Showing posts with label Hospital. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hospital. Show all posts

Friday, November 12, 2021

As water enters wards, hosps rush to shift patients


As water enters wards, hosps rush to shift patients

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

12.11.2021

More than 100 patients from Chromepet Government Hospital were moved to Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital and Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital on Thursday after water gushed into wards on the ground floor.

Director medical services Dr S Gurunathan said all patients were stable but they had to wade through kneedeep water to board ambulances and jeeps. Power supply was suspended for safety reasons.

The flooded wards brought back memories of 2015 floods and residents revived their demand for the hospital’s demolition. “The hospital is in a low lying area and there is no path for water to flow out. State should bring down the hospital and build a enew facility,” said social activist V Santhanam.

Attendants were annoyed that patients were shifted only after the hospital was flooded. “With the slightest of rain the hospital gets flooded,” said Palanivel S, whose niece delivered at the hospital. “The mother had to wade through contaminated water with the child.”

Doctors at the flooded peripheral hospital in K K Nagar moved two patients to Royapettah GH. “In most hospitals, we have placed high power motors to pump out water,” said director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu.



LATE MOVE: Patients were shifted from flooded hosps and pumps were used to clear the water

Saturday, November 6, 2021

Hosps see rush of patients with respiratory problems


Hosps see rush of patients with respiratory problems

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: 06.11.2021

Anshuman Gupta (name changed), who suffers from asthma, was doing fine until Thursday on regular medications. However, the spike in pollution levels over the last 24 hours led to acute exacerbation of symptoms and the south Delhi resident had to be rushed to the emergency room of a private hospital in the middle of the night, even as his family wrapped up Diwali celebrations. “We had to administer steroids as well as oxygen therapy to stabilise the symptoms. The patient is doing better now,” Dr Rajesh Chawla, senior consultant, pulmonary and critical care, at Apollo hospital, said.

Like Gupta, many people with a history of respiratory health issues are finding it difficult to breathe the polluted air and, in a few cases, are landing in hospitals with symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, constant cough and dizziness, among others.

“We are seeing an increase in the number of OPD visits as well as admissions on account of respiratory problems. Patients who have asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — a chronic inflammatory lung disease are coming to the hospital with acute attacks and are getting admitted even in ICUs. Also, many of our patients require escalation of treatment these days,” Dr Neetu Jain, senior consultant, pulmonology at PSRI hospital, said.

With winter conditions setting in, the dust and particulate material from vehicular pollution and smoke from crackers have caused smog-like conditions, says Dr Shuchin Bajaj, founder director, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals.

“The dangerous mix of pollutants can cause shortterm damages, which we can see now in terms of exacerbation of respiratory symptoms. But long-term damage can be even more catastrophic, especially in children who grow up in such a polluted environment,” he added.

Dr Arunesh Kumar, senior consultant and head of the department of pulmonology at Paras hospital, said people who have a history of respiratory disease such as asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, should strictly adhere to their regular medications and see their doctors if they notice that the symptoms have started deteriorating.

DOCTOR SAYS

Long-term damage can be even more catastrophic, especially in children who grow up in such a polluted environment

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Have no faith in commission probing Jaya death, Apollo tells apex court


Have no faith in commission probing Jaya death, Apollo tells apex court

Says Won’t Be Able To Appear Before Panel

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.10.2021

Alleging bias and arbitrariness in the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission probing the circumstances surrounding the death of former chief minister Jayalalithaa, the Chennai-based Apollo Hospitals has said it would not be able to appear before the commission for inquiry.

The Supreme Court had in April 2019 stayed the commission proceedings, after Apollo Hospitals took the case to the apex court saying the commission was not in a position to understand its submissions as it did not have a doctor or an expert familiar medical procedures and protocols.

Though many political leaders, including former chief minister O Panneerselvam, were yet to appear before the commission for inquiry, the doctors who treated Jayalalitha were made to appear before it repeatedly, said the hospital.

Selective leak of testimony given by doctors resulted in the hospital’s image being tarnished in public eye, Apollo said, adding that the commission was straying beyond its terms of reference. Noting that it was ready to take party in any court proceedings, Apollo said it had no faith in the commission.

