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| Thursday,
December 20, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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When the health care system itself is terminally ill Sonepat, December 19 The survey conducted by the correspondent of the NCR Tribune has shown that most of the city’s public hospitals and dispensaries are over-crowded, ill-equipped and under-staffed. Insufficient stocks of vital drugs and other essential articles of every-day use tell upon the efficiency of the staff. Almost all the government and private hospitals have unhygienic conditions and stinking surroundings are a common feature. Non-availability of medicines and skeleton services of specialists only add to the misery of the patients. Even then, the stifling atmosphere in the various hospitals has not led to the reduction in the arrival of patients. Long queues of patients are a common feature at the Out-door Patients Ward.(OPD) The punctuality of doctors in the hospital is another story in itself. The OPD of the hospital is supposed to open at 9 am during the winter but “not a single doctor turns” up for duty on time. The women wing of this hospital has the same sordid story to tell. Most of the patients belonging to the poorer section of the society, are forced to come to the hospital due to the exorbitant charges by doctors at private nursing homes or clinics. The patients here are talking about a ‘racket’ in which the medical officers and the chemists are said to be directly linked. There are allegations that the doctors prescribe only those medicines that are available with chemists who are associated with these doctors. Many doctors have also developed links with the owners of private nursing homes where they practise after hospital duty. Allegedly, these doctors also put pressure on the visiting patients to get their treatment done at private nursing homes, where they usually practice. In the prevailing environment of acute medicine shortage in the civil hospitals, the patients are told to buy them from the market. It is alleged that the bulk of the medicines supplied to the hospital store are sold in the market, in the absence of proper check by the authorities of the Health Department. Hopefully, a high-level inquiry would expose the misdeeds of doctors and the para-medical staff of the hospital. Moreover, the food, which is supplied to the indoor patients are alleged to be much below the specified quality. In the general wards, many patients complain about the absence of staff during the duty hours. The OPD has remained in darkness for months as the lights have been out of order. With little alternatives available to them, patients can be seen waiting for the doctors in pitch darkness. Crossing this ward at night is an experience in itself. It has become a den for anti-social elements at night. Thefts of auto vehicles and bicycles are a common feature. The ESI dispensary has also the same sordid story to tell. Long queues of patients are seen daily in the OPD. Doctors turn up for duty behind schedule which causes inconvenience to the waiting patients. Non-availability of medicines also adds to the misery of the patients. The people are very critical of the legislators of the area for their failure to voice their concern at the appalling conditions in the various government and private hospitals. Political patronage is the name of the game. Many doctors in the government hospitals and other health institutions have developed links with the political bosses and ministers. Little wonder, that even as they do not care for the public complaints, they have managed to stay on for years in the same hospital. Punctuality among doctors in the Government hospitals are a thing of the past, thanks mainly to the failure of the district authorities to penalise the late comers. Meanwhile, representatives of various political parties, social and voluntary organisations and trade unions on Wednesday expressed their grave concern over the appalling conditions in the local civil hospital and other health institutions. They urged the state government to order a high-level inquiry into the public complaints and take stern against those found responsible for the mess. They also demanded immediate transfer of the Civil Surgeon and other doctors in the hospital found guilty for the deteriorating health care system in the district. |
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Men too can have breast cancer New Delhi, December19
