Medical students want to return to China, seek removal of impediments

Medical students want to return to China, seek removal of impediments

The universities in China are placed above Indian varsities in world rankings, but there are too many impediments in India for students who pass out of these universities.

Published: 31st May 2021 03:01 AM |

By A Satish

Express News Service

PALAKKAD: Saranya S Sabu of Thiruvananthapuram is doing her third-year MBBS course at Ningbo University in Zhejiang province of China. She came to Kerala for her vacation on January 5, 2020, and has been stranded here since.

As Covid-19 broke out in China, students from the state studying in various universities there had been attending online classes after the vacation, but the number of cases in India increased in the first wave later.

“For the past one-and-a-half years, we have been attending classes and exams online. Unfortunately, we are unable to do practicals. To add to our woes, the Indian government is yet to recognise the online courses of China. There is a clause in China that medical graduation should be completed within eight years. Our course is for five years, followed by a 10-month internship. If the online course is not recognised in India, we will have to pay fees and attend regular classes all over again in China,” says Saranya. Ningbo is one of the 45 universities in China recognised by India for the MBBS course.

“Moreover, we are unable to complete our practical classes. Since our visa stands cancelled, it will be difficult for us to get bank loans,” she adds.

“We need to go back at the earliest. The Indian embassy needs to take up the matter with the Chinese authorities. Our future is at stake,” said A R Athira of Palakkad, a third-year medical student at Jilin University in Changchun.

The universities in China are placed above Indian varsities in world rankings, but there are too many impediments in India for students who pass out of these universities. One of the attractions for parents is that the cost of education is low in China. Depending on the university, the medical graduate course costs, on average, around Rs 6 lakh in fees for one year. The course can be completed for Rs 30 lakh,” said Andrews Mathew, president of Foreign Medical Graduate Parents Association, whose son Jonad Andrews is pursuing his third-year medical degree course from Jilin University.

The students who complete the course abroad have to pass the exams of the Medical Council of India (MCI). Most of the questions in this exam are of postgraduation level, he said. Mathew points out that more than 10,000 students are doing their medical courses in China alone. “Now, only emergency visa is available to return to China. One of the conditions stipulated is that the students should take two doses of the Chinese vaccine, which is not available in India, and complete 14 days’ quarantine. The External Affairs Ministry should seek clarifications from China on all this,” he said.

A Bill titled Draft Regulations for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) 2021 has been prepared by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on April 23. It is proposed to be introduced in Parliament in June. “According to that, all students after completing the MBBS course should register for the National Exit Test (NEXT) to assess the knowledge of pre- and para-clinical subjects as well. While students here should pass two papers, those who have passed their exams from abroad should pass an additional paper to qualify the screening test. Also, they must pass these three papers within a gap of two years of completing the MBBS course abroad. We want the government to extend the stipulation of two years to five years,” he added.

“There are a large number of senior students from Kerala alone who have been unable to return and complete their practicals. I hope China will clarify that WHO-approved vaccines are also recognised,” said Fadhl Mohammed Sageer, a second-year medical student at the Southeast University in Nanjing, China.

Beware! Devices many, but home treatment for COVID-19 can go terribly wrong

Beware! Devices many, but home treatment for COVID-19 can go terribly wrong

Volunteers who have been helping patients get beds or oxygen cylinders, have come across cases where even if a patient’s condition is deteriorating, the family opts for home isolation.

Published: 31st May 2021 05:18 AM |

By Iffath Fathima

Express News Service

BENGALURU: With the availability of oxygen cylinders and home isolation as an option for treatment of Covid patients, there have been cases of people delaying going to hospital, resulting in many losing their lives.

Volunteers who have been helping patients get beds or oxygen cylinders, have come across cases where even if a patient’s condition is deteriorating, the family opts for home isolation and procures cylinders and other equipment to start treatment at home.

In one case, a 30-year-old covid patient, a resident of Rachenahalli, had cough, breathlessness and dropping oxygen levels. Initially, she was taken to a private clinic and given oxygen, and her oxygen saturation level touched 88. The family brought her home, with the idea of starting home isolation, with the support of oxygen cylinders.

The family arranged for 5-6 oxygen cylinders, devices like BiPAP machine (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure), nebuliser and non-rebreather mask, and the patient went from bad to worse within five days of home isolation. When volunteers tried to arrange for a ventilator bed, the patient’s family was choosy about the hospital.