The hospital also said that the then AIADMK government had directed the hospital to remove the CCTV on the floor where Jayalalitha was being treated, saying it was a privacy issue.

After a 75-day stay at Apollo, Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016. Justice Arumughaswamy commission was set up in September 2017.

FOR A FAIR PROBE: Apollo Hospitals alleges bias and arbitrariness against the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission probing the circumstances surrounding the death of former CM Jayalalithaa

Selective leak of testimony given by doctors resulted in the hospital’s image being tarnished, Apollo said

Monday, October 25, 2021

Health insurers see huge surge in non-Covid claims



Health insurers see huge surge in non-Covid claims

Dengue, Cardiac Among Top Cases

Both Amt, Volume Rise

Mayur Shetty & Sumitra Deb Roy TNN

Mumbai:25.10.2021

Even as Covid hospitalisations have dropped from peak levels, insurance companies are witnessing a massive surge in non-Covid claims. While there is a lag in capturing trends, insurers say that there has been a significant jump from September in non-Covid hospitalisations.

“We are seeing an increase in hospitalisations due to dengue, respiratory diseases and other non-Covid claims. The size of these claims has also gone up, perhaps due to the additional protection that has to be taken by hospitals. We will watch this to see whether the increase is temporal or structural,” said ICICI Lombard General Insurance MD & CEO Bhargav Dasgupta, following the company’s results.

Policybazaar, one of the largest distributors of individual health covers, has been seeing an increase in the number of non-Covid calls. The calls are for infectious diseases, dengue and other viral fever. “We are also seeing an increase in accidental injuries,” said Amit Chabra, chief of health business at Policybazaar.

According to Dr Dev Pahlajani, head of interventional cardiology at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, incidences of acute coronary syndrome, sudden heart attacks and cardiac arrest have gone up 40% in the last six to eight months. “There is a surge in circulatory conditions which warrants a close evaluation,” he said. He added that even patients who have been stable for years are coming in with acute heart emergencies. The trend is visible in most cardiac departments, he said.

According to Niva Bupa Health Insurance director (underwriting, products & claims) Bhabatosh Mishra, Covid brought down health claims last year as people were locked in, avoided hospitalisation and delayed elective surgeries. “There is no major change in the number of emergency procedures like appendicitis, but cases like gall bladder surgeries, which can be delayed, are going up,” said Mishra. He added that given the higher than usual monsoon in places, there has been a spike in dengue including Bengaluru and Hyderabad, in addition to Mumbai and Delhi.

“People have lost jobs, their source of income and probably sat idle at home for months. Those factors combined with lack of exercise can build up the stress levels, putting them at risk of heart conditions,” said Dr Pahlajani. He added that people have been missing out on routine checks on sugar and blood pressure levels due to the pandemic. Covid survivors too may see symptoms of inflammation after months. In Mumbai, hospital beds are largely occupied by dengue, malaria and chikungunya cases and not Covid at present, said Dr Gautam Bhansali of Bombay Hospital.

Mishra expects cases to remain elevated as the monsoon is not over yet. Also, many of the elective surgeries are usually scheduled for winter as, given India’s weather, surgical wounds heal better and risk of monsoon infections are lower.

KMCH opens 750-bed Medical College General Hospital


KMCH opens 750-bed Medical College General Hospital

25/10/2021

Staff ReporterCoimbatore

Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH) on Sunday opened a 750-bed facility which has been named ‘KMCH Medical College General Hospital’, located adjacent to the main campus on Avinashi Road, Coimbatore.

Thel Hospital will function as a stand-alone hospital, apart from the existing KMCH Main Centre, said a release.

Chairman and Managing Director of KMCH Nalla G. Palaniswami inaugurated the hospital.

The release said KMCH had established a medical college in the name of ‘KMCH Institute of Health Sciences and Research’ in 2019. Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, the college has the capacity to accommodate 150 students a year. The 750-bed hospital has been inaugurated on the campus of the medical college.

