Duplications spotted in organ wait lists

Serena Josephine M.

CHENNAI, MARCH 02, 2019 00:00 IST

Transtan to identify such multiple registrationsfor kidney, liver transplants

Nearly 200 patients waiting for kidney and liver transplantations in the State have registered with more than one hospital. The Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (Transtan) has now taken up an exercise to identify such multiple registrations that have led to the creation of a long waiting list, thereby slowing down the process for many patients waiting for organs.

At least 180 patients on the active waiting list for kidneys and 20 patients on the active waiting list for liver have registered with more than one hospital. For instance, one of them has registered with nine hospitals, while another has registered with four.

They also found that almost 900 patients on the inactive waiting lists for both organs would have to be removed as they were either dead, had undergone transplant, were not on follow-up or were unwilling for transplant. This was because hospitals did not update the lists, officials said.

When a patient with end-stage organ failure registers for transplant under the deceased donor programme at the hospital where he/she is undergoing treatment, a unique identification number (UID) is issued. They pay Rs. 1,000 for the registration. Hospitals are bound to take an undertaking from patients that they are not registered elsewhere.

Switching hospitals

If a patient chooses to move to another hospital while waiting on the list, he/she should submit a letter to Transtan along with a letter from the consultant at the new hospital expressing willingness to take over. When the transfer is processed, the UID, along with seniority is maintained, and the hospital where the patient was initially registered is notified to remove the name from the list as per rules of Transtan.

However, this was not the case with many patients. “Knowingly or unknowingly, nearly 200 of them have registered with many hospitals. These entries were done by misspelling their names, dropping surnames or initials, entering different dates of birth or minor changes in addresses,” said R. Kanthimathy, member-secretary of Transtan.

It was a random check that led Transtan staff to the duplications in the kidney and liver waiting lists. The transplant authority has now taken up an exercise to identify patients with multiple registrations on the waiting lists. They are doing a blood group-wise filtering of patients to pick up duplications.

“We are halfway through this exercise to streamline the waiting list. We are calling up patients to verify their registrations. Some of them are aware that they are registered with several hospitals, while others are not. We have always insisted that hospitals update their waiting lists every month,” she said.

Dr. Kanthimathy said they had taken a hospital-wise list and were in the process of intimating hospitals to delete such cases. “We have started sending emails to hospitals. They should delete multiple registrations, remove names of patients who died while on the wait list and those who have undergone transplantations,” she added.

She said multiple registrations would only make the waiting list longer. “The list will not move if this is the case. Patients will not benefit from multiple registrations and they have to understand this,” she added. For queries regarding their registrations, patients can call Transtan office at 044-25333676.

Physically active lifestyle reduces colon cancer growth: Study

02.03.2019

A new study has found that after a short session of high intensity interval training (HIIT), growth of colon cancer cells was reduced, and this also increased indicators of inflammation.

For a long time, the focus on exercise has been on the positive changes in the body that occur following a longer period of training. However, these findings suggest that the effects following a single session of HIIT, an exercise regime involving short, high energy bursts are also important.

According to the study, the changes following HIIT suggest that repeated exposure to the acute effects of exercise may contribute to the fight against the cancer. These results reinforce the importance of doing regular exercise and maintaining a physically active lifestyle. The study involved colorectal cancer survivors completing either a single session of HIIT or 12 sessions over 4 weeks.

Speaking about the study, James Devin, lead author said, “We have shown that exercise may play a role in inhibiting the growth of colon cancer cells. After an acute bout of HIIT, there were specific increases in inflammation immediately after exercise, which are hypothesised to be involved in reducing the number of cancer cells.” According to researchers, this suggests that a physically active lifestyle may be important in tackling human colorectal tumours.

— ANI

Pregnancy is no reason to defer physical test for job: HC

Debashish.Karmakar@timesgroup.com

Patna:02.03.2019

In a significant decision, Patna high court on Friday ruled that pregnancy cannot be cited as reason to defer the physical evaluation test (PET) of a candidate for recruitment since, the bench of Chief Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi and Justice Anjana Mishra said, right to motherhood and right to public employment were two separate issues.

The bench allowed the plea by Central Selection Board of Constable (CSBC) against a single-bench judgment which had directed it to defer PET of six petitioners, who were in an advanced stage of pregnancy on the test date on January 1, 2017. The petitioners were among applicants to 2,649 posts of jail wardens advertised by CSBC on July 31, 2015. The written test was held after 13 months. The bench on August 3, 2017, had directed the selection board to draw up a fresh date for the petitioners’ physical evaluation. The single bench observed that while publishing the advertisement, CSBC had not fixed the examination dates and termed it “insensitive” to force the petitioners to choose between motherhood and career.

Pondy varsity denies VC was at ABVP meet

Puducherry:02.03.2019

Pondicherry University has refuted media reports that vice-chancellor Gurmeet Singh attended a function organized by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the students' wing of the BJP. The university also brushed aside the SFI’s charges that it has launched attempts to promote Hindutva agenda on the campus.

In a statement, assistant registrar (public relations) K Mahesh said Singh had presided over a distinguished lecture series organized in collaboration with the Union human resource development ministry. Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation director Anirban Ganguly delivered a lecture on, ‘Government policies, transformation initiative, their impact and the future direction’at Jawaharlal Nehru auditorium.

