Month: May 2021

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Medical Updates Medicine & Health

Telangana Gets Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: 1.3 Crore People Eligible For Health Benefits

Ayushman
Telangana Gets Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: 1.3 Crore People Eligible For Health Benefits

Telangana government on Monday tied up with the National Health Authority (NHA) to implement Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) in the state. Telangana already has a state health insurance scheme called ‘Aarogyasri’ which has now been converged as the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Aarogyasri. With this Centre-state merger, as many as 26 lakh beneficiary families (around 1.3 cr. individuals) as per SECC, 2011 data will be eligible to avail services under the scheme in Telangana.

“We are happy to onboard the State of Telangana for the rollout of AB PM-JAY in the State. The beneficiaries from the State are now eligible to avail free healthcare services pan India through our network of more than 22,000 hospitals. This is not only going to benefit the eligible families in the state but will also enable the delivery of healthcare services to PM-JAY beneficiaries from other States/UTs living in Telangana,” said Dr RS Sharma, CEO, NHA at the launch event.

“The providers’ base has also increased. Our call center has started getting calls from the eligible population in the State. We are committed to taking the benefit of the scheme to all eligible beneficiaries,” he added.

The launch of the scheme in Telangana is a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards Ayushman Bharat. The NHA along with the State Health Agency in Telangana will undertake necessary action to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries are provided free healthcare services under the converged scheme.

The Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY has been rolled out across 33 states and UTs, with Telangana being the latest on the list. Beneficiaries of the scheme are entitled to avail free healthcare coverage of up to Rs 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.

Health services can be availed in any of the 22,000 empanelled public and private hospitals across the country through the scheme’s portability feature with the help of PM-JAY e-cards issued to the beneficiaries.

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COVID-19 Medicine & Health

‘Jahan Bimar, Vahan Upchar’: PM Modi asks health workers to continue the fight against Covid

modi
‘Jahan Bimar, Vahan Upchar’: PM Modi asks health workers to continue the fight against Covid

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the health care and frontline workers for their efforts in the fight against Covid-19 in a virtual interaction with doctors, paramedical staff, and frontline workers of Varanasi on Friday.

He stressed the need to focus on rural areas to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“Fight against COVID-19 is going to be long,” he said while recommending that the administration should follow the motto, ‘Jahan Bimar, Vahan Upchar.’.

He added that Kashi had successfully carried out micro-containment zones and door-to-door distribution of medicines and relief measures. He also highlighted the work of senior doctors of Uttar Pradesh that had helped rural areas through telemedicine.

“Such measures should continue to be up and running even after the number of cases fall,” he added, while also appreciating the efforts of ASHA workers and ANM sisters.

The prime minister commended the short span of time taken by his constituent assembly in increasing the number of oxygen and ICU beds, equipping the Pandit Rajan Mishra COVID hospital and using technology to ensure that the relief measures are available for everyone.

Speaking of the many lives lost due to the pandemic, the prime minister choked with emotions and paid his respects to the deceased. He went on to state that the administration has had to fight on many fronts as the second wave of the coronavirus has hit with higher infectious rates and longer hospital stays, burdening the healthcare system.

He also stated that yoga has helped fight Covid all over the world.

He said that when yoga had been recognized by the UN and had reached the world through International Yoga Day, it was ridiculed and communalized, but today, Yoga and AYUSH have helped fight the pandemic.

He also warned against the challenge of black fungus which had surfaced and stated that “we must focus on taking precautions and preparations to deal with it”.

He further urged everyone to get vaccinated when their turn arrives and continue monitoring statistics and numbers.

 

Categories
COVID-19 Medicine & Health

No healthcare worker at Apollo died of Covid after full vaccination: Dr. Sangita Reddy

Sangeeta

The IMA on Tuesday said that 269 doctors registered with it have died of Covid in the current wave, with the highest number of deaths in Bihar at 78, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 37 and Delhi at 29.

Only 2.6 percent of Apollo Hospitals’ healthcare workers, who received both Covid vaccine doses, have been infected with the virus in the second wave and it wasn’t fatal in any of the cases, said the group’s Joint Managing Director Dr. Sangita Reddy, after the Indian Medical Association revealed that at least 269 of its members have died of the disease in this wave.

“This is indeed very sad and while I mourn the loss I would like to share important data – Out of 3600 doctors, nurses and healthcare workers vaccinated with two doses at Apollo Hospitals Delhi, only 2.6 got infected with mild Covid-19 and no death,” Dr. Reddy had stated in a social media post.

The IMA on Tuesday said that 269 doctors registered with it have died of Covid in the current wave, with the highest number of deaths in Bihar at 78, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 37 and Delhi at 29.

In the meantime, the Delhi Medical Association is working on finding out the vaccination status of each of the doctors who succumbed to the virus in Delhi in this wave.

Dr. GS Grewal, president, Delhi Medical Association said, “We are conducting a survey to find out the vaccination status of each doctor. We are asking how many got the first dose and how many days after did they get Covid and die. Similarly, we are also finding of the second dose of the vaccine and when they got Covid and died. This should take around 5 days.”

A DMA official said that while the number of doctors who have died in the second wave is 28 on IMA’s list, there is a likelihood that the numbers are higher as not all doctors are members of the IMA or DMA. “We have got more names over the past few days and are finding out how many died in this wave. We have been alerted to the fact that the number in Delhi might be higher and will check details and come out with a final number soon,” another DMA official said.

source: https://indianexpress.com/

Categories
COVID-19 Medicine & Health

Rajasthan CM exhorts Ayush dept to help people

Gehlot
Rajasthan CM exhorts Ayush dept to help people

Gehlot was addressing a review meeting of the Ayurveda and the Indian medicine department on Tuesday evening through a video conference.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot has said that the first wave of Covid-19 was fought valiantly with the help of the Ayush System. He said that in the second wave too, the Ayush department should come forward to save lives.

