Doctors Association meets Azad

Doctors Association of Kashmir (DAK) today called on Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad here apprised him of the poor state of health care in the State.

DAK president, Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan, and other members of the association told the Minister that National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and other hospital funds were being misused to a large extent and thereby killing the concept and motive of NRHM for which the State was getting hundreds of crores annually.

The DAK brought into the notice of the Union Health Minister the agony and dissatisfaction faced by doctors due to practice of adhocism and juniority adopted by the Health Department by promotion of juniors and blue eyed persons for various administrative posts.

"We demanded enquiry into the irregularities of promotions and scams of NRHM and other hospital funds and corruption which has become rampant in the department", the statement issued by the DAK said.

It said that the Association discussed at length various issues confronting the health care delivery system and fraternity of doctors in the State. They demanded ban on private practice for the faculty members of the GMC, Srinagar and Jammu.

The Minister was made aware of the problem faced by doctors while discharging their duties in the turmoil hit State, which has adversely affected their professional skills, the statement added.

The Association apprised the Minister regarding the harassment of doctors by various quarters especially frequent arrest of doctors by police in violation of Supreme Court rulings.

The Association demanded enforcement of law on the pattern of states of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat whereby the attack on doctors and damage to the hospital property has been made a non-bailable offence.

The Association also brought lack of infrastructure and man power in the health institutions into the notice of the Minister and steps for their remedy from his side so that the sufferings gets improved.

The Association also raised 2 ½ days salary for doctors, Rural and Risk allowance for doctors, change of nomenclature of assistant surgeons and B-Grade specialists cadre based promotions for doctors, release of salary in favour of permanent doctors undergoing post graduate courses, creation of super specialty trauma Hospital, creation of Maternity Hospital in South and North Kashmir , creation of indigenous Hospital security, increasing the number of post graduate seats, timely upgradation of GMC Srinagar and GMC Jammu associated hospitals to the status of AIIMS and up gradation of all District Hospitals of state in terms of infrastructure and manpower.

Mubarak Mandi Bachao Andolan

Jagati township in jammu

Preparations for Shri Amarnath Yatra 2011

Private practice of doctors continues despite HC ban

Notwithstanding the ban imposed on the private practice of doctors by the state high court, a large number of doctors across the Valley allegedly continue to indulge into the practice in violation of the directive. The officials maintain that they cannot implement the ban until and unless the state government endorses the court directive.

Reports from almost all the district headquarters of the valley said that the doctors despite the ban imposed by the court continue to practice at their private clinics under the nose of the law enforcement agencies.

“You can see dozens of doctors practicing at their private clinics in Anantnag, Pulwama, Srinagar, Kulgam and other district headquarters not only on holidays but even before and after the working hours on other days,” said an advocate Bashir Ahmad.

He said that the government seems to have completely ignored the high court ruling and allowed the doctors to go ahead with private practice.

“The high court ruling was also in the interest of the poor patients who cannot afford the fee doctors charge at the private clinics but the doctors in violation of the high court ruling continue to indulge in the private practice with authorities acting as mute spectators,” said a resident of south Kashmir, Suhail Ahmad.He said that it is irony that the authorities do not give any heed even to the court directive which is in the interest of the public to the hilt.

When contacted, director health services, Kashmir, Dr. Salim-u-Rehman, admitted that the doctors continue to indulge into private practice despite the high court ruling but added that they are waiting for the endorsement of the court order by the government.

“Yes it is true that the doctors continue to practice at their private clinics but until and unless the government endorses the court directive we cannot take action against any such doctor. Once the state government accepts the ruling we will implement the ban on private practice of doctors in letter and spirit,” director said.

Diabetic Foot project launched

"Diabetes India", an internationally reputed organization of Diabetes professionals, researchers and diabetologists, in collaborations with "Merch Serono", a Multinational Company (MNC), today launched for the first time in India, an All- India project on "Diabetic Foot" which will prepare a detailed guideline document for evaluation and management of diabetes related problems affecting the feet in Indian population.

The project was formally launched by Dr. Jitendra Singh, National Executive Member "Diabetes India" and nationally known Professor cum author of Diabetes, at a press conference in the presence of Merck Regional Sales Manager Anil Dubey and Area Business Manager Manoj Sharma.

In his address, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that there is virtually a diabetes epidemic sweeping the globe and even in Jammu and surrounding areas the prevalence of Diabetes is over 15 percent. The major challenge for the next decade would be diabetes in the young as more and more people in younger age group get afflicted by Diabetes and need to be protected from complications of heart, kidneys and eyes for longer number of years, added.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that "Diabetes India" has earned for itself a place in the world arena for having pioneered several diabetes research initiatives in the past and for also starting free insulin schemes for poor children across the country. It was in recognition of Diabetes India's distinguished achievements in the field of diabetes research that Merck Serona, a reputed MNC had come forward to collaborate on an All India Project on "Diabetic Foot", he added.

Highlighting the importance of the project, Dr. Jitendra Singh said it is an irony that the commonest cause of foot amputation in India next to accidents is diabetes although it is a totally preventable cause. Dr. Jitendra Singh said that diabetic neuropathy causing numbness and lack of sensation in feet is as common as over 60 to 70 % in diabetes patients and also constitutes major factor for foot injuries, foot ulcers and foot infections in Diabetes.

Dr. Jitendra Singh informed that in the Diabetic Foot Project, a mass survey will be undertaken across the country to assess the level of diabetic foot problem and the local medical practitioners will be asked to fill a questionnaire which will form basis of treatment guidelines in the Indian setting.

He said a 14 member diabetoligists penal across India has been constituted and he was appointed incharge North India.