Tag: Medical equipments

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Medical Equipments Medical Updates Medicine & Health

Health tips on rebuilding your work life after suffering a heart stroke

Health tips on rebuilding your work life after suffering a heart stroke

Returning to work after suffering a cardiac arrest? Here’s what you need to know about the kind of help you require and a back-to-work program that can help to create a safe workspace for people with heart stroke tendency .

Stroke is a major public health challenge in India, specifically with the annual stroke cases rising since 2000 and this non-communicable disease with a high burden is one of the leading causes of disability in the country. Furthermore, stroke can affect persons of various age groups but an alarming number of people are getting affected in the age group of 30 to 40 years, which makes up a considerable size of the working population.

Stroke can affect muscle strength, walking ability, balance, speech, bladder control and can lead to psychological problems and loss of independence to a certain extent. While there have been advancements in stroke care, there are still challenges in rehabilitating person with stroke hence, it is important to ensure that timely and correct treatment is provided to persons with stroke to mitigate the long-term effects and enable them to lead healthy lives.

Health tips on rebuilding your work life after suffering a heart stroke

However, it is natural for a person to face certain difficulties after a stroke. This instantly affects confidence levels when one returns to work, and often lack the courage to ask for support in performing their duties.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Shiva Kumar R, Clinical Coordinator, Senior Consultant Neurologist Epileptologist at Sakra World Hospital in Bengaluru, insisted that employees should speak up about the kind of help they require. According to him, some quick factors to keep in mind are:

1. Your commute to work and alternatives if you cannot travel to the office every day

2. The number of hours your body will allow putting in for work without straining yourself

3. Create a list of tasks that you can and cannot perform in line with your job description and discuss it with your manager

4. Proactive work reviews with your team to smoothen out any operational issues and share responsibilities or delegate tasks if need be

5. Most notably, one must have a clear communication with their manager on the effects of stroke, medication, and emotional state of mind for a mutually beneficial arrangement for everyone involved at work

He said, “On several occasions, companies are not equipped to navigate the challenges of person with stroke and provide them with the support they need. There is an acute need for guidance and back-to-work programs that foster an inclusive working environment for employees with difficulties.” He revealed that some elements in a back-to-work program that can help to create a safe workspace for people with stroke. These include:

1. Ergonomic workstations and equipment such as stand-sitting desks, among others

2. Speech recognition software to aid patients suffering from speech impairment

3. Reviewing the company’s leave policies so that an employee can take personal time off without feeling guilty or facing any financial strain

4. Flexible working hours and models, that allows employees to work from home permanently if needed

5. Most importantly, communicating and being flexible with your employee who is returning to work after a stroke

Dr Shiva Kumar R suggested, “A stroke should not hinder letting one live their life to the fullest. When employers and employees can work cohesively to chart a plan that works for everyone, it can be a major confidence booster for the person affected with stroke. That, in turn, would lead to enhanced emotional well-being and greater productivity. It is imperative that instead of viewing this issue with fear and reluctance, it is addressed with compassion and acceptance.”

Read more at-https://bit.ly/3zwXHMo

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Medical Updates Medicine & Health

Cancer drugs could potentially be used to fight Malaria: Research

Cancer drugs could potentially be used to fight Malaria: Research
A cancer medication undergoing clinical testing has demonstrated the potential to protect from, cure, and prevent transmission of malaria.

A cancer treatment presently in clinical testing has the potential to guard against, cure, and prevent malaria transmission. The groundbreaking discovery by a multinational team led by Penn State researchers gives new hope against a disease that kills over 500,000 people each year, disproportionately impacting children under the age of five, pregnant women, and HIV patients. (Also read: Here’s how to take care of malaria patients )

The research team, led by experts from the University of Cape Town (UCT), published their findings in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Cancer drugs could potentially be used to fight Malaria: Research

“Disruptions to malaria vaccinations, treatment, and care during the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with increasing reports of resistance to first-line artemisinin-based combination therapies have led to an increase of malaria cases and deaths worldwide,” said Manuel Llinas, distinguished professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and of chemistry at Penn State. “The identification of new ways to treat the disease is crucial for malaria control. Ideal treatments would operate differently than current front-line drugs to circumvent current drug resistance and act on multiple targets or stages of the parasite’s life cycle in order to slow future resistance.”

