125 Fresh Cases of Dengue Reported in Bihar in Last 2 Days, Total Count Mounts to 3,950.

Source – news18.com

At least 125 fresh cases of dengue were recorded in Bihar that witnessed fresh spell of rain late last month. With the fresh cases, the total number of people tested positive for the mosquito-borne diseases rose to 3,950 of which 2,953 were reported from Patna. In the last two days, the capital of Bihar witnessed 77 fresh cases.

Dengue is spread by bite of female mosquito – Aedes aegypti that breeds in clean stagnant water. These mosquitoes bite during the early morning and in the evening before dusk.

According to a report by The Times of India, no fresh cases of chikungunya were recorded in Bihar in the last two days.

The number of dengue and chikungyna cases has started to decrease in the state. The daily said that the decreasing trend could be observed even in the samples tested in the virology lab of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), where blood samples of 67 people, including 62 from Patna, were tested positive for dengue on Monday. The number of cases tested positive for dengue on Saturday were recorded at 168.

According to the daily, the health department principal secretary, Sanjay Kumar, said that the drop in mercury has led to decrease in number of dengue cases in Bihar.

Initial symptoms of dengue include high-grade fever and severe headache which is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, soaring of eyes, pain in joint and muscles, fatigue, rash among others.

People witnessing any of these symptoms should visit to a nearby hospital and get the necessary blood tests done. Patients who are diagnosed with dengue tend to feel week and their blood platelet count drops. Therefore, dengue patients should take adequate rest and increase intake of fluids including water, juices, coconut water among others.

People should avoid self-medication and follow the directives prescribed by doctors for early recovery. There is no treatment or vaccination for the disease and only timely diagnose and care can help it from becoming severe.

As diseases spreading mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, people should ensure that there is no accumulation of water in the neighbourhood as well as in the house. Before stepping out people should wear full-sleeved clothes and when in house, people should use mosquito nets and mosquito nets.

289 Chikungunya Cases Recorded in Patna as Bihar Grapples with Dengue.

Source – news18.com

After dengue, Chikungunya cases are increasing in Bihar as 322 cases have already been reported in the state.

Of the total number of cases reported in the state, 289 come from the capital city alone till Tuesday, reported The Times of India.

The report makes mention of the fact that in comparison; the figure for the entire of 2018 was 156.

According to state health department data, the maximum number of chikungunya cases is from Patna, followed by Nalanda, which has reported 10 cases till Wednesday.

A health department officer urged people to take caution reminding everyone that the most number of chikungunya cases were recorded between mid-October and November last year.

He further added that in 2018 chikungunya forayed into the state because a number of travellers suffering from the disease travelled to Bihar during Durga Puja and Chhath carrying the virus along with them. As per health department data, a single case from Nalanda saw a patient travelling from Bangalore. None of the cases in Patna had any prior travel history.

Commenting on the striking rise in chikungunya cases in the state this year, principal secretary of health department Sanjay Kumar said that since the carrier of both dengue and chikungunya is the same and because there is an increase in dengue cases this year, chikungunya cases too have subsequently raised.

Citing an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) report, Kumar added that in 40 percent of the households surveyed by the central team, they found presence of larvae.

Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) medicine department associate professor RD Singh revealed more about the difference in symptoms of chikungunya and dengue stating that while in both cases a person suffers from fever, in case of dengue there is body ache while in chikungunya there is pain in the joints.

He further added that though rashes occur in both cases, in dengue there is no rash on palms and soles. Furthermore, he said that while for dengue, a person can recover after 10 days, chikungunya pain can persist for two to three weeks at least.

MCI inspects PMCH, may okay 50 more MBBS seats for Jharkhand

Source: hindustantimes.com

Jharkhand may get 50 more MBBS seats in current academic session as a three-member team of Medical Council of India (MCI) on Wednesday held sudden inspection of Patliputra Medical College Hospital (PMCH), Dhanbad, for verification of compliance report over 100 MBBS seats.

Though the MCI inspectors refused to share details with the media, they looked satisfied after the inspection and verification of the compliance reports sent by PMCH to MCI about faculty strength in college and infrastructure in hospital.

The MCI team comprising Dr RG Vevek Medical College, Kolkata, Dr Ram Awadh Singh Kushwaha of RGM Medical College, Lucknow and Dr Jaswinder Singh of Chandigarh Medical College reached PMCH on Wednesday morning and began inspection of hospital’s OPD, wards, radiology and pathology department one by one before reaching college.