The infrastructure facilities include 750 general beds, 50 ICU beds, 30 emergency beds, 11 operation theatres and medical equipment such as CT scan, MRI, catheterisation laboratory, ultra sound scan and digital X-ray.

The hospital will offer round-the-clock healthcare services and it has a separate entrance accessible from Avanashi Road, said the release.

Monday, September 27, 2021

Telangana hospitals see rush for death proof


Telangana hospitals see rush for death proof

27/09/2021

Government hospitals in Telangana have been witnessing a steady flow of applications for the death summary of those who succumbed to COVID-19. With the National Disaster Management Authority recommending an ex gratia of ₹50,000 to the kin of COVID-19 victims, the rush for the document is expected to intensify. In the procedures currently in place, the cause of death is only mentioned in the ‘Death Summary’ issued by a government hospital upon application.

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

TN PHC gives 50-year-old woman first and second Covid jab in matter of minutes


TN PHC gives 50-year-old woman first and second Covid jab in matter of minutes

Subsequent to the confirmation, Lakshmi was admitted to the PHC for observation and discharged on Tuesday afternoon.

Published: 15th September 2021 03:26 AM  


Express News Service

CUDDALORE/VILLUPURAM: A Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Pennadam in Cuddalore allegedly administered two doses of Covid-19 vaccine (Covishield) to a 50-year-old woman when she went to the PHC on Monday to take her first dose.

"The nurse on duty administered the first dose to my mother while talking to someone. Within a few minutes, she administered a second dose despite my mother's protest that she had just been given a dose. On learning this, I confronted the nurse, who denied having given two doses back-to-back to my mother. I then lodged a complaint with the PHC's medical officer. Some time later, health-department officials came to PHC and, after checking the dose stock, confirmed that two doses had indeed been given to my mother," said Ayyapan, son of S Lakshmi from Irula Street.

Subsequent to the confirmation, Lakshmi was admitted to the PHC for observation and discharged on Tuesday afternoon. "The health condition of Lakshmi is normal; a departmental inquiry is going on to decide on next course of action," said a senior official from the health department in Cuddalore. Lakshmi's family on Tuesday evening told TNIE that she was doing fine.

A similar incident took place on Sunday wherein a vaccination camp held on the campus of a government school near Tindivanam in Villupuram administered a third dose of Covid-19 vaccine to a 75-year-old woman from Vitlapuram. It is learnt that the woman, Kannamma, who had received her second dose a few days before, went to the camp expecting to get medical advice about her body aches post her second dose.

"My mother took her first dose in June and the second, last week. When she took the second dose, the camp organisers told us to give them our mobile phone number and Aadhaar number, promising that they would upload them to CoWin at a later date; we agreed. After the second dose, however, she started experiencing body aches. So, when she heard about the special vaccination camp on Sunday, she decided to go to it, expecting a consultation and medicine. At the camp, however, she was administered a third dose despite her informing them that she had already received two doses,"said Kannamma's son K Sivakumar.

"When I confronted the camp organisers, they apologised and suggested that I take her to a hospital. On the way, however, l saw a few doctors at a vaccination camp at Tindivanam municipality office and sought their help. They checked my mother and advised her to rest for two weeks and told us not to worry. In the past two days, a few revenue officials inquired about my mother's condition, but no health department official did so."

"Vaccination camps were organised by the health department, panchayats, and municipalities at different spots on Sunday. The camp in question was not organised by the health department; so, I am not aware of it," said Dr Jothi, Joint Director of Health Department (Villupuram and Kallakurichi).

Villupuram Collector D Mohan has promised an inquiry into the incident and to send medical experts to check on Kannama.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Hospital sealing: Doctors meet civic chief


Hospital sealing: Doctors meet civic chief

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:08.09.2021

A delegation of 60 medical personnel, including doctors of 42 aggrieved hospitals that were sealed by the civic body for lack of building use permission, met municipal commissioner Mukesh Kumar on Tuesday. The delegation highlighted how hundreds of patients will suffer and may face complications availing of medical insurances for no fault of theirs.