The researchers wanted to see if sapanisertib, a medicine now in clinical trials for the treatment of tumors such as breast cancer, endometrial cancer, glioblastoma, renal cell carcinoma, and thyroid cancer, could be used to treat malaria.

Sapanisertib has the ability to guard against, cure, and prevent malaria transmission by killing the malaria parasite at various phases of its life cycle inside its human host. This includes when the parasite is in the host’s liver, where it first develops and multiplies; when it is in the host’s red blood cells, where clinical signs are detected; and when it splits sexually within the host’s red blood cells to generate the parasite’s transmissible forms. Because the transmissible form is normally taken up by the female Anopheles mosquito during a blood meal and carried on to infect another person during subsequent blood meals, eliminating the parasite should also prevent subsequent infections.

The researchers also discovered that sapanisertib inhibits various proteins called kinases in the malaria parasite, which is how the medicine kills the human malaria parasite.

Sapanisertib’s multistage activity and antimalarial efficacy, combined with potent inhibition of multiple protein targets — including at least two that have previously been shown to be vulnerable targets for chemotherapeutic intervention — will serve as the foundation for future research into the potential of repurposing sapanisertib to treat malaria.

Repurposing existing drugs

The research team used a technique known as drug repurposing, which tries to uncover new uses for an existing drug approved by a regulatory agency in one illness area but not in another. This strategy is used to avoid the difficulties of discovering and developing a new medicine from scratch, which is a time-consuming and expensive procedure with minimal returns in terms of the number of drugs that eventually make it to market.

“The problem is amplified in neglected and tropical diseases such as malaria where existing resources are strained and the financial returns low,” said Kelly Chibale, founder and director of the UCT Drug Discovery and Development Centre, Neville Isdell Chair in African-centric Drug Discovery and Development at UCT, and leader of the research team. “The drug repurposing approach of investigating existing drugs as potential therapies for other diseases shortens the process as in most cases the candidates, in this case, sapanisertib, will have been through several stages of clinical development and will have well-known exposure and safety profiles in humans.”

While novel uses for approved treatments have occasionally been discovered by chance in the drug repurposing approach, strategies exist to identify drugs that can be used for other diseases rationally. In this investigation, the researchers used medicines that act on human protein targets and may be active on similar protein targets in the malaria parasite.

Tarrick Qahash, an undergraduate turned technician in Penn State’s Llinas lab, employed mass spectrometry-based metabolomics to determine the parasite’s reaction to a number of antimalarial drugs as part of the Malaria Drug Accelerator project supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“In cancer, sapanisertib inhibits a protein kinase called mTOR that regulates a variety of cellular processes, including immune response and autophagy. However, until this study, it was unclear how it would affect the malaria parasite,” said Llinas. “We used a process called metabolic fingerprint profiling and found that the parasite’s response to sapanisertib resembled inhibition by other protein kinase inhibitors we had investigated. Through its effects on the parasite’s metabolism of hemoglobin–a protein that carries oxygen through the blood–we determined that sapanisertib primarily inhibits the kinase called PfPI4Kb, but we also found that it can target a kinase called PKG.”

Because of their relevance in cellular function, kinases have been widely researched as therapeutic targets in numerous disorders. This makes them appealing for use in other disorders, such as malaria. Kinase targets that are required for various phases of the malaria parasite life cycle have previously been discovered.

Potential impact

This research opens up new possibilities for the rational creation of malaria medications that target two or more protein targets in the malaria parasite. This could also benefit patients in a clinical setting since it makes it more difficult for the parasite to build resistance to a treatment that kills through numerous routes.

Recognizing the possible safety issues associated with utilizing a cancer medicine to treat malaria, the study team is now working to understand the drivers of sapanisertib efficacy, dose needs, and therapeutic window for malaria. The goal is to assess how the estimated human dose of sapanisertib for malaria differs from the maximum tolerated dose used to treat cancer.

“This work highlights the importance of local and international research partnerships to solve critical human challenges based on mutual interest and responsibility,” said Chibale. “It demonstrates how advances in science and medicine can be made when industry and academic institutions share knowledge and expertise.”

