second case, physiotherapist Saambasivam, 46, and nurse Raman, 29, were arrested for the same offence. All have been booked underthe Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and various other sections of the Indian Penal Code.

People hire agents to stand in queue for Remdesivir

People hire agents to stand in queue for Remdesivir

Komal Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.05.2021

As queues get longer at Remdesivir counters at Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital, people are paying agents and locals about ₹500- ₹1,500 a day to stand in for them to get the drug.

Nanganallu resident Muthulingam R*, who tested positive for Covid-19 along with five other family members, said they had no choice but pay a local and send all the proof with him to buy the drug. “One of us is admitted to hospital and requires this drug. None of us can go and stand in line for the whole day.”

V Rama Rao, a social activist, said he got about five calls on Friday alone from elderly people who wanted the drug but couldn’t get it. “So, we are seeking help of some volunteers and known persons to stand in queue for us in return for some money.”

At the two counters at KMCH, about 500 people are able to get the drug daily, but more than 2,000 people come. The lines begin at 5am and the counters open only at 9am. “Every day at 5pm, there is a struggle to close the counters as public are enraged; many threaten road rokos,” said a public health official.

A directorate of medical services official said hospitals were told to only prescribe the drug based on WHO guidelines. “A panic has been created due to shortage of supply. The government has placed orders for about 4.5 lakh vials. Many doctors are prescribing it out of fear so that the patients don’t question them,” said the official.

Rama Rao said one of his friends waited in the queue from 8am to 5pm but returned empty handed. “Two in the four-member family have mild symptoms, while the others have tested positive and require the drug. There is nobody to stand in the queue. The government should distribute the drug only to government approved hospitals and empanelled hospitals to ensure patients don’t struggle.”

Senior public health officials said authorities were using it judiciously at government hospitals. “We have instructed private hospitals to use it only when required,” said an official.

(*name changed)

THREAT IN ITSELF: People waiting outside Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital to buy Remdesivir from the counters set up by the state

Two in a friend’s four-member family have mild symptoms, while the others have tested positive and require the drug. There is nobody to stand in the queue

RAMA RAO | Chennai resident

"You Are Not A Doctor, Medical Student or A Scientist”: Supreme Court Dismisses With Cost Plea Seeking Directions For Covid Treatment And Tests

"You Are Not A Doctor, Medical Student or A Scientist”: Supreme Court Dismisses With Cost Plea Seeking Directions For Covid Treatment And Tests: Supreme Court has on Monday dismissed with costs, a plea filed seekingdirections regarding tests

From the archives: When Jaya emerged as independent leader from shadows of MGR

From the archives: When Jaya emerged as independent leader from shadows of MGR

Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi had turned the tide in favour of AIADMK in 1991 Assembly polls

Published: 30th April 2021 04:40 AM 

By S Kumaresan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Just five days ahead of the scheduled date for the 1991 Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a LTTE suicide bomber when the leader was campaigning in Tamil Nadu. This turned the entire political scene against the DMK, which until then had gained the sympathy of people as the Union government had dismissed its government without a valid reason.

From May 26, the poll was rescheduled to June 15. These few days were enough for AIADMK and its then ally Congress to hammer a heated campaign against DMK. Both the parties centred their rhetoric on the perceived proximity of DMK to the LTTE. When the results were out, AIADMK had won 164 seats and Congress 60. DMK managed to win just two, its worst performance ever since the party started contesting elections in 1957. The election marked the emergence of Jayalalithaa as an independent leader from the shadows of her mentor MGR.

Jayalalithaa’s first order as Chief Minister was to shut down the low-price liquor shops that were opened by the previous DMK regime. All Womens Police Stations, and Cradle Baby Scheme which aimed at preventing female infanticide were among the schemes brought in by Jayalalithaa.

Another historic achievement of Jayalalithaa’s regime was safeguarding of 69 per cent reservation system in the State. Following a Supreme Court’s verdict that the total reservation quota should not exceed 50 per cent, the system followed in Tamil Nadu was under threat. The State government passed Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act in 1993 and got the President’s approval of it too. This Act protected the 69 per cent reservation as followed in the State.

Jayalalithaa’s rule was also infamous for extensive use of Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). Opposition party members and social activists were arrested under the draconian law.

Among the incidents that left a black mark on the regime was the death of 48 people in the stampede when she and her close aide Sasikala were in Kumbakonam to take the holy dip in the Mahamaham tank there. The most infamous was the extravagant wedding of Jayalalithaa’s foster son VN Sudhakaran in 1995.

This regime was also the period when actor Rajinikanth became more visible in the political scene. He even tried to convince the Congress national leadership at the time against forming an alliance with AIADMK. In DMK, its unquestionable leader M Karunanidhi met the toughest challenge to his leadership from Vaiko, who subsequently launched a new party, MDMK.

Jayalalithas had also earned the unique distinction of being the first Chief Minister of the State, except K Kamaraj, to have completed the full five-year term. The government’s survival was also helped by the landmark 1994 Supreme Court verdict in the SR Bommai case curtailing the abuse of Article 356 under which the Centre can dismiss the State governments. This paved way for stable governments in Tamil Nadu.