Among the delegation that met Kumar was former Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA) president Mona Desai. “We have only requested that all be treated equal before law. We have instances where many commercial units, including hotels, continue to function in the same commercial building where hospitals have been sealed for lack of BU permission. Ahead of the third wave, many mid-size and small hospitals that played a pivotal role during the pandemic will be forced to close. There are an estimated 40,000 clinics and hospitals without BU permission across nagarpalikas and villages in Gujarat,” said Desai.

Dr Nilesh Shah pointed out how smaller hospitals, which form the bulk of Covid healthcare inventory in the city, will suffer. Of the 700 clinics and small hospitals in the city, nearly 60 per cent were designated as Covid hospitals. “We shall abide by the law, but our only petition is that it should be equitably implemented, be it hospital, commercial unit, office or residence.”

Other doctors also pointed out how the withdrawal of C-forms on Monday has put hundreds of patients in a fix. “Many will be shifted in 2-3 days to other hospitals. Following the withdrawal of forms, medical insurance companies can cause problems for patients,” they said.

A delegation including doctors of 42 hospitals met AMC chief Mukesh Kumar at Riverfront House on Tuesday

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Nimhans staff protests nurse’s assault


Nimhans staff protests nurse’s assault

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:07.09.2021

Several nurses and other employees of Nimhans staged a protest on Monday, condemning an alleged assault of a nurse by the head of clinical nursing services (incharge) at the institute.

With over 100 staffers part of the demonstration, patients faced inconvenience in the afternoon, said members of Nimhans employees’ association, which called for the protest.

On August 30, the nurse was allegedly manhandled by the head of clinical nursing services and a complaint was lodged against the officer at Siddapura police station.

AG Nagaraj, president of the employees’ association, said the institution was yet to take any action against the accused, who was also seen on campus on Monday. “It is inhuman to assault a colleague. Such attitude towards subordinate staff is objectionable. The act of manhandling a colleague is a criminal offence and officer must be suspended immediately,” said Nagaraj.

The competent authorities have initiated the suitable administrative procedure, said Nimhans authorities. However, they said functioning of the hospital was not affected. “The protest was not indefinite. The nurses came back to work and patient services were not hit,” said Nimhans medical superintendent Dr Muralidharan K.

Cops from Siddapura police station said a non-cognisable report was filed based on a complaint from the nurse. “With the court’s nod, we have registered an FIR against the head of clinical nursing services on charges of assaulting a nursing officer,” a cop said.

The All India Government Nurses’ Federation has written to the Union ministry of health and family welfare condemning the assault.

It is shocking that the head of clinical nursing services reportedly assaulted one of our nursing colleagues when she approached the former for redressal of serious grievances. The nurse was admitted to the observation ward. The cold response from the management has demoralised the nursing fraternity

K Khurana | SECRETARY GENERAL, ALL INDIA GOVERNMENT NURSES’ FEDERATION

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

231 hospitals get notices for not sharing patient data


231 hospitals get notices for not sharing patient data

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:24.08.2021

Greater Chennai Corporation has issued notices to 231 hospitals for not sharing data on patients treated for flu-like symptoms and Covid-19 patient discharges. In a meeting on August 13, corporation commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi had asked all private hospitals to share information on patients with influenza like illness (ILI) and Covid-19 patients.

“We had shared the e-mail
 ID  gccpvthospitalreports@chennaicorporation.gov.in with a format in which the data had to be mailed every day. But we haven't been receiving them,” said Bedi.

“Many patients undergoing treatment for Covid-19 are discharged within 3-4 days and have to be in home isolation after that. However, we recently came across a few cases where discharged patients were sources of new infections as they didn’t follow the isolation protocols,” said assistant city health officer, Mahalakshmi. Inspections revealed that some hospitals did not disinfect their premises regularly as well.

An official said data on fever cases will help them trace contacts and do focused testing to avoid clusters.

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Pvt hosps told to use CSR funds for free vaccination


Pvt hosps told to use CSR funds for free vaccination

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

21.07.2021

Health minister Ma Subramanian conducted a meeting with representatives of private hospitals in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode districts at the Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH) in Coimbatore on Tuesday to discuss the feasibility of using corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to procure vaccines to inoculate the public free of cost.