Read more at-https://bit.ly/3fkaR8B

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Government Guidelines Medical Equipments Medical Updates Medicine & Health

Emerging Opportunity for Medical Equipment Manufacturing in India

The central governments’ initiatives on national health programs like Ayushman Bharat are propelling India to become a nation with advanced diagnostic facilities thus boosting the prospects of medical equipment manufacturing in several states

The COVID lockdown situation and the call by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi towards becoming more self-reliant or Aatma Nirbhar has brought in several opportunities to many sectors, prominent among them being the medical device manufacturing in India.

The cost of healthcare in India is almost 35 per cent more competitive as compared to developed countries such as the US and UK. That is the reason many foreign tourists visit India to get affordable treatment. There is also an exponential rise in the domestic demand in the preventive healthcare segment. This segment has been growing at 18 per cent CAGR and expected to be worth US$100 billion in the next 2-3 years. The current demand and supply-side dynamics do provide a huge opportunity for local manufacturers for producing medical devices in India.

At the moment, India imports almost 85-90 per cent of the sophisticated medical devices from other countries, prominent among them being China. In the year, 2019-2020, medical equipment worth almost Rs 4560 crores was imported from China. India as a market for medical devices is among the top 20 countries in the world, worth almost US$11 billion. With several initiatives launched by the Central Government such as the Ayushman Bharat scheme – to provide access to affordable health care services to all, this market is expected to grow to US$50 billion in the next five years. Presently, local medical equipment manufacturers are mostly involved in the production of low-end products for domestic and as well as international consumption. After Japan, China and South Korea, India is the fourth largest market in Asia with the potential to grow at 28 per cent.

Niti Aayog, the think tank body of the Government of India, has started working out a roadmap for the promotion of medical equipment manufacturers in the country. The Government has also allowed 100 per cent foreign direct investments (FDI) in companies manufacturing medical devices through the automatic route. The Indian Government has already chalked out plans intending to remove all roadblocks and offer tailor-made solutions to attract investment to make India a manufacturing hub for medical devices.

Medical device manufacturing comprises of five broad segments, including patient aids like pacemakers and hearing devices, dental products like braces and dentures, MRI and other diagnostic machines, prosthetics like knee implants and artificial joints, and disposal & consumables like needles and syringes.

Under initiatives like Make in India, several state governments have taken up the onus of setting up medical device manufacturing parks in their respective states and have got the approval from the Government of India to do so. There would be six medical devices manufacturing clusters in the country in states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Sikkim. These clusters would provide a huge boost to domestic manufacturing of high-end medical devices at a lower cost and significantly enhance job creation.

The unfolding crisis has displayed the potential of Indian manufacturers to scale up the manufacturing to meet the higher demand for PPE kits, ventilators, and other lifesaving equipment. However, there are a lot of challenges that the Government needs to address to make the country a hub of manufacturing medical equipment. Firstly, there is a need to set necessary infrastructures like supply chain and logistics channels. There is an irregular power supply in several parts of the country which impairs the manufacturing process. The Government also needs to take steps to reduce the high cost of finance for local manufacturers.

The medical equipment manufacturers have been long demanding to reduce the effective rate of Goods and Service Tax (GST) on medical devices to 5 per cent from the present 18 per cent. Due to the high GST rate, it becomes more advantageous to import the equipment than manufacturers the same in the country. There is also a need to rationalize custom duty for necessary components and transitional inputs going into the production of medical equipment in India. It will further help if the government begins to incentivize high-end medical equipment manufacturers in order to promote the production of these devices in the country.

There is also a need for the Government to set up import restrictions and duty protection on the import of medical devices in India. This would restrict imports and at the same time, provide a boost to local manufacturers. There is a need to increase the skilling and training programs to tackle the shortage of talented and trained people in the sector. The Government also needs to put in place a robust regulatory framework to maintain high-quality standards and create a healthcare ecosystem in India.

India has some of the best doctors in the world and state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, the strong foothold in the medical devices manufacturing sector will only further reduce the cost of treatment and at the same time enhance the country’s image as a global healthcare destination.

Source: https://bit.ly/3i2bzDe

 

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COVID-19 Government Guidelines Medical Updates Medicine & Health

Cipla launching Covid-19 treatment drug Ciplenza in August at Rs 68 per tablet

Ciplenza will be introduced through hospital channels and will be prioritised for areas with high Covid prevalence

Pharmaceutical major Cipla Limited has announced receiving regulatory approval by the drug controller general of India (DCGI) for launching Favipiravir in the country to be sold under the brand name Ciplenza for restricted emergency use for the treatment of coronavirus patients.