MCI Inspectors also took registration of OPD patients of the day till 2 pm (1601), admitted indoor (517) major operation (30), minor operation ( 64), normal delivery 15, cesarean (10).

PMCH principal Dr Shailendra Kumar said three-member MCI team made spot inspection of all faculties and hospital wards and verified them with our compliance report. Now on basis of their findings, the MCI board would decide to permit 100 seats in the current session. “ We are hopeful of regaining 100 MBBS seats as maximum deficiencies have been fulfilled”, he said.

MCI had increased 50 seats each (total 100) to PMCH and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital (MGMMCH) Jamshedpur in 2013. But due to deficiencies MCI reduced 50 seats of PMCH in 2017 and MGMMCH in 2019.

“In March, the MCI had inspected PMCH and pointed out deficiencies to be fulfilled to get permission for 100 seats. In April, PMCH had sent compliance report. Today Inspectors had come to verify compliance report”, said principal. He said only 20% faculty deficiency is left otherwise posts of senior residents and junior resident and assistant professors have been filled up.

Till date, Jharkhand has 580 MBBS seats, including 100 each of three newly set up, Palamu, Hazaribagh, Dumka, 180 of RIMS Ranchi,50 each of PMCH and MGMMCH.

PMCH superintendent Dr HK Singh said except oxygen pipe line, the hospital has fulfilled all deficiencies pointed out by the MCI.

Bihar: PMCH doctors on strike, health services crippled

Source: business-standard.com

Health services at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) here have crippled with juniors doctors on strike since Friday.

According to agitating doctors, they have to strike the work after five students in the Department of Orthopaedic were failed in an examination.

They have also alleged that they were under pressure from the senior of the department to prescribe the medicines of one particular company.

“We are trying to resolve the issue with the junior doctors. Hopefully, the strike will end soon. We have also written to the District Civil Surgeon to send more manpower. We hope the situation is resolved by tomorrow,” said PMCH Superintendent Dr Rajeev Ranjan Prasad.

“Five students were failed as we had requested that patients should be prescribed medicines provided by the government or cheaper medicines,” said Vikas, a junior doctor.

Dr Prasad said: “The hospital administration has formed a three-member committee to look into the matter raised by the agitating doctors.”

Due to strike, patients are suffering like anything. Vijay, who had brought his relative to the PMCH for treatment, said: “My patient has suffered a severe brain injury. We are being asked to go to the AIIMS for treatment.”

PMCH has a daily intake of 3000 patients and on an average 70 surgeries are performed in the hospital every day.

Junior doctors in Jharkhand protest against Bengal impasse, OPD boycott hits patients

Source: hindustantimes.com

Patients in Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad had a harrowing time on Friday after junior doctors in the three government-run medical colleges and hospitals boycotted OPD services in a show of solidarity with the protesting doctors in West Bengal. Junior doctors across West Bengal are on strike since June 10, protesting against an alleged assault on a medical intern by relatives of an 87-year-old patient who died in Kolkata’s NRS hospital premises.

Junior doctors boycotted OPD duties at Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital (MGMMCH) and Patliputra Medical College Hospital (PMCH) and demanded that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee take action against the culprits immediately. However, senior doctors across the state attended to patients, wearing black badges.

The massive impact of junior doctors’ boycotting their duties was felt at RIMS Ranchi where long queues of patients were seen at all OPDs. Patients particularly had a difficult time at medicine, surgery, skin, eye and orthopaedic OPDs. Some of the patients were seen returning from OPDs due to the seemingly unending queues.

Govind Mahato, a patient from Powarganj in Lohardaga town, about 70 kms from Ranchi, visited RIMS but returned due to the commotion in the hospital. “I had no information about the sudden strike of doctors. I came here for the medical examination of my ailing grandson but had to return without treatment,” said Mahato.

Malti Murmu (45), a resident of Namkum in Ranchi, failed to consult a doctor despite waiting till noon at the gynaecology OPD. “The hospital should not have registered my name in the morning if the doctors were on strike. After being registered, I thought the doctor would check patients in the OPD, but they wasted my time and money,” she said.

Before beginning their boycott, junior doctors at RIMS staged a street play on the role of doctors in providing health services in the campus and sought cooperation from all teachers for their OPD boycott. Junior doctors also wore helmets and staged a sit-in protest in front of RIMS director Dr DK Singh’s chamber.