Mohammed Ismail, volunteer with Mercy Mission, said, “Initially, the patient just required a HDU (high dependency) bed, but the patient’s family brought in every gadget and started treatment at home, which led to her condition worsening, and she needed an ICU bed. In spite of attempts to arrange beds, they were picky and said they would go for admission the next day. No hospital is going to hold beds in these times of crisis. This is not the first case, we have come across many such incidents. Lives should not be put at risk.”

However, late at night, another volunteer managed to convince the family, and the patient was sent to a private hospital.

In another case, a 63-year-old man from Nagawara, who was Covid-positive with oxygen saturation level dropping to 60, was getting treated at home. “The family doctor advised them to stay home and get treated. They went looking for oxygen cylinders, which took two hours, and the doctor took two hours to come and start treatment. The patient lost four hours, his condition worsened and he passed away,” said another volunteer.

Meanwhile, a senior doctor from a private hospital said, “In spite of telling people to get admitted early or start the right treatment at home, they don’t heed us. If the oxygen level starts dropping, they need to get to hospital fast. Now, with BBMP starting triage centres, things might get better.”

புதிய கட்டுப்பாடுகளுடன் முழு ஊரடங்கு நீட்டிப்பு; வாகனங்களில் இன்றுமுதல் மளிகை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை: ஏற்றுமதி நிறுவனங்கள் செயல்பட அனுமதி

புதிய கட்டுப்பாடுகளுடன் முழு ஊரடங்கு நீட்டிப்பு; வாகனங்களில் இன்றுமுதல் மளிகை பொருட்கள் விற்பனை: ஏற்றுமதி நிறுவனங்கள் செயல்பட அனுமதி

full-lockdown-extended

31.05.2021

தமிழகத்தில் தளர்வுகற்ற முழு ஊரடங்கு ஜூன் 7 வரை நீடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள நிலையில் காய்கறி, பழங்கள் போல மளிகை பொருட்களும் இன்றுமுதல் வாகனங்களில் விற்பனை செய்ய அனுமதி அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழகத்தில் கரோனா வைரஸ் தினசரி பாதிப்பு 35 ஆயிரத்தை தாண்டியதைத் தொடர்ந்து, கடந்த மே 10-ம் தேதி முதல் சில தளர்வுகளுடன் முழு ஊரடங்கு அமல்படுத்தப்பட்டது. அதன்பின், மே 15-ம் தேதி தளர்வுகள் குறைக்கப்பட்டன. தொடர்ந்து மே 24-ம் தேதி முதல் தளர்வில்லா முழு ஊரடங்கு அமலுக்கு வந்தது.இந்த ஊரடங்குக்கான காலம் இன்று காலை 6 மணியுடன் முடிவுக்கு வருகிறது.

இதையடுத்து, இன்று காலை 6 மணி முதல் ஜூன்7-ம் தேதி காலை 7 மணிவரை முழு ஊரடங்கு சில கட்டுப்பாடுகள், தளர்வுகளுடன் நீட்டிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதையடுத்து, முழு ஊரடங்கு கட்டுப்பாடுகள் இன்று முதல் அமலுக்கு வருகின்றன.

மளிகைப் பொருட்கள்

நீட்டிக்கப்பட்ட ஊரடங்கை பொறுத்தவரை வாகனங்கள், தள்ளுவண்டிகளில் காய்கறி, பழம்ஆகியவற்றுடன் மளிகைப் பொருட்களையும் அனுமதி பெற்று விற்பனை செய்யலாம் என்று அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதுதவிர தொலைபேசி மற்றும் ஆன்லைனில் ஆர்டர் பெற்று வீட்டுக்கே காலை 7 மணி முதல் மாலை 6 மணிவரை சென்று மளிகைப் பொருட்களை விற்பனை செய்ய அனுமதி அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

நியாயவிலைக் கடைகள் காலை 8 முதல் பகல் 12 மணிவரை இயங்கலாம் என்றும், வங்கி, காப்பீட்டு நிறுவனங்கள், நிதி வர்த்தக சேவைகள், செபி உள்ளிட்ட பங்கு வர்த்தக நிறுவனங்கள் உள்ளிட்டவை மூன்றில் ஒரு பங்கு பணியாளர்களுடன் இயங்கவும் அனுமதி அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

ஏற்றுமதி நிறுவனங்கள் தங்கள் ஆர்டர்களுக்கான பணிகளை மேற்கொள்ளும் வகையில் 50 சதவீத பணியாளர்களுடன் பணியாற்றலாம். இந்த நிறுவனங்கள், தங்கள் பணியாளர்களை பேருந்து, வேன், டெம்போ, கார்களில் மட்டுமே அழைத்து வர வேண்டும். தொழிற்சாலைகள் தங்கள் பணியாளர்களுக்கு ஒருமாதத்துக்குள் தடுப்பூசி போடுவதற்கான நடவடிக்கை எடுத்தால் மட்டுமே தொடர்ந்து செயல்பட அனுமதிக்கப்படும் என்று தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதே நேரத்தில் கோவை, திருப்பூர், சேலம், கரூர், ஈரோடு, நாமக்கல், திருச்சி மற்றும் மதுரை மாவட்டங்களில் இப்பணிகளை மேற்கொள்ள அனுமதி இல்லை.