It has been found that there is one male breast cancer case for every 100 breast cancer cases in women. However, the lack of awareness about the possibility of breast cancer in men leads to much delay in the diagnosis of the disease. Nalini Ranjan talked to Dr Arun Goel, Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology at the Vasundhra Enclave-based Dharmashila Cancer Hospital about the issue of breast cancer in men. Dr Arun Goel says that though the disease is uncommon, it is important to create awareness in order to avoid delay in diagnosis. Dr Goel says that he has operated upon two patients recently in one month only. In one patient, the symptoms of breast cancer had been there for two years and in another, for one year. It shows the lack of awareness on the part of the patients as well the medical community. In both patients, the lumps had become larger than 5 cms and started to involve the overlying skin at the time of the diagnosis. Excerpts from the interview with Dr Arun Goel. Q: What are the common symptoms of breast cancer in men? A: The most common symptom of breast cancer in men is a lump or swelling in the region of the breast. The swelling may be under the nipple or slightly away from it. A lump is also the common symptom of breast cancer in women. However, it should be much easier to feel a breast lump in men due to less fat. Unfortunately, the delay in diagnosis neutralises any such advantage. Q: What are the reasons for the delay in seeking help? A: One of the reasons, as I mentioned above, is the lack of awareness among men. Added to this is the lack of awareness in the medical community. Patients are often reassured that such a lump is not something to worry about. This is in contrast to the case in women where a heightened awareness leads to an early diagnosis. In the recent past, I have operated upon a number of women with tumours less than even 1 cm in size. Another factor may be that men are shy of seeking help. Q: What are the causes of breast cancer in men? A: It is usually not possible to identify a specific cause in most of the people. However, there are two problems that may increase the likelihood of a man developing breast cancer. One is the problem of testicular atrophy due to various diseases such as infection of the testis, injury, congenital disorders, etc. Another is the problem of liver damage, i.e. cirrhosis, hormonal imbalances happen in the body contributing to the development of breast cancer. Q: How can one diagnose breast cancer? A: For most cancers, the best test for diagnosis today is called FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology). In this test, a small sample is obtained from the lump by putting in a needle with a syringe attached to it and applying suction while passing the needle through the lump. In more than 90 per cent of patients, we can get an accurate diagnosis by this test. Use of this test avoids an open biopsy for diagnosis. Q: How is breast cancer in men treated? A: Treatment of breast cancer in men is similar to that in women. If the disease has not spread to the distant organs, removal of the breast by surgery (Modified Radical Mastectomy) is the first and most important part of the treatment. After this, further treatment by chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy is carried out as required in a given patient. Q: Can the disease be cured? A: Yes. If diagnosed before it has spread to distant organs, cure is possible by proper treatment. However, the cure rate is much better if the tumour is diagnosed early. It is very important for all of us to attempt an early diagnosis in all types of cancers. |
Delhi reel under J & K
fury in Under-22 League New Delhi, December 19 Delhi, replying to Jammu and Kashmir’s first innings total of 194, were shot out for 135 in 49.4 overs. Resuming at 72 for 4, Delhi crashed to 135 all out after 23.4 overs of batting in 110 minutes. At close of play, Jammu and Kashmir were 173 for seven in 65 overs to take an overall lead of 230 runs. Sidharth Verma, who was unbeaten on 14, stayed put to make 27, while Puru Singh remained not out on 25 to give some semblance of respect to the Delhi batting, which, otherwise, failed to cope with the left-arm medium pace of Abid Alam, who claimed 4/30, and the left-arm medium pace of Parnav Mahajan, who took 3/45. Anoop Mangotra, Sanjay Sharma and Inderjit Singh claimed a wicket each. In their second innings, J and K were aided by a well-crafted 43 by Huwaid Ahmed, 30 by Inderjit Singh and an unbeaten 50-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Sanjay Sharma and Parnav Mahajan. Parnav Mahajan’s unbeaten 39 runs contained three sixes and three fours. Left-arm spinner Vivek Khurana was hit for two huge sixes while off-spinner Yogesh Sachdeva was hoisted for the other six. Delhi will find the going tough on the third and final day on Thursday if they do not get some early wickets in the morning. J and K, having taken a substantial lead, may declare their second innings after hitting up some quick runs, and then unleash their penetrative bowling to break the back of the Delhi batting. |
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Harish hits unbeaten century A stroke-filled unbeaten knock of 102 by Harish Sharma and deadly bowling by Karan Chauhan (3 for 31) helped S B Chauhan XI beat Krishna Nagar Colts by two wickets in the annual match played at Jail Complex, Harsh Vihar (Shahdara). After Krishna Nagar Colts made 202 for 8 in 30 overs, Chauhan XI reached the target without much toil, thanks to the batting pyrotechniques of Harish Sharma. His knock contained eight fours and three sixes. Nepal Singh and Kali Charan in a fine opening stand, put on a solid stand for Krishna Nagar, by scoring 69 and 60 respectively. Scores: Krishna Nagar Colts: 202 (Nepal Singh 69, Kalicharan 60, Lalit Kumar 48, Karan Chauhan 3/31, Mohan Lal 3/46). S.B.Chauhan XI: 203 for 8 (Harish Sharma 102 n o, Mukesh Kardam 40, Karan Chauhan 38, Nepal Singh 4/40, Surender Kumar 2/33).
