Hospitals reel from staff shortage

The editorial ‘Haryana hospitals’ reflects the sad state of affairs. Staff shortage, a short supply of medicines and inoperative hospitals add to the patients’ woes. So many patients battling serious health issues have to endure a long wait. They often don’t even get proper treatment, and occasionally, they bear the brunt of medical negligence. Even those suffering from chronic and infectious diseases fail to get timely treatment at times. Addressing the lapses in healthcare provisions and the management of funds allotted for healthcare need a comprehensive approach. It is crucial to ensuring quality care for all patients.

Priyanka, Amritsar

Ensure enforcement of laws

Refer to the article ‘Need to review functioning of food & drug regulatory agencies’; there are innumerable companies and clinics promoting herbal medicines for the treatment of arthritis, psoriasis, etc, on TV. Many ointments and creams are also being advertised for various skin disorders and the ‘enhancement of beauty’. Celebrities advertising pan masala is very unfortunate. Further, it is a matter of concern that roadside eateries and food joints selling adulterated and unhygienic items have been mushrooming in the country. The onus is on food and drug regulatory agencies to ensure that customers or consumers are not sold any harmful product. The implementation of the existing laws should not be lax.

O Prasada Rao, Hyderabad

Monitor advertisements

With reference to the article ‘Need to review functioning of food & drug regulatory agencies’; the author has rightly called for the strict enforcement of the laws to rein in misleading advertisements related to drugs, remedies, health products and food supplements. The authorities concerned need to take a serious view of violations and help save the common man from falling prey to unethical marketing strategies. Besides, the publication and telecast of advertisements needs to be properly monitored. A consumer’s health or safety must not be played with.

Vijay Laxmi, Amritsar

Protesting farmers disrupt trains

Refer to the report ‘No let-up in farmers’ protest, 61 trains cancelled, 64 diverted’; the cultivators from Punjab and Haryana are not wrong to push for their demands. However, squatting on railway tracks and disrupting rail traffic is not the right way to protest. Many passengers were inconvenienced as several trains were cancelled and others diverted because of the agitation. Sadly, farmers in the region have turned into troublemakers. Nevertheless, the authorities concerned must take into consideration the legitimate demands of the cultivators. But the tillers should also be more responsible and call off the stir at the Shambhu railway station.

Krishan Kant Sood, Nangal

A humane solution to dog menace

The mauling of a man by a pack of stray dogs in a Nabha village is shocking. Cases of dog bite have long been common, but someone being mauled to death is a rarity. Despite a spate of dog attacks on residents every year, the authorities concerned have taken no concrete step to tackle the menace, showing complete disregard for human life. Civic bodies have failed to carry out sterilisation of stray canines to check their population. It is the scarcity of food that may be prompting dogs to turn aggressive and attack humans. The government must set aside funds to arrange food, shelter and treatment for stray dogs.

Col RS Narula (retd), Patiala

Don’t entertain frivolous pleas

Apropos of the news report ‘SC reserves verdict on EVM-VVPAT tallying, says can’t suspect everything’; such pleas are often driven by unwarranted fears and vested interests. These cases are a big drain on the resources of constitutional courts. Dismissing such cases or allowing the withdrawal of frivolous petitions is sometimes not enough. Courts would do well, as a rule, to impose heavy costs on the petitioners to dissuade them from making a mockery of the judiciary so that the focus remains on serious disputes. No court should entertain a plea on insignificant matters.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected]

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