The company said that as part of its efforts to meet the demand for the medicine, it will commercially launch Ciplenza in the first week of August and each tablet will be priced at Rs 68.

“To ensure fair and equitable distribution of the drug, supplies will be undertaken predominantly through hospital channels and via open channels, prioritised for regions with a high burden of Covid-19 cases,” a press release on the company’s website stated.

The statement claims that an accelerated approval for Ciplenza’s manufacturing and marketing is aimed at meeting the urgent and unmet medical need for Covid-19 treatment options in the country.

The drug has been jointly developed by Cipla and CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT).

“As part of this partnership, CSIR-IICT has successfully developed a convenient and cost-effective synthetic process for Favipiravir. The entire process and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) of the drug has been transferred to Cipla to manufacture and market the drug at scale,” the statement says.

Favipiravir is an off patent, oral antiviral drug, originally discovered by Fuji Pharma in Japan, and has shown promise in clinical trials for treatment of Covid-19 patients, especially in mild and moderate cases.

Director of CSIR-IICR S Chandrashekhar was quoted by news agency PTI as saying that the technology transferred to Cipla is very efficient and affordable, allowing the company to make large quantities of the product within a short span of time.

CSIR director general Shekhar C Mande said Ciplenza was another example of the institute’s commitment to work with the industry to develop quick solutions and products for mitigation of Covid-19.

Earlier in June, drug manufacturing firm Glenmark Pharmaceuticals was given approval from the Indian drug regulator to launch oral antiviral drug favipiravir for treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 patients in the country.

Another Indian pharmaceutical company Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (Dr Reddy’s) had recently announced signing a tripartite agreement with two international firms based in Japan and the UAE for the development, manufacturing and sales of favipiravir innovator brand Avigan.

Source: https://bit.ly/3g2HOl0

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COVID-19 Government Guidelines Medical Updates Medicine & Health

India extends medical assistance worth about $1 million to North Korea

The medical assistance is under the aegis of an ongoing WHO anti-tuberculosis programme in DPRK, it said.

India has extended medical assistance worth about $1 million to North Korea in response to a request received from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.

India is sensitive to the shortage of medical supply situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and decided to grant a humanitarian assistance of $1 million in the form of anti-tuberculosis medicines, the MEA said.

The medical assistance is under the aegis of an ongoing WHO anti-tuberculosis programme in DPRK, it said.

The consignment of medicines was handed over to DPRK authorities by Indian Ambassador to DPRK Atul Malhari Gotsurve in the presence of a WHO representative.

Source: https://bit.ly/3hyF8Ml

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COVID-19 Government Guidelines Medical Updates Medicine & Health

COVID hospitals to ensure ”zero delay” in transfer of patients from triage to ICU

New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) Seeking to reduce deaths from COVID-19, authorities have directed dedicated coronavirus hospitals to ensure that there is “absolutely no delay” in transferring a serious patient from triage area to an ICU, a senior official said on Friday.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by the principal secretary, Delhi Health Department, on Friday with nodal officers, medical directors, medical superintendents of the Delhi government”s dedicated COVID hospitals, he said.

As per the latest protocol, even suspected COVID-19 patients, in serious condition are to be given immediate medical attention as required when brought to dedicated facilities.

“It was decided that to ensure mortality from COVID-19, dedicated government hospitals would ensure zero-delay in transfer of serious patients from triage area to an ICU, so that oxygen and other requirement can be immediately met,” said a senior official who attended the meeting.

The official, also a senior doctor at a dedicated COVID-19 facility here, said earlier many patients would just be lying in ambulances looking for a bed or medical attention, and ambulances have limited supply of oxygen, so there is a risk.

In the meeting, some other steps that can be taken to reduce deaths due to COVID-19 were also discussed.

Delhi recorded 1,025 fresh coronavirus cases on Friday, taking the tally in the city to over 1.28 lakh, while the death toll from the disease rose to 3,777 authorities said.

Thirty-two fatalities have been recorded in the last 24 hours, according to the Delhi health department bulletin on Friday.

