Hearts ‘fall’ to fat-rich diet
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 22
“Every minute four Indians die of heart disease. It is the number one killer of people in prime of their life. Even many youths suffer from heart disease because of stress, smoking and alcohol”, remarked Dr H.S. Bedi, Chairman, Cardio Vascular Surgery Metro Heart Institute, Delhi.

Dr Bedi was presenting his views at a cardiac seminar organised by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) with the association of Kulwant Heart Institute in the city last evening. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bedi said, “Punjab has the highest incidence of coronary artery disease in the region. This is mostly due to the fat rich and predominantly non-vegetarian diet that includes a lot of milk and milk products. The increasing stress in all walks of life and a genetic predisposition of Indians to heart disease is also responsible for high incidence of heart attacks in Punjab.”

However, he said new techniques have made cardiac surgery simpler. Dr Bedi discussed new technique of retrograde sinus perfusion which got international recognition by the European Heart Association and endoscopic vein harvesting technique which is performed for the first time in Asia.

Dr Surinder Gupta and Dr Rajesh Gupta hailed the contributions of Dr Bedi for serving Ludhiana patients fortnightly for last six months. Over 70 doctors attended the seminars. Prominent amongst were Dr Satinder Kakkar, Dr K.K. Sharma, Dr Sarjeevan Sharma, Dr Ranbir Singh and Dr Saggar.

NIMA has assured to help the cause to moblise the public to raise funds for the poor patients who otherwise die because of lack of funds and cardiac treatment. In this connection, Dr Bedi had formed the young Heart Club for the patients who have undergone surgery in Metro Hospital so that they spread the message of life style modifications and liberation from heart disease.

Review decision on NPA, urge doctors
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 22
Doctors working for the Punjab government have criticised the recent decision of the government to abolishing non-practicing allowance (NPA) and allowing medical practice. They said the move would neither be in the interest of patients nor would it help the government save Rs 80 crore annually.

The state president of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) , Dr Hardeep Singh, said the decision had been taken in haste without understanding the ground realities. The state already had a shortage of 1000 doctors and abolishing the NPA would promote private practice, leaving lesser time for patients. This might lead to a collapse in healthcare, they said.

Dr Hardeep Singh maintained that about 1000 posts of medical officer were needed to be filled in order to provide good health services to the masses in the remote areas. The association had already written to the Health Department to fill the vacant posts but to no avail. The state had about 1500 dispensaries, community health centres, and rural and urban civil hospitals in which about 4,200 doctors were serving. “In many remote areas, the posts are still vacant. The government should do something to lure the doctors to serve in these districts. The haste in abolishing the NPA would never attract them to serve the rural masses”, he said.

He said already resentment prevailed among the doctors since more than 26 cases of promotion were pending with the department.

A delegation of PCMS doctors recently met the Chief Minister to urge him to review the decision. It said the claim of the bureaucracy about getting rid of a burden of Rs 80 crore per annum on the Budget after abolishing the NPA was far from real.

The government was going to bear a burden of Rs 1656 crore per annum after abolishing the NPA as the NPA paid to the doctors was not more than Rs 27.5 crore per annum, it said.

Deco Turf laid at Sutlej Club
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, July 22
Deco Turf has been laid at the tennis courts of the Sutlej Club. The club already has a good infrastructure for badminton, table tennis, squash, swimming and billiards. It also has a bowling alley and a health club for its members.

Deco Turf, which is being used at most international tournaments like the US Open and Australian Open, has been laid at two courts of the club at a cost of about Rs 25 lakh. This new turf has been prepared under the supervision of former Davis Cupper Sanjay Malhotra, who has already installed such turfs at a number of places in the country.

Mr Sunil Jain, honorary general secretary of the club, said the turf had been laid to promote sport among members by offering world-class facilities. 

Softball tourney
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, July 22
The Ludhiana District Softball Championship for junior boys and girls will be held here at the Ramgarhia College for Girls, Miller Ganj, from July 31 to August 3. According to Mr Pran Nath Passi, honorary secretary, Ludhiana District Softball Association, players born on or after January 1, 1986 are eligible to take part in this four-day tourney. Entries close with Mr Passi, 158/5, Major Gurdial Singh Road, Civil Lines, Ludhiana on July 29.