Ludhiana, August 6
The Department of Transplant at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital headed by Dr Baldev Singh Aulakh is now carrying out challenging laprascopic reconstructive procedures at the hospital. One such procedure was performed for a rare kidney abnormality by Dr Aulakh and his team comprising Dr Pawan Mittal, Dr Manish Singla and Dr Amit Mahajan.

Traditionally, this reconstructive procedure is done by giving a 10 to 15 inch long open incision. The patient, 38-year-old Narinder Kaur, was admitted to this hospital with complaints of pain in upper right abdomen for the past two years.

After investigations, she was found to have two divisions in the draining channel of the right kidney with blockage in lower division, which was causing damage to kidney. This particular abnormality is common in men but very rare in women.

After examination, the doctors decided to repair the kidney with a procedure known as laparoscopic pyeloureterostomy. This laparoscopic procedure is a vast improvement on traditional surgical methods which require a longer incision and also more time for hospitalisation. Laparoscopic procedure requires three to four smaller incisions (of size about 5 mm and 10 mm) to insert three to four ports for camera and instruments.

This technique, although technically very challenging, results is less pain and scarring and a shorter hospital stay. The patient can be discharged within two to three days with much quicker recovery time and quicker return to work, informed Dr Aulakh.

Another patient, 42-year-old Bachittar Singh, who had to go to Canada, opted for the laparoscopic procedure for the removal of his non-functioning kidney so that he can travel early. Laparoscopic removal of the non-functioning kidney was carried out successfully and he is ready to fly back to Canada said Dr Aulakh.

Ludhiana, August 6
The Akali government is all set to tighten its noose around value added tax (VAT) evaders. Unhappy over a meagre 5 per cent increase in VAT collections in the first quarter, the government has set a target of 25 per cent increase by the end of this financial.

“The state has a potential of generating Rs 15,000 crore annually whereas we are currently getting only Rs 5,200 crore as VAT. Consumption pattern in Punjab is definitely not lower than Haryana but our neighbouring state is much ahead of us at Rs 7,200 crore,” said finance minister Manpreet Badal.

Concerned over low VAT realisation, he said it was tax administration that was to be blamed for the same. “They need to do their job well. The fact that McDonalds pays Rs 1 crore annually and the entire beverage industry is paying a similar amount is a clear proof of the honesty being exercised while paying VAT,” he remarked.

On being asked about the financial health of the state, he rubbished claims of Amarinder Singh that the Congress government left a surplus of Rs 1,200 crore. “The accounts were duly audited and there was a deficit of Rs 660 crore. I do not want to get into the politics of it, these are the fact,” he said

Badal said subsidies needed to be rationalised and could not be given on anything and everything. “There will soon be a discussion in the Cabinet on subsidies and we will prioritise areas of spending. The state needs to rationalise subsidies.” He also ruled out any possibility of reimposing octroi. He said it was unnecessary and had not caused any dent on revenues.

Among other plans, the government has also proposed insurance for families falling below the poverty line. An amount of Rs 13 crore can be generated if officers contribute a small fraction towards the cause. We are hopeful that the plan will soon materialise, he said.