Source: https://bit.ly/2ZWi44q

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COVID-19 Government Guidelines Medical Equipments Medical Updates

स्वास्थ्य देखभाल की आपूर्ति के लिए लॉन्च किया गया ‘आरोग्यपथ’, ये है खासियत

दिल्ली/पटना: सीएसआईआर राष्ट्रीय स्वास्थ्य देखभाल आपूर्ति श्रृंखला पोर्टल https://www.aarogyapath.in  को 12 जून को लॉन्च किया गया. इसका उद्देश्य वास्तविक समय पर महत्वपूर्ण स्वास्थ्य आपूर्ति की उपलब्धता प्रदान करना है. यह आरोग्यपथ निर्माताओं, आपूर्तिकर्ताओं और ग्राहकों की मदद करेगा.

कोविड-19 महामारी से उत्पन्न मौजूदा राष्ट्रीय स्वास्थ्य आपातकाल के दौरान आपूर्ति श्रृंखला में गंभीर समस्या आ रही है. ऐसे में महत्वपूर्ण वस्तुओं के उत्पादन और वितरण की क्षमता विभिन्न कारणों से संकट में पड़ सकती है. इन चुनौतियों से निपटने के लिए “किसी को अरोग्य (स्वस्थ जीवन) की ओर ले जाने वाला मार्ग उपलब्ध कराने”की दृष्टि से आरोग्यपथ नामक यह सूचना मंच विकसित किया गया है.

स्वास्थ्य देखभाल संबंधी सामानों की एक ही जगह उपलब्धता प्रदान कराने वाला यह एकीकृत सार्वजनिक मंच ग्राहकों को रोज महसूस किए जाने वाले कई मुद्दों से निपटने में मददगार साबित हो सकता है.

इन मुद्दों में सीमित आपूर्तिकर्ताओं पर निर्भरता,अच्छी गुणवत्ता वाले उत्पादों की पहचान करने में लगने वाला अधिक समय,वांछित समयसीमा के भीतर उचित मूल्य पर मानकीकृत उत्पादों की आपूर्ति करने वाले आपूर्तिकर्ताओं तक सीमित पहुंच,नवीनतम उत्पादों के बारे में जानकारी का अभाव इत्यादि शामिल हैं.

आरोग्यपथ नाम का यह वेब आधारित सूचना मंच निर्माताओं और आपूर्तिकर्ताओं को पूरी कुशलता से ग्राहकों के एक विस्तृत नेटवर्क तक पहुंचाने, उनके और आस-पास के चिकित्सा जांच केंद्रों, मेडिकल दुकानों, अस्पतालों इत्यादि जैसे मांग केंदों के बीच संपर्क की कमियों को दूर करने मदद करेगा.

यह ग्राहकों की विस्तृत सूची और उत्पादों के लिए दिखने वाली नई जरूरतों की वजह से व्यवसाय का विस्तार करने के अवसर भी उपलब्ध कराएगा. समय के साथ इस मंच से एनालिटिक्स निर्माताओं को उनके अधिक उत्पादन के साथ-साथ जरूरी सामानों की होने वाली कमियों को लेकर भी शुरुआती संकेत दे सकते हैं. यह अपर्याप्त पूर्वानुमान और अधिक विनिर्माण के कारण संसाधनों की बर्बादी को कम करने में मदद करेगा और नई प्रौद्योगिकियों की मांग के बारे में जागरूकता भी पैदा करेगा.

सीएसआईआर को उम्मीद है कि आने वाले वर्षों में आरोग्यपथ राष्ट्रीय पसंद का सूचनात्मक स्वास्थ्य देखभाल मंच बन जाएगा जो भारत में स्वास्थ्य देखभाल सामानों की आपूर्ति की उपलब्धता और उन्हें किफायती बनाते हुए रोगियों के लिए अंतिम समय में जरूरी सामानों की आपूर्ति की खाई को पाटने का अहम काम पूरा करेगा.

आरोग्यपथ सूचना मंच को सीएसआईआरस के महानिदेशक डॉ. शेखर सी. मांडे की उपस्थिति में स्वास्थ्य और परिवार कल्याण मंत्रालय के ऑफिसर ऑन स्पेशल ड्यूटी राजेश भूषण ने लॉन्च किया. इस समारोह में एमएसएमई मंत्रालय के संयुक्त सचिव सुधीर गर्ग और फार्मा सेक्टर के विशेषज्ञ डॉ. विजय चौथियावाले सम्मानित अतिथि थे.

