HEALTH

Special Story
20 per cent shortage of doctors in field units
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 13
Taking serious note of the shortage of doctors in Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) units deployed in the field, Parliament's Standing Committee on Defence has asked the government to initiate immediate corrective measures.

There is a shortage of 20 per cent in field units whereas hospitals in Mumbai and Delhi have double the number of authorised doctors, the committee, in its twelfth report placed in Parliament recently, has revealed.

On the issue of the Defence Ministry's stance that shortage in field units is a tendency during peace time and that more specialists and super specialists are required in major hospitals, the committee observed that continuous deployment in counter-insurgency operations was as good as a war situation.

The committee was also ‘‘constrained’’ to find that the norms for staffing pattern in military hospitals was lower than not only corporate hospitals but also of other civilian hospitals. At present, military hospitals had one medical officer (MO) and 0.8 staff for 50 beds, which the committee felt was of 1960 vintage. The committee recommended that the staffing pattern be improved to one MO and 1.25 staff for 21 beds to make it comparable with civilian hospitals.

Asking the government to look into the ‘‘lopsided’’ postings in the AFMS, the report has recommended that a committee be set up to review the authorised strength of doctors in hospitals and field units at different levels. The necessity of specialists and super-specialists at command, zonal and field levels should be taken into account to ensure that there was no shortage of doctors in field units.

The committee has also recommended that the term of short service officers be increased to 15 years with a further extension of five years to redress manpower concerns. It has also recommended that the retirement age to post-graduate teaching faculty be increased to 65 years while that of para medical staff be brought to 58 years.

The committee has also called for upgradation of AFMS hospitals. There are 127 such hospitals. Observing that the Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi and the naval hospital, INS Ashwini, in Mumbai have good facilities, the committee has desired additional facilities in command and zonal hospitals. Further, only basic specialties were available in peripheral hospitals.

Taking note that the Director-General, AFMS, had forwarded a Rs 432 crore modernisation plan to the Defence Ministry, the committee has advised that the entire plan be made into an annual acquisition plan over the next three to four years, with annual budgetary allocation for each year. The Committee has stressed upon the ministry to give priority to the modernisation of AFMS hospitals and to ensue that requisite funds are made available.

The committee noted that while the responsibilities of the AFMS has increased manifold over the past years, its status has been lower, which has adversely affected its functioning. It has recommended that the Director-General, AFMS, should be given the status of medical advisor to the Supreme Commander or the Defence Minister, while his position be brought at par with a secretary to the Government of India and he be equated with the Director-General of Health.

MDR-TB, sleep lab inaugurated in GMCH-32
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 13
The Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) Centre and Sleep Laboratory were formally inaugurated at Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, (GMCH-32) here today.

The Advisor to the UT Administrator, Mr Lalit Sharma, was the chief guest .

Mr Sharma interacted with doctors and staff regarding diagnosis and management problems of the MDR-TB and sleep apnea among patients. He also enquired about the advanced facilities rendered by the Pulmonary Medicine Department of the GMCH to the patients.

Mr Krishna Mohan, UT Home Secretary, who was the guest of honour, appreciated the help rendered by the NGO Rotary Centre Chandigarh in the form of generous supply of costly second line Anti TB Drugs to the centre.

Prof Swami said a large number of highly expensive reserved anti TB drugs required for the MDR cases would be given free of cost to the poor patients.

Patients inconvenienced

A number of serious patients were put to a great hardship for over half an hour as all elevators of Block-B of the GMCH)- 32 were stopped following the visit of Mr Lalit Sharma, Advisor to the UT Administrator.

Special pulse polio campaign

Chandigarh, September 13
Taking a serious view of the polio case that surfaced in the city, the UT Health Department has decided to launch a special pulse polio immunisation campaign in Chandigarh on September 17. The campaign will be followed by a house-to-house survey to immunise children in various sectors of the city, apart from villages and slums.

A press note issued by the UT Administration said that Home Secretary Krishna Mohan had called upon the parents of children to actively participate in this campaign. He said only people’s participation and contribution could help to eradicate the disease from society completely. — TNS

SPORTS

PCA proposal to PU on world-class cricket pitches
Akash Ghai & Amrita Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 13
Cricket lovers in the city could soon have world-class cricket pitches conforming to international standards. The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) has proposed an MoU to Panjab University to set up three practice pitches and three central pitches at the university. The PCA will incur all costs.

However, the PCA officials do not seem to be getting a very positive response for a proposal which could help improve the varsity’s sports facilities.

Interestingly, the university got the coveted Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy on August 29 after a gap of 10 years for its overall excellence in sports during 2004-05 and if the PCA’s proposal goes through, it would be a boon for cricketers and also an incentive for them to do better.

According to the proposal, the pitches will come up between Boys Hostel no 4 and Bharat Scouts Building. The association also offered to assist the university not only in getting standard playing paraphernalia including cricket nets, manual roller, grass-cutting machines, pitch covers etc but also installing of a shallow water tubewell for watering and drainage system, construction of two dressing rooms with toilets and service canteen.

