Page 2 - Government Hospitals

Hospitals, blood banks can only charge processing fees for blood: Govt

Hospitals and blood banks can now only charge processing fees for blood as the apex drug regulator has decided to do away with all other fees to check the practice of overcharging. In a communication to all states and UT drugs controllers cum licensing authorities, the Drugs Controller Genral of India (DCGI) stated that the decision was taken in view of the opinion that "blood is not for sale". Referring to the 62nd meeting of the Drugs Consultative Committee held on September 26, 2023, the DCGI in the letter on December 26 said, "It was recommended with respect of agenda No. 18 of ATR point 3, for overcharging of blood, it was opined that blood is not for sale, it is only for supply and only processing cost may be charged by the blood centre." The revised guidelines stipulate that only processing fees can be charged for blood or blood components which ranges between Rs 250 to 1,550 for blood or blood components. The DCGI has asked states and UT drug controllers to direct all blood

BJP pulls up Rajasthan govt hospital for prescribing medicines from market

Using abusive language, a BJP MLA pulled up a doctor at a government hospital for allegedly prescribing medicines from the market for a commission, according to a video on social media. Laldulal Pitaliya -- the BJP MLA from the Sahara constituency in Rajasthan's Bhilwara -- could also be heard raising objection over a photograph of a deity that was removed from a wall for paint work a month ago not being reinstalled. He purportedly asked the doctor if he did not want Sanatan Dharma. Pitaliya could not be contacted for comment despite repeated attempts. The first-time MLA arrived at the satellite hospital in Gangapur town on Tuesday for a surprise visit. He could be heard in the video rebuking the doctor, saying poor people complained to him that he was prescribing medicines from outside. Most commonly-used medicines are provided for free by hospitals in the state. "Have some shame. God will not spare you. Your future generations will be lame (and disabled) if you cheat a poor pers

Another drug from hospitals found to be of sub-standard quality: Delhi LG

Days after Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena referred a matter pertaining to drugs failing quality standard tests to CBI, Raj Niwas officials on Wednesday reported another medicine used for treating seizures and epilepsy turning out to be spurious. Saxena had last week recommended a CBI inquiry into the alleged supply of drugs that "failed quality standard tests" and have the "potential of endangering lives." According to officials, another drug sample taken from Delhi government hospitals was failed by the RDTL, or Regional Drug Testing Laboratory, in Chandigarh. This time an anti-epilepsy drug called 'Sodium Valproate' was found to be falling short of the standards. The report was issued by a government analyst on December 22, an official said. The drugs that have been found to be of "sub-standard quality" included Cephalexin, a critical life-saving antibiotic used for the treatment of lung and urinary tract infections, according to officials. They also included Dexamethasone, a ste

Surprise inspection of Delhi hospitals begins as new Covid variant surges

Covid cases registered a rise in the country towards the end of 2023 with sub-variant JN.1 on the radar while the Delhi government planned to step up genome surveillance to tackle the issue going forward. As the new threat looms on the horizon with an uptick in Covid cases amid the festive season, doctors in Delhi have advised people to wear masks, avoid gatherings and maintain a healthy diet. The devastating third wave of the Covid pandemic driven by the Omicron variant had resulted in a record surge of infections in Delhi in early 2022, and the second one driven by the Delta variant had wreaked havoc in the national capital, as at other places, in 2021. The fresh threat, as there was one early 2023, has only proven many experts right that "Covid is not out of the world yet". Both the Centre and the Delhi government are alert and have planned a way forward to tackle any situation. Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on December 20 told PTI that oxygen cylinders, ventilator be

Bharadwaj demands action against health secy over 'fake' medicine row

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Saturday demanded action against the health secretary over the alleged supply of sub-standard quality drugs to city government-run hospitals, an issue into which the Lt Governor has recommended a CBI inquiry. Demanding that Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena take action against the secretary as well as a former director of the Directorate of Health Services-Delhi (DHS), he told a press conference that in "July-August some medicines' samples were sent for testing, and out of 43 samples, five were found not to be meeting standards". "I learnt about it after one and a half months during discussions about the matter," said Bharadwaj, who was allotted the health portfolio in March. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was made the health minister after Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain resigned from the Cabinet and their portfolios were redistributed. "Even consumables such as bandages were found not to be meeting quality standards," Bharadwaj said. T