The minister said they had collected ₹61 lakh from CSR funds of private hospitals so far and 7,878 people could be vaccinated free of cost with the same.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of 117 hospitals. The minister said the state government was encouraging all private companies to contribute their CSR funds to procure vaccines. The funds would be routed to private hospitals, which would use them to procure vaccines and inoculate the public free of cost.

“The Union government has allotted 75% of a state’s quota to the government and 25% to private hospitals, which are not fully utilizing the quota, as cost is involved in it. So, they are now encouraged to tie up with corporate firms to vaccinate the public for free,” Subramaniam said while speaking to the media at Walayar check post.

The representatives of the hospitals said six to seven private hospitals would launch the scheme initially. “The directorate of public health should provide the hospitals with facilities to store and transport the vaccines for rural camps,” a source said.

Pointing out that many corporate firms were donating oxygen concentrators, generators, and cylinders to the hospitals, he said the state had adequate number of them presently. “We want private hospitals to procure vaccines with the CSR funds and conduct camps in rural areas.” The source said they had received 180 petitions from people stating their villages weren’t allotted enough vaccines.

Earlier in the day, the minister inaugurated a vaccination camp for disabled people at Chinniyampalayam. He said Coimbatore was allotted the highest number of vaccines after Chennai. The district has vaccinated 10.97 lakh people so far. “The state has received 1.8 crore doses of vaccine so far and we need another 10 crore doses. We could achieve the target soon if private hospitals use their full quota.”

The minister said ₹61 lakh has been collected from CSR funds of private hospitals so far and 7,878 people could be vaccinated free of cost with the same

Sunday, June 27, 2021

Facing a greedy private hospital? Know your legal recourse

Facing a greedy private hospital? Know your legal recourse

The State government had graded private hospitals based on infrastructure, bed strength, and other facilities.

Published: 25th June 2021 07:12 AM 

By Express News Service

In this final article of the Trick-or-Treat series, Express aims to refresh readers’ memory of the Government Order (G.O.) that limited the maximum that hospitals can charge for Covid treatment. Issued on May 22 in response to many complaints of hospitals fleecing patients, the G.O had also warned of punitive action against erring private hospitals. Salient points of the G.O. are as follows:

Under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), non-critical cases without oxygen support can be charged Rs 5,000 a day; non-critical cases with oxygen support can be charged Rs 15,000 a day; cases requiring ICU facility with invasive ventilation can be charged Rs 35,000 a day; cases requiring ICU facility with non-invasive ventilation, CPAP, and BiPAP oxygen devices can be charged Rs 30,000 a day; and cases requiring ICU facility with only oxygen support can be charged Rs 25,000 a day. The cost of medicines and other ICU tests will also be borne by government.

As for those not covered under the CMCHIS, non-critical cases not requiring oxygen support can be charged Rs 7,500 a day at Grade A1 and A2 hospitals, and Rs 5,000 at Grade A3 to A6 hospitals. In the same category, non-critical cases requiring oxygen support can be charged Rs 15,000 a day; those requiring ICU facility with non-invasive ventilation, CPAP, and BiPAP oxygen devices can be charged Rs 30,000 a day; cases requiring ICU facility with invasive ventilation can be charged Rs 35,000 a day; and those requiring ICU facility with only oxygen support can be charged Rs 25,000 a day. The State government had graded private hospitals based on infrastructure, bed strength, and other facilities.

Patients who wish to receive treatment in private hospitals under the CMCHIS, now require no referral form from a government doctor. Hospitals that breach these rules will be punished. The Coimbatore district administration has so far barred two such private hospitals from offering Covid treatment to patients.

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Late referrals of the critically ill put govt. hospitals in a fix


Late referrals of the critically ill put govt. hospitals in a fix

This also causes mental agony to families of the victims

10/06/2021

A majority of such patients are brought in ambulances in the evening. B. Jothi RamalingamJOTHI RAMALINGAM B

Serena Josephine M. CHENNAI

A critically-ill patient diagnosed with COVID-19, who was undergoing treatment at a private hospital, was shifted to a government hospital at about 11 p.m. He died three hours later. Similarly, an octogenarian, referred from a private facility to a government hospital, was declared dead on arrival.