Seats won/ Vote share

Total seats: 234 (Year 1991)

AIADMK: 164 (44.39%)

Congress: 60 (15.19%)

DMK: 02 (22.46%)

MGR Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam: 02 (1.51%)

PMK: 01 (5.89%)

CPI: 01 (1.24%)

CPM: 01 (3.15%)

Indian Congress Socialist: 01 (0.23%)

Janata Dal: 01 (1.69%)

Independent: 01

Cabinet colleagues of Jayalalithaa

The cabinet colleagues of Jayalalithaa included VR Nedunchezhian, KS Krishnaswamy, SD Somasundaram, RM Veerappan, K Rajaram, C Aranganayagam, S Muthusamy, KA Sengottaiyan, EA Madhusoodhanan, S Kannappan, Azhagu Thirunavukkarasu, Ku Pa Krishnan, TM Selvaganapathy, Mohamed Asif, R Indira Kumari, M Anadhan, D Jayakumar, S Nagoor Meeran and G Viswanathan

Colleges start postponing exams in State

Colleges start postponing exams in State

Anna University, IIT-M, & Madras University have deferred some of their examinations

Published: 30th April 2021 06:00 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Higher educational institutions, including Anna University and IIT-Madras, have postponed some of their exams in view of the second wave of the pandemic that is raging across Tamil Nadu and the country.Anna University has postponed the retests which were scheduled to be conducted from May 3.

The decision was taken as a one-time measure in view of the Covid-19 situation. The revised dates of the retest will be announced soon on the official website. “It is informed that the retest will not begin on May 3, 2021. The new retest date will be announced shortly with the revised time table,” a statement on the university website reads.

Students who were unable to appear for the semester exams earlier due to pandemic-related difficulties or faced technical problems in the online exam would have appeared for the retests. To check the latest updates or information about Anna University examinations, students are advised to visit the official website regularly. Not just Anna University, IIT-Madras has also postponed its semester exams and even online tests.

According to a statement from the institute, new dates of the examination will be announced later. IIT-M had planned to conduct written January-May semester exams from May 10 at the Kendriya Vidyalayas.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, most of the universities and colleges in Tamil Nadu and across the country have deferred examinations for the semester of 2021.

The University of Madras, which had planned to conduct semester examinations from May 17, has also postponed its examinations. A few other arts and science colleges in the city are also unsure if the exams will be conducted as scheduled.

MHA to states: No lockdown, go for containment measures

MHA to states: No lockdown, go for containment measures

Bharti.Jain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:30.04.2021

Based on a framework issued by the health ministry on April 25, the Centre on Thursday suggested intensive, local and focused containment measures in districts and areas with test positivity of 10% and more in the last one week and where more than 60% of oxygen-supported or ICU beds are occupied.

The MHA order, which invoked provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, directed states and Union Territories (UTs) to consider containment measures such as restrictions on gatherings, operations of markets, offices, schools and universities and intensified testing and tracking for immediate implementation based on their assessment of the situation until May 31.

Despite the surge in Covid-positive cases and deaths in April, the fresh guidelines steered clear of imposing lockdowns. It said national directives for Covid-19 management, which require wearing of face masks and social distancing in public places and encouraging of work-from-home, shall continue to be strictly followed.

20 of 100 samples test +ve in Chennai

For every 100 samples tested for Covid-19, at least 15 returned positive in Chennai, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, authorities said on Thursday, when the state reported 107 deaths and 17,897 new cases. With a test positivity rate of 20%, Chennai is the highest, followed by 17% in Tirunelveli and 16% in Thoothukudi. While the positivity rate in Tenkasi was 14.2%, at least 13 more districts had more than 10% TPR. P 2

‘Make available details of hosp beds & vacancies online’

All district magistrates are required to strictly enforce state-level directives on containment measures as well as the national guidelines. Violations, the MHA order said, would attract penal action under the Disaster Management Act.

The health ministry had called for measures like night curfew, prohibiting public gatherings for political, social, religious, sports or entertainment purposes, capping attendance at marriages to 50 and at funerals to 20, closing of shopping complexes, cinema halls, gyms, spas, restaurants (dine-in), stadia and operating public transport at 50%, and a cap of 50% attendance in government and private offices.

“However, these are indicative activities, and states and UTs should make a careful analysis of the local situation, areas to be covered, and probability of transmission and then take a decision,” the health ministry had advised.

The restrictions were prescribed for 14 days across the containment zones, which shall be declared such after a public announcement outlining the rationale and the nature of restrictions while asking for a test-track-treat-vaccine approach and ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour.

Apart from suggesting 100% vaccination of eligible age groups, the health ministry had said that details of hospital beds and vacancy status be made available online on a daily basis. It also said details on availability of oxygen, drugs, vaccines and vaccination centres, including the guidelines related to use of drugs like remdesivir and tocilizumab, should be widely publicised to generatepublic confidence.

Full report on www.toi.in

HC asks actor to pay ₹2 lakh to TN

HC asks actor to pay ₹2 lakh to TN

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:30.04.2021

Actor Mansoor Ali Khan, facing a case for his statements against Covid-19 vaccine, has to pay ₹2 lakh towards the state government’s vaccine campaign as precondition for anticipatory bail in the case.

Justice M Dhandapani, granting conditional anticipatory bail to the actor, said: “He was creating unnecessary panic among the public. You do not know how health professionals are working hard in government hospitals.”

The issue pertains to a statements made by Mansoor Ali Khan in front of a private hospital where actor Vivekh had been admitted after he suffered a heart attack on April 16. Khan alleged that Vivekh fell ill only because of the Covid-19 vaccine that he took on April 15. The video of the actor making such statements went viral on social media.

Subsequently, based on a complaint filed by a health officer of the Chennai Corporation, the Vadapalani police registered an FIR under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation), 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 505 (1)(b) (intent to cause fear to the public) of the IPC besides invoking provisions of the Epidemics Act and the Disaster Management Act.

Representing the petitioner, advocate M Radhakrishnan submitted that the statement made by the actor at the entrance of the private hospital was an emotional outburst never intended to hurt anyone.