Non-standard drugs supply in Delhi govt hospitals: L-G calls for CBI probe

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has recommended a CBI inquiry into the alleged procurement and supply of "non-standard" drugs in Delhi government hospitals, Raj Niwas officials said on Saturday. When asked about the matter, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told PTI that the government will come out with a detailed response. He also alleged that there is an attempt to obstruct the work of the government through such inquiries. The Raj Niwas officials said that in a note to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, the Lt Governor mentioned that it is concerning that these medicines are being given to lakhs of patients. "It is with a sense of deep concern that I have perused the file. I am, to say the least, anguished at the fact that lakhs of hapless people and patients are being supplied fake drugs that have failed quality standard tests," read the note to Kumar. These drugs, procured by the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) under the Delhi Health Services (DHS), were supplied to Delhi

Govt hospitals set up transgender centers in push for equitable healthcare

Doctors hail move, activists suggest more needs to be done

CM directs Health Minister Bharadwaj to visit govt hospital in east Delhi

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday directed Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj to visit a city government-run hospital in east Delhi and take corrective steps to improve amenities at the facility. The chief minister shared this in a post on X, in response to a post made late Tuesday night by a user, alleging insanitary conditions in the toilets of GTB Hospital. "Delhi's sick hospital -- toilets are overflowing, full of filth, this is how the hospitals of Delhi are, the picture is of the largest GTB hospital across Yamuna, where patients, attendants and staff have to pass by a toilet with a cloth over their mouths. The cleanliness system in the hospital is zero," the user alleged in the post along with a photograph. Kejriwal on Wednesday responded to the post on X. "I have directed the health minister to visit the hospital today along with senior officials and take corrective steps," he wrote.

RML Hospital in Delhi to open special pollution OPD amid worsening levels

"We have decided that a special OPD will run for pollution-related illnesses where comprehensive care can be given to the patients and will include a multi-departmental clinic"

Aiims Delhi server down for hours, hospital says shut for maintenance

The server of AIIMS Delhi was reportedly down from Wednesday afternoon till Thursday noon, causing inconvenience to doctors and patients at the hospital's emergency and outpatient departments. The AIIMS administration clarified on Thursday that "the AIIMS server and e-Hospital were shut down for maintenance". Doctors said they faced difficulties in accessing files and medical reports while the patients faced inconvenience in getting registrations and tests done. "The functioning of the emergency department and OPDs was disrupted as the server was down. The registration of new patients could not be done, reports of investigations could not be downloaded and investigations could not be carried as bar code was not being generated," a senior doctor claimed. He further said that interventions and surgeries that are dependent on blood reports and other diagnoses had to be postponed. The labs revived online services by Thursday noon. A patient who visited the hospital while the server wa

Just 3 nurses to take care of 60 babies at Nanded govt hospital: Congress

More than 60 infants were admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the government hospital in Maharashtra's Nanded city where 31 patients died in a span of 48 hours a few days ago, but there were only three nurses to take care of the babies, Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said on Tuesday. One warmer was used to treat three babies at a time and manpower at the Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital's NICU was of just three nurses, said the MLA from Bhokar in Nanded district. Chavan was speaking to the media after attending a party meeting here in central Maharashtra. "When I visited the (NICU) ward after the incident (of 24 patients dying in a single day and 7 more in the next 24 hours) in the government-run hospital (in Nanded), I saw one warmer being used to treat three infants at a time. Just three nurses were taking care of more than 60 infants in the ward," he said. Chavan said the hospital, named after his late ...

FIR registered against Nanded govt hospital dean, doctor on homicide charge

Police have registered an FIR against the acting dean and a doctor of a government hospital in Maharashtra's Nanded district, where 31 patients died in 48 hours, on the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, an official said on Thursday. The case was lodged against Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital's acting dean S R Wakode and a head paediatrician, following a complaint by a person in connection with the death of his daughter and her newborn child at the facility, he said. They were booked under Indian Penal Code sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 34 (common intention), the official said. As many as 31 deaths, including those of infants, were recorded at the hospital in 48 hours since September 30. Six more deaths were recorded at the facility from October 2 to 3, according to officials. As per the FIR, 21-year-old pregnant woman Anjali was taken to the hospital at around 8 pm on September 30. She delivered a baby

Six more deaths reported at Nanded govt hospital in 24 hours: Official

Six more deaths were recorded in 24 hours at the Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital in central Maharashtra's Nanded city, an official said on Wednesday. The deceased patients included two prematurely born babies, the hospital official said. The development came amid the furore caused by the report of 31 patients dying at the hospital in 48 hours earlier this week. "Another six critical patients died from October 2 to 3. The two babies among them were born prematurely. The other four deaths took place due to the reasons such as renal failure and multiple organ failure," the official told PTI. As many as 221 new patients were admitted to the hospital from October 2 to 3, as per an official release. Currently 823 patients are being treated at the hospital, it said.