“We strongly condemn the attitude of Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. We would be compelled to intensify our agitation if all the culprits are not arrested soon,” said Dr Ajit Prasad, JDA president.

Junior doctors at the Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Science (RINPAS) in Kanke also boycotted OPD services in solidarity with the JDA.

OPD did not function after 10.30 am at PMCH Dhanbad due to the boycott call by junior doctors. At MGMMCH, OPD did not function after 11 am. IMA Jamshedpur secretary Dr Mritunjay Kumar Singh said many doctors in private nursing homes also skipped their OPD duties in solidarity with protesting junior doctors.

Patients at Bokaro General Hospital (BGH) had also returned unattended from OPD as junior doctors boycotted services.

In the evening, the Jharkhand chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Jharkhand Health Service Association (JHSA) and JDA took out a protest march from RIMS.

“It is unfortunate that doctors who serve patients day and night were thrashed and the government did not act properly against culprits”, said Dr Pradeep Kumar Singh, IMA secretary.

Ban private practice of Bihar government doctors, give allowance: IGIMS director

Source: dustantimes.com

With the Bihar government considering granting autonomy to some of its health facilities, director of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) has advocated banning private practice of government doctors while granting autonomy to healthcare institutions for improved patient care.

The IGIMS, which is Bihar’s only autonomous medical institution, built on the pattern of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), has achieved many milestones during the recent past. Seeing its success, the state government now wants to replicate the IGIMS model at five other healthcare institutions of Bihar.

Among the institutions being considered for grant of autonomy are the multi-specialty Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH); the Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology (IGIC), a superspecialty centre for cardiology; Rajendra Nagar Government Hospital, a superspecialty centre for eyecare; Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narayan Hospital, a superspecialty centre for orthopaedics; and the New Gardiner Road Hospital, a superspecialty centre for endocrinology and nephrology.

Bihar’s principal secretary, health, Sanjay Kumar, had recently said that the government was actively considering autonomy for five of its premier health facilities on the pattern of IGIMS.

Dr Nihar Ranjan Biswas, who belongs to the AIIMS-New Delhi and is on deputation to the IGIMS as its director, suggested that government doctors be given non-practising allowance (NPA) and should be available round the clock, as was the practice at AIIMS.

Dr Biswas had floated the idea of “full autonomy to medical institutions” in presence of health minister Mangal Pandey, speaker of the Bihar legislative assembly Vijay Kumar Choudhary and principal secretary, health, Sanjay Kumar, during a seminar on kidney transplant organised at the institute on May 26.

Sharing his recipe of success, Dr Biswas said, “Medical institutions should be granted full autonomy in the true sense. With autonomy, appointment of director as also selection of faculty members should be done through all-India competitions.”

Dr Biswas was also averse to the idea of extending free treatment to patients. “The government should subsidise the cost of treatment and diagnostic tests, but not make healthcare facilities available free of cost to patients,” he added.

Doctors were, however, divided on banning private practice in Bihar. While the Bihar Health Services Association (BHSA) supported giving doctors NPA and remuneration at par with the Centre, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Bihar, opposed it, saying it should be “optional”.

“Government doctors should be given the choice whether they want to avail of NPA or not take it and do private practice. The decision to ban private practice should not be thrust upon all doctors. If doctors who do not opt for NPA were to resign, many government medical colleges will risk being derecognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI) due to faculty shortage,” said Dr Sahjanand Prasad Singh, immediate past president of IMA-Bihar.

Asked if that meant that doctors wanted to have the best of both worlds, Dr Singh said, “In a way, yes… but it will also benefit the state. Giving NPA and remuneration to all state government doctors at par with the Centre will be a huge burden on the state’s exchequer.”

BHSA general secretary Dr Ranjit Kumar said, “We have already given an undertaking to the government in 2007 that we want NPA. Private practice remains banned on paper after the government withdrew NPA from March 2001. However, a majority of government doctors continue to do private practice.”

Senior doctors of the two associations, on condition of anonymity, said that many doctors of AIIMS-Patna and IGIMS, all getting NPA, were continuing with their private practice due to poor implementation of rules.

The Bihar government had banned private practice and paid NPA to its doctors for a limited period of 11 months between March 1, 2000 and February 2001 before withdrawing NPA.