HC tells state govt to check treatment cost at pvt hospitals

HC tells state govt to check treatment cost at pvt hospitals

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:22.05.2021

Exorbitant Covid-19 treatment charges and overcharging by private hospitals have now come under the Madras high court scrutiny. Entertaining a PIL on the issue, the court has directed Tamil Nadu government to file a response by May 24, explaining the measures to regulate hospital fees.

“While the services rendered by doctors and nurses even in private medical facilities must be appreciated, there are reports of exorbitant amounts being demanded, whether at the time of admission or at the time of discharge,” said the first bench of chief justice Sanjib Banerjee and justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy on Friday.

The petitioner, D I Natha, alleged that private nursing homes, poly-clinics and the likes were raising exorbitant bills on Covid-19 patients in some cases. Admitting the plea, the bench said the issue must be looked into by the state government as several complaints in such regard had been received, including letters addressed to the court. It directed the state to file its response by May 24.

According to the petitioner, private hospitals are charging a minimum of ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh from all Covid patients who seek admission. Stressing on the need for the government to take immediate steps to regulate fee charged by such hospitals providing Covid-19 treatment, the petitioner said, “considering the current situation, the state must device a scheme to take over the management of all such private hospitals at least till the rapid spread of the infection is brought under control.”

Another plea was moved by A Anand, alleging collection of exorbitant fees by private hospitals in Puducherry, despite an assurance given by the government to reimburse expenses incurred by such hospitals in providing Covid-19 treatment. The bench directed the government of Puducherry to file its reply by June 3.

People are resisting vax due to wrong perception, says corpn

People are resisting vax due to wrong perception, says corpn

Aditi.R@timesgroup.com

Chennai:22.05.2021

Several people are not coming forward to get vaccinated against Covid-19 though slots are open, Greater Chennai Corporation officials have said.

Health workers say people are either sceptical about the vaccine’s efficacy or fear “side effects”, despite repeated assurances given by doctors.

On Thursday, for instance, the corporation held a vaccination drive at Sarvamangala colony in Ashok Nagar but only 32 of the 80 eligible people turned up. A fever surveillance worker went to an apartment complex there to encourage 22 people to take the vaccine, but only eight did. “The majority simply refused, saying they are afraid of its side effects,” she said.

These residents had many concerns. One of them asked, “Will my hypothyroidism worsen if I get the vaccine?” Another said, “I do not want to take Covishield because I was told that Covaxin is more effective”. “My relative died despite getting both shots of the vaccine, what is the guarantee that nothing would happen to me,” asked another. A few of them also asked the health worker to give it in writing that nothing would happen to them after getting the shot.

“I even tried to connect one of them to a doctor to answer queries, but they weren’t convinced. We cannot force anybody,” said the worker.

“Resistance will be there, but that will change as more start getting the shots,” said Dr P Kulandaisamy, former director of public health. He said officials must first vaccinate people who are willing, and the priority group, which includes people above 45 years of age, people with comorbid conditions, cab drivers, store workers, and those who have public interaction.

According to the corporation, of the 18 lakh people in the above 45 years age group, only 58.5% (10.86 lakh) have taken the first dose and 5.15 lakh have taken the second as of 12pm on Thursday. The daily vaccination target is about 34,000. The civic body has about a lakh doses with it.

Several resident welfare associations have been encouraging residents to get the shots. “We clearly told our residents that vaccination is the only way to avoid going to hospital,” said B Kannan, secretary of T Nagar residents’ welfare association. He said that almost all residents got their first doses in the special drive.

“People’s resistance is a real issue. But we want the public to understand the seriousness of the crisis and cooperate. We can only fight this together,” an official said.

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Black fungus: Six men with symptoms at Salem GH

Black fungus: Six men with symptoms at Salem GH

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Salem:22.05.2021

Six people have been admitted to the Salem government hospital with symptoms of black fungus (mucormycosis).

While two were admitted on Thursday, four people were brought to the hospital on Friday. Hospital authorities said that all six were male patients, living in and around Salem.

A separate isolation ward has been created and a special team of doctors has been deputed to treat them.

Doctors said the six have symptoms of black fungus such as redness in the eyes, swollen cheeks, headache and nasal congestion.

Dean of Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital Valli Sathyamoorthy, however, said they are yet to confirm if it was black fungal infection.

“They have symptoms. But we have to confirm if it is black fungus. We have to get an opinion from experts,’’ she said.