He said students and research scholars interacted with Ganguly after the lecture. TNN

Pvt colleges use students as their marketing agents

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Coimbatore:02.03.2019

Around noon on Friday, the first day of the Class XII state board exams, groups of first year and second year college students were seen waiting in front of a school at R S Puram in the city with bunches of pamphlets and notices in their hands.

A college bus had dropped some of them at the spot a few minutes ago. The students, in some cases accompanied by an employee of the college, were waiting to distribute their college admission pamphlets to Class XII students who would come out after writing the exam.

Some of them told TOI that they were second year students while some said they were first year students. When they were waiting, a college employee was seen asking the students to remove their identity cards and collecting them.

Once the students started coming out after the exam, the college students who were restlessly waiting till then, sprang into action and started distributing the pamphlets. They were also seen collecting the names and phone numbers of the Class XII students.

A few other colleges had, however, deployed their employees at the same spot to distribute pamphlets.

When contacted, a representative of the Pioneer College of Arts and Science, students of which were seen distributing pamphlets, said those students had volunteered to do so. “These students act as volunteers in all our college activities. In the process of admission also they help us,” the representative said. The representative also said it was an ‘extension activity’ like an NSS camp where they go door to door to spread messages.

TOI contacted St Paul’s College of Arts and Science for Women, students from which were also seen distributing pamphlets, and asked to speak to the principal. While a staff member from the college said the principal would call back, there were no calls from the college.

When TOI spoke to an official from the regional directorate of collegiate education regarding the issue, the official said it was unwarranted of colleges to make students do such work. The official, however, said that the issue had not been brought to their notice till then and that they would investigate it.

OUT OF SYLLABUS: College students distribute pamphlets to school students

TN adds 508 PG seats in govt medical colleges, 2-fold jump in key specialties

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.03.2019

Tamil Nadu will add 508 postgraduate seats in government medical colleges soon, making it the state with the most number of PG government seats in the country. The total number of PG seats will be 1,758, compared to 2,900 undergraduate medical seats. A major share of the 40% increase came through conversion of diploma seats — barring three in diabetology — into PG degree programmes.

The increase in PG seats, officials say, will directly benefit healthcare services in the state. For instance, the number of obstetrician-gynecologists the government colleges produces every year will nearly double from 109 to 203 and the number of anesthesiologists will go up from 126 to 193. There will also be at least 29 more general surgeons and 18 more general medicine practitioners from the state colleges, said deputy director of medical services Dr K Rajasekar.

The directorate of medical education received the Centre’s permission, from the board of governors in supersession of the Medical Council of India, on Thursday to convert 384 of its 396 PG diploma seats into PG degree seats. The diploma seats in diabetology could not be converted as there was no PG degree equivalent; and the state had to forgo the remaining seats in some colleges as it had reached the limit.

State has most PG seats in govt colleges

In addition, the state has permission to start 124 new PG degree courses across 14 state-run medical colleges.

This means, during the 2019 PG counselling, after surrendering 50% of seats towards the all-India quota the state will still be left with more than 850 seats. The state is known for having the maximum number of MBBS seats in 22 government medical colleges; it will now have highest number of PG degree seats in government colleges as well.

In some colleges, there are more PG degree seats than UG degree seats. The Madras Medical College has 433 MD/MS seats and 250 MBBS seats. “That’s how premium medical colleges work. Centre-run colleges such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences and JIPMER have very few undergraduate seats. As the MCI has made it mandatory for all colleges to have PG courses, we will be increasing the seats every year. Converting two-year diplomas to three year degrees will also mean we will also have more teaching faculty to help us do this. Diploma holders can practice their speciality, but aren’t allowed to teach,” said director of medical education Dr A Edwin Joe. Stanley Medical College has 204 MD/MS seats and 250 MBBS seats. At the Madurai Medical College where MBBS seats are expected to go up to 250 from the present 155, there are 184 PG seats.

More than 11,000 candidates from the state have cleared PG Neet this year.

Service Law- Remaining Absent for Long Time is not Minor 
Misconduct-Karnataka HC 

February 25, 2019



February 25, 2019

Case name: The Chief Traffic Manager vs S. Ganesh

The Appellant has challenged the impugned order, whereby the Single Judge of High Court has set aside the order of dismissal and directed respondent’s reinstatement with continuity of service and all consequential benefits. As per the facts of the case, respondent did not report for duty for about two years.

In view of the facts and circumstances in the case and precedent on the subject, the Division Bench allowed the appeal and made the following observations in the case:

The Supreme Court on the subject made reference to the case of North-Eastern Karnataka RT Corpn. Vs. Ashappa, wherein it was observed that remaining absent for a long time, in our opinion, cannot be said to be a minor misconduct. He was found not only to have remained absent for a period of more than three years, his leave records were seen and it was found that he remained unauthorisedly absent on several occasions. In this view of the matter, it cannot be said that the misconduct committed by the respondent herein has to be treated lightly.

In view of the aforesaid verdict and facts of the instant case that petitioner did not chose to report for duty for two years after revocation of suspension, the High Court of Karnataka held that impugned order was not sustainable.

The entire case can be accessed here.