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Cricket, a grand leveller New Delhi, December 19 No wonder, cricket academies are sprouting like mushrooms in Delhi. Retired coaches, former India players and qualified coaches are all in the business of cricket coaching. Yet, the most popular cricket coaching centres continue to be ones run by the Sports Authority of India at highly subsidised rates at the National Stadium, Nehru Stadium and the Indira Gandhi indoor stadium complex. Hundreds of children have to be turned back due to the over crowding of these centres. The craze is so great that even a disabled boy like Amandeep Singh, talented otherwise, had to be admitted to his centre by coach Maninder Singh, as his boy's parents would not take a 'no' for an answer. |
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Haryana to hold National Wrestling at Nidani New Delhi, December 19 Nidani holds a unique place in wrestling as the wrestling institutes here have produced 19 international and 30 national-level gold medallists. Some of the prominent wrestlers who are the products of Nidani are Narinder Singh, Sarvar, Satbir, Shamsher, Pawan, Surinder, Bijender, Karan Singh, Dharambir, Jai Bhagwan, Satyabir and Sombir. The President of the Wrestling Federation of India M.S. Malik announced here today that Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala will inaugurate the championships on December 22 at 2 pm. Mr Malik said Mr Chautala will also lay the foundation stone of the girls hostel of Bhai Surinder Singh Memorial Girls School. Haryana Olympic Association president Abhey Singh Chautala will be the chief guest, while Director-General of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Shekhar Dutt will preside over the closing ceremony on December 25. More than 1000 men and women wrestlers, representing all the 28 affiliated State units, will participate in the championships. Competitions will be held in 22 weight categories. Some of the prominent wrestlers like Palminder Cheema, Ramesh Kumar, Sandeep, Jagdish Khaliraman and Mukesh Khatri in the men’s section, and Asian medal winners Sunita Sharma, Monika Kaliraman, Kiran Sihag, Roshni Devi and Farhat Bano in the women’s section, will be seen in action. Mr Malik said a photo gallery of international and nationally reputed wrestlers will be established at Nidani. Film star and wrestler Dara Singh will be a prominent guest during the National Championships. |
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‘No direct recruitment for sportspersons’ New Delhi, December 19 The matter figured in the Delhi Assembly on Wednesday when in a written reply to the question by Mukesh Sharma, MLA, the Chief Minister informed the House that according to rules framed by the Centre, only five per cent of the direct recruitment posts are to be filled from the sports quota. “Since no direct recruits have been absorbed into the Delhi Police this year the issue of sports quota posts lying vacant does not arise,” she stated adding that no scheme was being prepared by the Home Department of the Government of NCT of Delhi and the Police Commissioner for filling the sports quota. According to the Standing Order No 4 of the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, outstanding sportspersons are recruited as constables, head constables and sub-inspector on the basis of their performance without subjecting them to normal recruitment procedure. The sportspersons in the disciplines of athletics, basketball, football, hockey, judo, kabaddi, shooting, swimming, volleyball and wrestling are eligible for recruitment under the sports quota. The order stipulates that ad hoc promotion to the sportspersons on the basis of outstanding performance would be considered by a screening committee consisting of one additional commissioner of police and two DCPs to be nominated by the Police Commissioner. The Order also provides for cash rewards to sportspersons who show excellence but are not considered for promotion. |
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Mayor
All-India Junior Golf from Dec 26 New Delhi, December 19 The Mayor Group, best known for its manufacture of soccer balls and other inflatable balls, is a supplier to many international brands such as Adidas, Umbro, Mitre and Dunlop. Mayor Group is now one of the major suppliers of golf balls. Six models of Mayor play balls have been listed in the confirming golf balls list of Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland and United States Golf Associations. With a vision of providing high quality golf products to Indian golfers at affordable prices and to promote the game in India, Major International is now entering the domestic market in a big way, and is sponsoring the Indian Golf Union's All-India Junior Championship. |
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Syndicate Bank to sponsor chess team New Delhi, December 19 Syndicate Bank general manager R K Abrol held a felicitation function for the Delhi team at the Russian Culture Centre, 24 Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi on Wednesday, and wished the team well. The strong Delhi have the potential to reap the rich harvest in the nationals, though South have quite a few talents. |
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