The patients are being administered antifungal drugs as part of the treatment. Most of them were diabetic and hence medication was being given to control diabetes.

“ENT specialists are also there taking care of them,’’ Valli Sathyamoorthy said.

Private lab barred from RT-PCR tests

Private lab barred from RT-PCR tests

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:22.05.2021 

The Directorate of Public Health has temporarily cancelled permission for Medall Laboratory to do RT-PCR tests after it added positive results of samples from outside Tamil Nadu into the state's account, besides tagging several negative samples from the state as positive. The lab functioned with a “vested interest” and a “negligent attitude” creating an unfavourable environment in the efforts against Covid-19, a notice issued by the directorate said on Friday.

The results of 919 swab samples received from Kolkata were uploaded as "received from Kallakurichi" on the centralised ICMR portal. Around 4,000 samples that tested negative for the viral infection were uploaded as positive on the ICMR portal between May 19 and 20, a two-page notice served to the lab by the director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam said.

“We found a mismatch and did not include these cases in the state registry or in media bulletins,” the DPH said.

“We suspect a nexus between the lab and hospitals,” he said.

The lab’s managing director has been asked to submit an explanation within three working days.

In a releases, Medall said, “We deeply and unconditionally regret the encryption error that occurred while uploading to ICMR database. It must be clarified and placed on record that the report generated and shared with the customers who took the test is accurate. So the issue is not with the testing process or its quality or its accuracy. The issue has been an encryption error (technical).”

Stalin letter to Prez to free Rajiv convicts upsets TNCC chief

Stalin letter to Prez to free Rajiv convicts upsets TNCC chief

Chennai:22.05.2021

The Congress never opposed release of the seven convicts in former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, but applying undue political pressure for an issue that should be decided through legal course is not appropriate, said TNCC president K S Alagiri on Friday. “CM Stalin writing a letter to the President for the release of the seven convicts is not acceptable to us,” Alagiri said.

“If a convict has to be released, it is for the court to decide. The stand of Congress is that it should not be done by applying undue political pressure. Undue political pressure could create a situation that may lead to law and order issues,” Alagiri told reporters here, after paying floral tributes to former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s portrait on his 30th death anniversary at the TNCC headquarters.

He was reacting to questions from the media over chief minister M K Stalin writing a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking immediate release of the seven convicts. They have been in prison for about 30 years. Stalin’s move just a day ahead of the 30th anniversary has received adverse reactions from Congress cadres on social media.

Alagiri said 26 people were convicted in the case,19 of them were later released. “We did not oppose it. We accepted the court verdict and no Congressman opposed it. Our approach remains the same,” he said. “There are more than 100 convicts who have served more than 25 years in prisons across TN. If Tamils have to be released for languishing in prison for so many years, then all of them have to be released. Why only these seven,” Alagiri asked, while terming it an emotional issue. TNN

Not paid for 6 months, Thiruvalluvar univ guest lecturers demand dues

Not paid for 6 months, Thiruvalluvar univ guest lecturers demand dues

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:22.05.2021 

Around 25 guest lecturers working at Thiruvalluvar University’s Post Graduate Extension Centre in Villupuram are yet to receive the salary for six months from April to October 2020. They urged chief minister M K Stalin to direct the university officials to release the pending salary immediately.

The state government had issued orders to the universities and colleges to give salary to guest lecturers from April to October 2020. As per the order, the directorate of collegiate education and universities have released the pending salary for all the guest lecturers.

“Despite repeated pleas, the university is yet to disburse the salary for April. Some of the guest lecturers who are yet to receive April month’s salary are working as sales executives. The chief minister should direct the university officials to release our pending salary,” a guest lecturer from the college said.

The PG Extension Centre, which was started in 2010-11, was being run by the guest lecturers. At present, there are seven departments offering postgraduate courses and more than 200 students are pursuing the courses.

“The state government also increased the salary for guest lecturers from ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 with effect from January 2020. When other guest lecturers are receiving their hiked salary and also got arrears, Thiruvalluvar University is yet to increase our pay,” another faculty member said.

Around 200 guest faculty members from six constituent colleges of Thiruvalluvar University also have two months salary dues for June and July 2020.

“These colleges were converted from constituent colleges to government colleges around two years ago. But the university continues to handle salaries. The guest faculty members are also complaining that the university officials are not responding to their demand,” said V Thangaraj, state president of Tamil Nadu All Government Colleges UGC Qualified Guest Lecturers Association.

Despite the attempts, officials from Thiruvalluvar University were not available for comment.