All that the university has to provide is the requisite security for the protection of the ground and facilities, accommodation to the players besides paying, for light arrangement, drinking water and maintenance of the building.

The proposal needs the approval of the Panjab University Syndicate before being put up before the Senate. Despite the proposal being put forth more than four months ago to the PU, and the Sports Department, PU, having given its approval for it, it has not come up for discussion in the Syndicate.

According to sources, senior professors in the university would not be too keen for the pitch to come up in the particular ground due to their affinity with the Ram Lila Committee of the PU, which organises the yearly Dasehra celebrations in the ground. According to sources, the organisers would not have another venue for Dasehra celebrations, and thus the proposal was catching dust.

Talking to TNS, Anurag Chopra, captain PU cricket team, said, “The cricketers have been facing a lot of difficulties, as we do not have much facilities here. Getting the PCA to provide the best of facilities and that too with them bearing most of the expenses is an offer no sensible institute would refuse”.

When contacted, Prof R.C. Sobti, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, said, “Before taking it to the Syndicate, we have to work out on all aspects and make guidelines as well. For the purpose we will hold meetings with the PCA officials. Holding of elections and admissions in the new session were the other reasons of the abeyance”.

He also cleared that he was not against the coming up of the cricketing infrastructure while assuring that the issue would be cleared very soon.

When contacted Mr M.P. Pandove, honourable secretary, PCA, said, “The proposal along with MoU copy was sent by us (PCA) around four months ago. The proposal was made on the lines of the BCCI scheme of upgrading the cricket playing facilities in the educational institutions as it is difficult for these institutions to offer such facilities due to lack of funds”.

“As our technical officials have given their consent after visiting the site, we will be too willing to go ahead in full blast on getting the nod,” said Mr Pandove.

Shivalik School-41, DAV-15 enter semis in Molly Carver tourney
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 13
Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, and DAV School, Sector 15, entered the semi-finals of the third Molly Carver Memorial High Schools Cricket Tournament being organised by Desh Prem Azad Academy at St Stephen's School in Togan, near here, today.

Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, registered an easy seven-wicket victory over St Stephen's Togan. Shivalik School won the toss and invited St Stephen's to bat.

Stephen's School made 84 for 7 in 20 overs. Stephen's made a bad start, as they lost their opener and captain Abhilash Sharma for 3 runs only. However, Dakash Aggarwal (10) and all-rounder and top scorer Sachit Nayyer (30) propped up their innings, as they were associated in a 45-run partnership for the second wicket. Navdeep of Shivalik Public School bagged 2 for 40 runs.

In reply, Shivalik Public School achieved the target by scoring 87 for 3 in 16.1 overs. All-rounder Navdeep (22) and Shreshth (27 not out) fashioned Shivalik's victory. Sachit Nayyer got two wickets for 15 runs.

Brief scores:

Stephen's, Togan : 84 for 7 in 20 overs (Dakash Aggarwal 10, Sachit Nayyer 30, Navdeep 2 for 40).

SPS-41: 87 for 3 in 16.1 overs (Navdeep 22, Shreshth 27 not out, Sachit Nayyer 2 for 15).

In another match, DAV School-15 beat St Xavier's, Mohali, by four wickets. Batting first, St Xavier's made 92 for 7 in the stipulated 20 overs. Paramdeep Singh made 34 runs with the help of four fours. All-rounder Karan Aggarwal bowled a magnificent spell to claim three wickets for 18 runs. Gursahib Singh bagged 2 for 8.

Chasing the victory target, DAV-15 achieved the target in 18.2 overs by scoring 93 for 6. Karan Aggarwal top scored with 17 runs. Marshal (11) and Rozal (14) were the other contributors. St Xavier's all-rounder Paramdeep Singh got three wickets for 16 runs.

Brief scores:

St Xavier's Mohali: 92 for 7 in 20 overs (Paramdeep Singh 34, Akshay 17, Gursahib Singh 2 for 8, Karan Aggarwal 3 for 18, Rozal 1 for 20).

DAV-15: 93 for 6 in 18.2 overs (Karan Aggarwal 17, Marshal 11, Rozal 14, Paramdeep Singh 3 for 16, Simran 1 for 13, Harkiran 1 for 9, Akshay 1 for 13).

Tomorrow's fixture (semi-final): Stepping Stones -37 vs Shivalik Public School-41 (8.30 a.m.).

SCD College beat GC-11
Tribune News Service

Senior Football Championship

Chandigarh, September 13
Harvinder Pal of AG Haryana, Chandigarh, will lead the Chandigarh men football team in the forthcoming 61 st Senior National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy scheduled to begin in Gurgaon and Faridabad. The matches are scheduled to be held from September 15.

The other team members are: Deepak Gurang, Neeraj Malik, Raj Kumar, Anish Patial, Vikas Pannu, Ashwinder Singh, Arvinder, Ankit Malik, Mahipal, Kartik Bhardwaj, Prabhjot Singh, Pawandeep Singh, Sumer Singh, Deepak Huda, Bhupinder, Vinay, Harminder Singh and Mohit Raj. TNS