முந்தைய முழு ஊரடங்கில் இல்லாத வகையில், வீட்டில் இருந்து விமான நிலையம், ரயில் நிலையம் செல்லவும் அங்கிருந்து வீடு திரும்பவும் பயண விவரம், பயணச்சீட்டு மற்றும் அடையாள அட்டையுடன் கூடியஇ-பதிவு இருந்தால் மட்டுமே அனுமதிக்கப்படும் என்று கட்டுப்பாடு விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதேபோல், மாநிலங்களுக்கு இடையிலும், மாவட்டங்களுக்கு இடையிலும், மாவட்டத்துக்குள்ளும் தனிநபர்கள் மருத்துவ அவசரம் மற்றும் இறப்பு, இறுதிச் சடங்குக்கு செல்வதற்கு இ-பதிவு அவசியம். அதேபோல் வெளிநாடு, வெளிமாநிலங்களில் இருந்து விமானம், ரயில் மூலம் வருவோருக்கும் இ-பதிவு அவசியம் என்ற கட்டுப்பாடுகள் தொடர்கின்றன.

வாகனங்கள் பறிமுதல்

இதனிடையே, நேற்று ஞாயிறுக்கிழமை என்பதால், காவல் துறையினரின் கட்டுப்பாடுகள் அதிகஅளவில் இருந்தன. நகரப்பகுதிகளில் ஓரளவு கட்டுப்பாடுகளை கடைபிடித்தாலும், அதை ஒட்டியுள்ள கிராமங்களில் வாகனங்களில் மக்கள் நடமாட்டம் அதிகமாகவே காணப்பட்டது. தேவையின்றி வெளியில் சுற்றியவர்களின் வாகனங்களை போலீஸார் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

Services of resident doctors crucial for hospital functioning

Services of resident doctors crucial for hospital functioning

NBE notice to extend training period not unreasonable: HC

31/05/2021

Staff Reporter New Delhi

The Delhi High Court has said the services of resident doctors are imperative for functioning of hospitals due to the COVID-19 pandemic while noting that the decision of the authorities to extend their training beyond schedule cannot be arbitrary or unreasonable.

Doctors contend

The High Court’s remark came while hearing a plea by several doctors who are in DNB Super Speciality courses, challenging a May 4, 2021 notification by which the National Board of Examination (NBE) has extended their training beyond the scheduled date of its completion.

The doctors contended that the DNB course is of three years and a mandatory extension of three months is permissible, which they have already served, and claimed that the authorities are not empowered to extend the course beyond this period.

Justice Prateek Jalan, however, remarked, “Having regard to the circumstances arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for continuation of residents as mentioned in the National Medical Commission (NMC) advisory dated April 27, 2021 — which has not been challenged in the writ petition — I am unable to accede to [advocate Sidharth] Yadav’s request for an interim order”.

The court agreed with the submission of the NMC and the NBE that the availability of resident doctors is imperative for the functioning of hospitals.

The High Court said it was unable to accept the contention of the doctors’ counsel that even in the circumstances arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the deferment of the practical examinations of the petitioners is on account of a deliberate stratagem adopted by the respondents.

The High Court has issued notices to the Centre, DNB and the NBE on the petition and listed the matter for further hearing on August 4.

Plasma therapy not advisable for COVID patients, say experts

Plasma therapy not advisable for COVID patients, say experts

Specialists share best practices in treating the disease

31/05/2021

Sumit BhattacharjeeVISAKHAPATNAM

A couple of days back, Vijay (name changed), an employee of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, had to run from pillar to post to acquire two units of plasma, as doctors in a private hospital treating his father with COVID-19, had asked him to get them on an emergency basis. With great difficulty, he could manage by paying ₹35,000 for two units in the grey market.

This is the case in the city, when world over the use of Convalescent Plasma for treating COVID-19 patients has already been called off.

“There is enough data to suggest that CPT has no role in treating COVID-19 patients,” said Dr. Laxmi Narayana R. Buddharaju from University of Nebraska Medical Centre.