Such incidents have become common in Chennai’s government hospitals. Last-minute referrals of critically-ill COVID-19 patients from private hospitals are not only putting government hospitals in a fix but are also causing mental agony to families of the victims, say senior doctors.

Every day, the major government hospitals in Chennai receive a number of critically-ill COVID-19 patients, even in intubated states, from private hospitals. Most of them are late referrals.

“A majority of such patients are flown in ambulances late in the evening. Most emergency calls that we get after 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. are of such patients. We receive at least 10-15 such cases a day. Almost all of them are last-minute referrals and about 90% of them die in six to eight hours or a maximum of a day. They are shifted in very critical conditions, including in intubated states. They are shifted to government hospitals after seven to eight days of treatment in private facilities,” a doctor at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital said on the condition of anonymity.

Recently, the hospital received eight very critically-ill patients, all late referrals, from private hospitals on a single day, he noted.

A doctor at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital said they received a patient who was referred from a private hospital. He died five minutes after arrival. When the hospital added about 50 beds to its ICU during the peak, 40 of them were occupied by the evening as there were many such referrals, he said.

While the deaths of patients referred in the eleventh hour are accounted for by the respective government hospitals, doctors say it causes a lot of distress to families of the deceased.

“From top hospitals to nursing homes, many institutions resort to last-minute referrals. Private hospitals should avoid such referrals of critically-ill patients to at least save the families from mental agony. The families are traumatised and such practices can be avoided in the best interest of the patients,” he said.

A Health Department official said, “Patients should be referred with complete treatment history, at a mutually convenient time. Private hospitals should also make sure that the patient’s condition will not worsen during the transit.”

Friday, June 4, 2021

Driven from Covid wards, attendants now crowd hosp premises


Driven from Covid wards, attendants now crowd hosp premises

A Prathap & Komal Gautham TNN

Chennai:04.06.2021

Despite the directorate of public health’s order banning relatives of Covid patients from wards, these attendants remain a problem at government hospitals in the city.

On Thursday, there were at least 50 attendants of covid positive patients crowding the exit gate at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) in Chennai. They insisted that they should be allowed to enter the wards to tend to their relatives.

Hospital dean E Theranirajan told TOI that ever since the order was issued, the hospital has ensured that attendants aren’t allowed in wards. “We also sought help from the city police to manage them. We appointed 60 volunteers. But attendants insist on helping patients themselves,” he said.

Around noon on Thursday, a TOI photographer witnessed a huge crowd at the out gate and several autos waiting alongside. These auto drivers and attendants are nothing but super spreaders, said health experts, adding that since they don’t wear PPE or N95 masks, they expose themselves to high viral load.

In May, TOI reported on hospitals in Chennai, Chengalpet, Ramanathapuram and Coimbatore mandating attendants for patients due to staff shortage. Vijayageetha, whose father was admitted to a Coimbatore hospital, said she had to call the nurse every time his saturation fell. “They don’t watch the patients closely as there are many critical patients. Almost everyone here needs ICU but it is not available and if we don’t stay with the patient, we are sure they will not be cared for properly. The situation is terrible,” she said. An attendant at RGGGH told TOI that though they were sent away, attendants of patients on ventilators were asked to stay close to the ward. “The nurses told us to stay as they are unable to even take toilet breaks,” an attendant said.

Director of public health T S Selvavinayagam told TOI that the state has ensured that no relative goes into the ward. “We cannot allow that as they will be exposed to high viral load and they will expose others as well when they travel. If they crowd outside the hospital, we need to ask the police to intervene,” he said.

POTENTIAL SUPER SPREADERS: Relatives of patients crowded the exit gate of Rajiv Gandhi hospital on Thursday

Superspeciality hospital coming in Guindy


Superspeciality hospital coming in Guindy

Govt. announces free city bus travel for transpersons and the differently abled

04/06/2021

The hospital will come up on the King Institute campus

.B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

The Hindu

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday made six major announcements, including the construction of a 500-bed multi-superspeciality hospital at Guindy and free city bus travel for transpersons and the differently abled.