Gehlot was addressing a review meeting of Ayurveda and Indian medicine department on Tuesday evening through a video conference.

He said that Indian medical practices of Ayush are so effective that they have the ability to cure complex diseases without side effects. The need of the hour is to encourage such methods by disseminating more information to the people.

Gehlot said that there are many examples where people were able to successfully fight serious diseases including Covid by adopting Ayush methods. These methods relate to our way of life, yoga, diet, etc. If we follow them with complete restraint and discipline, it shows the way to a healthy life, he said. The role of these systems becomes more important during pandemic.

source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/

Categories
COVID-19 Medicine & Health

Bayer India extends Covid relief measures to healthcare workers, farmers

bayer
Bayer India extends Covid relief measures to healthcare workers, farmers

Converts nitrogen plant in Vapi manufacturing facility to produce oxygen.

Global life sciences major Bayer’s Indian arm on Monday announced the extension of its Covid-19 relief measures to local communities, healthcare workers, farmers, businesses, and employees in India. The measures include converting its nitrogen plant at Vapi manufacturing facility in Gujarat to supply oxygen and supply to the local hospital, a company press release said.

It quoted D. Narain, Senior Bayer Representative, South Asia, and Chief Executive Officer, Bayer CropScience Limited saying: “During these unprecedented times, it is our responsibility to support the nation’s fight against the pandemic. Our small contribution is an effort to sustain sections of our society where help is needed the most.”

Through these varied initiatives, Bayer India aims to support the India’s healthcare system, mental health of frontline workers and farmers, facilitate vaccination for its employees and their families and support health & nutrition needs of local communities.

Re-purposing Vapi plant

With India’s healthcare sector stretched in view of Covid cases surging, Bayer is re-purposing the Vapi plant to produce oxygen.

Additionally, the German multinational firm, which has been present in India for nearly 125 years, will also provide oxygen concentrators to primary health centers (PHCs) to serve communities across rural India. Over the last 10 months, Bayer India along with the Maharashtra Government has converted its plant at Chittegaon, Aurangabad, into an 80-bed Covid-care facility.

To support those in need, Bayer India has also sponsored beds in major hospitals across multiple cities for emergency support. It has joined hands with the Maharashtra Government, NASSCOM, and WNS Global services to support 30 ICU beds in one of the district hospitals through telemedicine solutions.

Helpline

Bayer India is launching a helpline to support frontline workers and the farming community. This helpline will serve approximately 10,000 beneficiaries and their immediate families. This is in view of an urgent need to support paramedics and frontline workers who are struggling with mental health challenges during these tough times.

The German firm’s arm is also mobilizing communities by conducting awareness drives highlighting the benefits of immunization and reinforcing Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) to accelerate the vaccination process. These efforts will complement Bayer’s ongoing initiative to facilitate vaccination for all employees and their families, the statement added.

Since the pandemic broke out last year, Bayer has been providing holistic support across multiple dimensions.

In addition, through its initiative “Better Farms, Better Lives”, Bayer has provided 4,00,000 smallholder farmers, immediate access to basic agri-inputs and crop advisories in 204 districts across 17 States, spanning key crops such as rice, corn, vegetables and millet to support their critical livelihood needs. The company is also extending support to marginalized communities with nutritious food through the “Roti Foundation, Mumbai”.

Bayer India lauded the efforts of our frontline health workers, the Central Government, State governments, voluntary organizations, and the community at large in fighting the battle against Covid. “We will overcome this crisis together and emerge stronger,” the release said.

Categories
Medical Updates

PM wants NGOs, volunteers to help health sector

Modi

This was conveyed during a meeting to review the functioning of different empowered groups. The Prime Minister chaired the meeting through video conferencing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked officials to explore involving civil society volunteers in “non-specialized tasks” to take the pressure off the healthcare sector amid the surge in Covid-19 cases.

This was conveyed during a meeting to review the functioning of different empowered groups. The Prime Minister chaired the meeting through video conferencing.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said: “PM asked the officials to explore how volunteers from civil society can be utilised to lessen the pressure on healthcare sector by invoking them in non-specialised tasks.”

“It was discussed that NGOs could help to establish and maintain lines of communication between the patients, their dependents & health care personnel,” the statement said.

“Ex Servicemen could be encouraged to handle call centres for communicating with people under home quarantine,” the statement said.

During the meeting, the Empowered Group on coordinating with private sector, NGOs and international organisations, headed by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, briefed the Prime Minister “on how the government is working in active partnership with them.

Two other Empowered Groups also briefed the Prime Minister about their activities.

“The Empowered Group on Economic and Welfare measures made a presentation to PM on steps taken such as extension of PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana,” the statement said. “It was discussed that portability enabled due to One Nation One Ration Card initiative has helped to benefit more people. Insurance scheme for frontline health workers has been extended for another 6 months.”

“PM directed Central Government should work in close co-ordination with the states to ensure that the poor get the benefits of free food-grain without any issues,” it said.

On April 23, the Centre had announced the restarting of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) to provide an additional 5 kg of foodgrains per month free to beneficiaries covered by the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

The new version of the scheme does not, however, include an important component of last year’s PM-GKAY—1 kg pulses per month free to each household under the NFSA.

The statement further said, “PM also said that steps should be taken to expedite the settlement of pending Insurance claims so that the dependents of the deceased are able to avail of benefits in time.”

“The Empowered Group on issues relating to facilitating supply chain & logistics management gave a presentation on various advisories relating to measures to be taken to contain the pandemic,” the statement said. “PM instructed officials to plan holistically to ensure seamless movement of goods so that supply chain disruptions are avoided,” it added.