“We have already stopped the use of CPT in the western world and even ICMR has also done enough evidence-based study to suggest the same,” he added. According to Dr. Sudhakar, the Principal of Andhra Medical College and District COVID special officer, ICMR had already issued an advisory stating that indiscriminate use of CPT in coronavirus-infected patients was not advisable.

There was a time when it was recommended, but those were in the initial phase of the pandemic. “Now we have enough data that negates that understanding,” said Dr. Ram Kairam, paediatric neurologist, Texas, U.S.A. “In the initial days, treatment of COVID-19 was on an experimental basis and we at KGH bought a machine for ₹40 lakh for extraction of plasma. But now those theories have proved to be unfounded and we have evidence to suggest that it is not effective,” said Dr. Sudhakar

Confidence is the key

Confidence is the key

With the UPSC Civil Services interview being postponed, candidates can use this time to prepare well

31/05/2021

C. Sylendra Babu

With the interview for the UPSC Civil Services exam being postponed, candidates should continue to be in training mode. Considering the severity of the pandemic’s second wave, this test could even be held online.

Headed by a chairman and four members, the board’s responsibility is to assess the suitability of a candidate for the highest services in the government.

Assessing personality

The interview is a test of personality and includes mental alertness, critical power of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability of social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity.

It is always better to have a reasonable and rational answer to questions like why the candidate chose the Indian Administrative Service. One could say that he/she was attracted by the challenges and the responsibilities in government service, and the opportunities for self-development. A narrative of an emotional meeting with an IAS officer could be misinterpreted as manufactured.

There are always questions on one’s hobbies. In the Detailed Application Form (DAF), many do not apply their minds when filling in hobbies. ‘Talking to the elderly’ is one such entry. When asked why not younger people, the candidate struggles to answer. For those who enter reading as a hobby, it may help to read a few books before the interview.

Candidates should familiarise themselves with the current happenings: the farm laws, the COVID-19 pandemic, the recently concluded assembly elections and so on. One may examine the pros and cons of an issue but avoid questioning the government’s policies or its implementation. Expressing sentiments of regional parochialism, or linguistic chauvinism would also be counterproductive.

Play it cool

Candidates who opted to interview in a regional language can impress the board by answering in English, if they are reasonably comfortable with it. However, this is not a serious impediment provided he/she has a persuasive body language and the confidence to put forth accurate information.

The candidate’s integrity is assessed by the accuracy of his/her answers and body language. Therefore, a candidate may gain by saying that he did not know the answer to a particular question. To be at peace with oneself is an expression of confidence.

During this extended period of opportunity offered by the pandemic, candidates should go through the transcripts of previous interviews, gather information, analyse it and forge answers to every possible question.

In my experience of conducting mock interviews, I have noticed that candidates exhibit anxiety when a cross examination is made. Their body language changes and gives the impression that they have lost confidence in themselves. Therefore, candidates should attend multiple mock interviews and gain control over their emotions. Banishing fear is the real challenge, as it can shatter confidence. After all, confidence is the key to success in the interview.

The writer is a Director General of Police and the author of The Principles of Success in Interview. www.sylendrababu.com

Post offices start free slot booking for vaccination

Post offices start free slot booking for vaccination

31/05/2021

Special Correspondent HYDERABAD

The Department of Posts has started registration for COVID vaccination as a measure of social service and to ensure protection to people against the infectious virus.

The process of slot booking has been taken up to assist in registration for vaccination so that a large number of people, particularly in rural areas, are not left out of the massive vaccination drive being carried out by the government.

“The service has already been taken up in 36 Head Post Offices, 643 Sub Post Offices and 10 Branch Post Offices in Hyderabad Headquarters Region and Hyderabad Region in Telangana Circle,” Assistant Director in office of the Post Master General Hyderabad K. Venkatarami Reddy said.

In the next phase, another 800 Branch Post Offices would be included. People have to reach the post office with their photo IDs such as Aadhaar and mobile phone to enable the post office staff complete the process through one time password generated and sent to their mobile phones.

“In view of the problems being faced by a large number of people in rural areas in getting themselves registered for vaccination owing to lack of smartphones and connectivity issues, the Department of Posts has started assisting in registration of appointment for vaccination,” Mr. Venkatarami Reddy said.

The postal department staff would use the Co-WIN application from the Branch Offices-Common Service Centres (BO-CSC) through a mobile app, for which no service charges are collected. People could avail the vaccine slot booking facility in the post offices free of cost, according to a press release