The announcements coincided with former Chief Minister and DMK leader M. Karunanidhi’s birth anniversary.

An official release said a state-of-the-art library would be built in Madurai at a cost of ₹70 crore in memory of Karunanidhi. ‘Ilakkiya Mamani Virudhu’ will be instituted for Tamil literary figures on a par with Kalaimamani awards. Free houses will be given to the recipients of Jnanpith, Sahitya Akademi and other national and State awards.

Warehouses will be established at a cost of ₹30 crore in Tiruvarur.

The ₹250 crore hospital will come up on the campus of the King Institute. The state-of-the-art library, to be built over 2 lakh sq ft, is meant to benefit the people of southern districts. It will be similar to the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai, which has been serving the people of northern districts.

Transpersons and the differently abled can travel free on town buses, in a measure similar to the benefit announced for women last month. “This order will come into force after the lockdown is lifted,” the release said. The ‘Ilakkiya Mamani Virudhu’, comprising a cash prize of ₹5 lakh and a citation, will be presented to three writers every year.

Under the dream house scheme, a house will be given free to scholars who are natives of Tamil Nadu and have won important awards. The house will be in their native district or in any district of their choice.

The government will construct a 16,000-tonne storage unit at a cost of ₹24.3 crore in Tiruvarur, besides 54 drying units and solar dryers costing ₹6.2 crore.

Monday, May 31, 2021

Don’t send COVID-19 patients to GHs in the eleventh hour’


Don’t send COVID-19 patients to GHs in the eleventh hour’

Private practitioners should tell the patients to go in for RT – PCR test and then inform officials concerned, says Tenkasi Collector

30/05/2021

Special Correspondent

Collector G. S. Sameeran has warned private medical practitioners against sending COVID-19 patients to Government hospitals in the eleventh hour after treating them without taking RT – PCR test to confirm the infection.

Holding discussions with private medical practitioners of the district on Friday evening to explain to them about giving treatment to COVID-19 patients under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, he said the private practitioners should inform the officials concerned whenever patients with symptoms of the viral infection come to their hospitals. Moreover, they should prescribe the patients to go in for RT – PCR test so as to confirm the nature of infection.

“Only after conducting the RT – PCR test, the doctors should proceed with the treatment. The doctors should not give treatment to COVID-19 suspects without conducting the RT – PCR test. Doctors giving treatment to suspects without conducting the test and sending the patients to the nearest government hospital in the eleventh hour will face legal action,” he warned.

The Collector also said that COVID-19 patients should be charged only the fee fixed by the State Government under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. For more information and assistance, the doctors may approach the officials concerned to clarify their doubts.

When medical practitioners complained that most patients were coming to their hospitals only after being under self-medication for a few days, the prime reason behind worsening of the condition of the patients, the Collector assured that pharmacies selling medicines for COVID-19 without proper prescription given by a qualified doctor would be sealed. He also warned the quacks against giving treatment to patients.

Joint Director of Health Services Nedumaran, Deputy Director (Tuberculosis), Vellaisamy and others participated in the meeting

Friday, May 28, 2021

Coimbatore Medical College asks patients to buy vials from outside

 Coimbatore Medical College asks patients to buy vials from outside

Siva (name changed), a resident of Town Hall, said, “My 63-year-old uncle tested positive and was admitted to the hospital a week ago. Two days ago, he was diagnosed with Mucormycosis.

Published: 28th May 2021 03:44 AM  

Black Fungus

By Express News Service

COIMBATORE: Patients receiving treatment for black fungus infection at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital have allegedly been told to purchase Amphotericin by themselves outside the hospital, as there was a shortage of the drug at the hospital.

Siva (name changed), a resident of Town Hall, said, “My 63-year-old uncle tested positive and was admitted to the hospital a week ago. Two days ago, he was diagnosed with Mucormycosis. The management said there was no stock of Amphotericin and told us buy it from outside. Only today, I managed to buy three vials in the black market at Rs 1,950 each against actual cost of Rs 240. Relatives of other patients are also pleading with me to share the contact of the supplier.”