इस पोर्टल को सर्वोदय इन्फोटेक और संस्थागत उपयोगकर्ताओं की साझेदारी में विकसित किया गया। स्वास्थ्य सेवा के लिए जरूरी सामानों के निर्माताओं / अधिकृत आपूर्तिकर्ताओं को पंजीकरण कराने और सक्रिय रुप से अपने काम में भाग लेने के लिए प्रोत्साहित किया गया.

स्रोत – https://bit.ly/2OyRo38
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COVID-19 Government Guidelines Medical Equipments Medical Updates

Aarogya Path पोर्टल लॉन्च, कोरोना वायरस से बचाव में ऐसे मिलेगी मदद

देश में कोरोनावायरस (Coronavirus) का संक्रमण तेजी से बढ़ रहा है. जिस पर रोक पाने के लिए सरकार हर तरह के प्रयास कर रही है. इसी हालात पर कंट्रोल पाने के लिए कॉन्टैक्ट ट्रेसिंग ऐप आरोग्य ऐप की तरह ही एक नई वेबसाइट आरोग्य पाथ (Aarogya Path) लॉन्च की गई है

देश में कोरोनावायरस (Coronavirus) का संक्रमण तेजी से बढ़ रहा है. जिस पर रोक पाने के लिए सरकार हर तरह के प्रयास कर रही है. इसी हालात पर कंट्रोल पाने के लिए कॉन्टैक्ट ट्रेसिंग ऐप आरोग्य ऐप की तरह ही एक नई वेबसाइट आरोग्य पाथ (Aarogya Path) लॉन्च की गई है. इस पोर्टल की मदद से लोगों को हेल्थकेयर प्रोड्कट्स की सुविधा के बारे में जानकारी मिल सकेगी.

CSIR इंडिया ने सभी स्वास्थ्य संबंधी जरूरतों के लिए एक स्टॉप सप्लाई चेन सॉल्यूशन के रूप में Aarogya Path पोर्टल (www.aarogyapath.in)  लॉन्च किया है. इसमें पीपीई, मेडिकल उपकरण, ड्रग्स, डायग्नोस्टिक किट, सहायक आपूर्ति शामिल हैं.

ये एक वेब आधारित हेल्थकेयर सप्लाई चेन सॉल्यूशन हैं. इस पोर्टल से manufacturer और स्पलायर्स दोनों को अस्पताल, लैब और मेडिकल स्टोर तक अपने ग्राहकों तक पहुंचने में मदद मिलेगी.  इस पोर्टल से हेल्थकेयर प्रोडक्ट की सप्लाई में भी सुधार होगा. रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, यह इंटीग्रेड पब्लिक प्लेटफॉर्म रोज़ाना यूजर्स की समस्याओं जैसे लिमीटिड स्पलायर्स ,अच्छी क्वालिटी वाले प्रोडक्ट्स की पहचान करना, सप्लायर्स की सीमित पहुंच आदि से निपटने में मदद करेगा.

स्रोत – https://www.zeebiz.com/hindi/technology/aarogya-path-portal-national-healthcare-supply-chain-launched-csir-how-aarogyapathin-works-29146

Categories
COVID-19 Government Guidelines Medical Equipments Medicine & Health

As Pune faces shortage of beds, ventilators for Covid patients, hospitals asked to step up

District Collector Naval Kishore Ram told The Indian Express that at least two to three incidents of patients being rejected by hospitals due to lack of beds painted a bad picture.

Anticipating a shortfall of over 200 ICU beds, 100 ventilators and more than 1,000 beds with oxygen supply by July 20, as the number of Covid-19 cases surge in the city, the administration on Wednesday asked hospitals to enhance their bed capacity.

District Collector Naval Kishore Ram told The Indian Express that at least two to three incidents of patients being rejected by hospitals due to lack of beds painted a bad picture.

“There is an urgent need for increasing the number of hospital beds for Covid-19 patients,” the Collector said at a meeting, attended by representatives of several hospitals, which went on for more than three hours. The meeting was chaired by Saurabh Rao, Officer on Special Duty at the Divisional Commissioner’s office, who also warned hospitals to update their dasboards about the availability of beds.

Pune is expected to face a shortage of 216 ICU beds and 109 ventilators by July 20, according to projections made by the civic administration. By July 20, Pune will see at least 12,799 active cases and in another 10 days, the figure is set to jump up to 19,599.