Odisha nods proposal to expand coverage of infra scheme to govt hospitals

The Odisha government has approved a proposal to expand the coverage of a scheme to all health centres to improve infrastructure in these facilities in four years, an official said on Wednesday. The state government had earlier decided to transform 147 health facilities under the Ama Hospital scheme in the first phase. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the state Health and Family Welfare Department said, "After careful consideration, #Odisha government is pleased to accord in-principle approval for expansion of #AmaHospital scheme" to all district and sub-divisional hospitals, community and primary health centres in the state in the next four years. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has "approved expansion of the scheme to all government health facilities", the official said. These health facilities would be renovated in different phases in the next four years, he said. 'Ama Hospital' is a scheme of the government to improve infrastructure and ensure enough manpower in the state-run ...

Nagpur govt hospital reports death of 14 patients in 24 hours, other logs 9

A government-run hospital in Maharashtra's Nagpur has reported the death of 14 patients in 24 hours, while another state-run medical facility in the city has recorded nine fatalities during the same period, officials said on Wednesday. These figures were shared by the authorities of these hospitals close on the heels of the death of 31 patients in 48 hours at Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital in Nanded between September 30 and October 2, and 18 deaths reported at a government-run hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in a 24-hour period. The Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Nagpur reported 14 deaths in 24 hours ending 8 am on Wednesday, an official of the hospital said. GMCH Dean Dr Raj Gajbhiye said the hospital has a capacity of 1,900 beds and the death of average 10 to 12 patients is reported there daily. "The patients who die at the hospital are mostly those who are last-minute referrals and requiring Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission.

12 newborns among 24 dead in Maharashtra's govt hospital. Details here

A senior doctor said the hospital faced difficulty due to transfers of staff and could not buy medicines

24 patients, including 12 newborns, die in Maharashtra hospital in a day

The dean of the govt hospital blamed staff shortage and said that some deaths took place due to unknown poisoning reasons

G20 meet: 3 private hospitals among 8 medical facilities put on high alert

Five government hospitals and three private medical facilities have been put on "high alert" in view of the upcoming G20 Summit in the national capital, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has said. The Delhi health department has formed 80 teams of doctors and nursing staff, who will serve guests staying at hotels. Out of these teams, 75 teams will work in shifts, officials said on Wednesday. Bharadwaj convened a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat to take stock of healthcare arrangements in view of the Summit scheduled to be held from September 9 to 10. "In light of the G20 Summit, the Delhi government has placed five major government hospitals and three private hospitals on high alert to ensure the healthcare arrangements are in place. These include primarily Lok Nayak Hospital, GB Pant Hospital, GTB Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, and Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, along with private facilities Primus Hospital Chanakyapuri, Max Hospital Saket, and Manipal Hospital Dwarka,

Free services at government hospitals in Maharashtra from Tuesday

Free treatment and screening or testing facilities became available at government hospitals in Maharashtra from Tuesday, officials said. An order to this effect had been issued on Saturday. All services at the hospitals run by both the state government and civic bodies will be free, it said. But the order is not applicable to hospitals under the control of the Maharashtra Medical Education and Research Department. A complaint can be lodged on toll-free number 104 if a government hospital covered under the order charges a fee. Among other things, common tests and screenings such as X-ray, ECG, blood tests and CT scans will be free. If medicines are not available at the OPD, they shall be purchased locally (by the hospital) and given to patients, the order said.

Centre-run hospitals asked to prescribe generic medicines only: Mandaviya

The government aims to open 10,000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) by March to improve the common man's access to generic medicines, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told the Lok Sabha on Friday. Till June 30, 9,512 PMBJKs have been opened across the country. The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 prescribes that every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters, he said in a written response to a question in the House. The Directorate General of Health Services has directed all Centre-run hospitals to prescribe generic medicines only. Similar instructions also have been issued to all CGHS doctors and wellness centres. Under the free drug initiative of the National Health Mission (NHM), support is provided for provision of essential generic drugs free of cost in public health facilities. In order to promote the PMBJP scheme, the Department of Pharmaceuti