CMCH Dean A Nirmala said, “We do not have a single vial in stock and are asking patients to arrange it by themselves.” Meanwhile, a private hospital staffer said that his hospital has been charging up to Rs 12,000 for one vial of Amphotericin.

Only three manufacturers are producing this drug in India, pointed out G Vinoj Ramanujam, State secretary of Tamil Nadu Medical and Sales Representatives Association. “Since there is a protocol to buy the drug from manufacturers, private hospitals are forcing relatives of patients to buy it from outside,” he added. Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan told Express, “So far, the Centre has provided 600 ampoules of Amphotericin to the State. We have sought enhancement of this allocation.”

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Pvt hospitals refuse cashless treatment


Pvt hospitals refuse cashless treatment

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:25.05.2021 

Several private hospitals in Tamil Nadu don’t accept Covid-19 patients opting for cashless treatment, complain card holders under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS).

Instead, they are admitted on condition that they reimburse the amount from insurers after discharge. This reimbursement amount is no way near the total claim presented, they say.

S A Vetrirajan, a retired commercial taxes department official, said a private hospital in Perambur denied admission to his 65-year-old ex-colleague claiming he was not empanelled under CMCHIS. But official documents suggested he was empanelled 10 years ago. They initially made him pay ₹1 lakh and only after pressure from various quarters allowed the expenditure to be covered under government insurance.

V Devan, vice-president of TN Retired Officials Association, said private hospitals rejecting CMCHIS card holders existed even in pre-Covid times.

The government recently fixed tariff for Covid-19 treatment in private hospitals, with ₹35,000 the daily rate for treating a patient in ICU on ventilator-supported beds. “But almost all major hospitals in Chennai charge at least ₹70,000 a day for this. Even after paying monthly premiums all our lives, we end up paying money from our own pockets to settle hospital bills,” said Devan.

Devan with help from Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association (TNEGA) tried to help a friend who paid ₹1.2 lakh to an Alwarpet hospital despite being eligible for a health cover of up to ₹4 lakh under CMCHIS.

Health minister Ma Subramanian said 890 private hospitals have been authorised to provide treatment for Covid patients under CMCHIS and treatment rates released. “If any hospital violates this, action will be initiated (under Clinical Establishment Act) through appropriate enforcement agency (Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Service.”

CMCHIS is meant for government employees and pensioners whose annual family income is less than ₹72,000.

Sunday, May 23, 2021

Dilapidated clinic run by activist shut down


Dilapidated clinic run by activist shut down

Chennai:23.05.2021

Chengalpet district authorities on Saturday sealed a clinic run by nuclear safety activist Dr V Pugazhendhi at Sadras near Kalpakkam for treating patients in a dilapidated structure under unhygienic conditions. Chengalpet collector A John Louis said that the clinic was functioning in pathetic conditions. It was sealed and the deputy director of health directed to conduct an inquiry. Located 70 km south of Chennai off East Coast Road, the clinic had four beds in two rooms below a roof that was falling apart. The backyard of the building was used for dumping waste. TNN


FALLING APART: The clinic at Sadras near Kalpakkam was run by nuclear safety activist Dr V Pugazhendi

Ceiling for charges under CM health scheme raised


Ceiling for charges under CM health scheme raised

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:23.05.2021

The state health department has raised the ceiling for charges for Covid-19 treatment at the private hospitals under the CM health insurance scheme.

The state fixed a rate of not more than ₹5,000 a day for people admitted without oxygen support and ₹15,000 a day for people requiring oxygen support in the moderate illness category. In case people require critical care, hospitals can charge between ₹3,000 and ₹35,000 a day. The previous ceiling was ₹15,000.

All card holders can now get admitted at empanelled private hospitals for Covid treatment.

If hospitals charge more than what is prescribed, patients can file a complaint with the state (18004253993/104) and action will be initiated under Clinical Establishment Act and Disaster Management Act, said health secretary J Radhakrishanan said.

பிறப்பு சான்றிதழ்களில் பெயா் சோக்காதவா்கள் விண்ணப்பிக்கலாம்

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