“The number of non-Covid patients are few, with only 30 to 40 per cent occupancy in the non-Covid wards,” said Ram, adding that it was the need of the hour to re-allocate these beds for Covid-19 patients.

Of Covid-19 patients in the city, at least 30 to 35 per cent were asymptomatic, and doctors must appeal and convince them to stay in home quarantine, he said. “The patients at home can be counselled by the doctors and there is no need for panic,” said the collector.

“While hospitals are raising the difficulties faced by them, such as manpower crisis, at the administration we strongly believe we can overcome this situation with an encouraging and motivated medical community,” he added.

Pune Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar told The Indian Express that hospitals have been urged to update details about their bed strength on a real time basis on the dashboard. On their part, authorities of most private hospitals said that they had already stepped up their bed strength.

At Sahyadri Hospital, group medical director Dr Sunil Rao said the hospital had a total of 315 beds for Covid-19 patients and will again check if more beds could be realigned.

Vinod Sawantwadkar, CEO of Jehangir Hospital, said the hospital already allocated 104 beds for Covid-19 patients. “There has been a request for more beds and we are working out how the arrangements can be made at our hospital,” he said.

Dr Sanjay Pathare, medical director at Ruby Hall Clinic, said the hospital had 160 beds for Covid-19 patients and as per the administration’s request, hospital authorities were checking if they could meet the requirements at their centres at Wanowrie and Hinjewadi.

“All of us are under immense strain and we have been supporting the administration by stepping up bed strength. There are also genuine concerns related to staff’s salary payments and ensuring adequate manpower to treat Covid-19 patients,” said Dr H K Sale, executive director of Noble Hospital.

“In a family, if a couple is infected and the husband may require hospitalisation, how do we tell the wife who has mild symptoms and the child who tests negative to stay at home,” asked Dr Sale, adding, “They insist on staying at the hospital as food and other arrangements are taken care of here”.

Source: https://bit.ly/2D9VtYU

Categories
COVID-19 Medical Equipments Medical Updates

Delhi: Sacked for seeking PPE kits, says nurses

Joldin Francis, general secretary of United Nurses Association Delhi-NCR, said they had written to the chief minister about the problems. “The hospital was also not reducing duty hours. It is difficult for nurses to work for 13-14 hours, especially in the night shift. There is no health policy for them,” Francis added.

NEW DELHI: Eighty-four nurses, whose services were terminated by the Hamdard hospital on Monday, claimed they were thrown out after demanding adequate PPE kits, masks, drinking water and other necessary facilities for Covid duties.

Most of the nurses TOI spoke to said they had received a termination letter on their department WhatsApp group at 8.15pm on Sunday without any prior intimation. Some of the nurses who have tested Covid-positive at work had to even pay for their tests, they said.

“I tested positive and am in home quarantine, but received my termination letter. This is mental harassment. We all work 12-14 hours in a shift,” said a nurse. “If they wanted to terminate us, they should have done it when the contract ended. But they asked us to continue, and we have now been shown the door for demanding basic facilities,” she added. The terminated nurses will protest on Wednesday.

Joldin Francis, general secretary of United Nurses Association Delhi-NCR, said they had written to the chief minister about the problems. “The hospital was also not reducing duty hours. It is difficult for nurses to work for 13-14 hours, especially in the night shift. There is no health policy for them,” Francis added.

Many nurses said they had been raising these demands for some time on all platforms. “The scrubs we wear on duty are torn. They gave us five normal surgical masks for 25 days. These are not even N95,” said Anjum, one of the terminated nurses.

Nurses were provided transport for a few days initially, and the authorities have terminated those who couldn’t come to work due to lack of transport for “absence from work”, Anjum added. Many nurses claimed some were on duty even on Saturday.

“We are risking the lives of our family members and they are also accommodating with us as we stay in isolation,” Anjum said.

Dr Sunil Kohli, officiating medical superintendent for Hakeem Abdul Hameed Centenary Hospital, said, “These employees have not been terminated but their contracts have expired. We have set up a reassessment board and all are welcome to sit for the interview.”

The hospital provides single-use 3m and N95 masks to each employee and two PPE kits for those on night shifts so that they can take a break, he claimed. The authorities are trying to sort out hostel accommodation problems, he added.

Source: https://bit.ly/2Woc16i