RxPG News : Latest Medical, Healthcare and Research News

Swine flu scare hits Chandigarh school attendance

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:38:01 PST

( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Chandigarh, Nov 21 - A swine flu scare among students here has led to a sudden fall in attendance in schools and colleges in this union territory. Screening of students is done every morning by their class teachers and suspected cases are sent home. Over 500 students studying at various schools here were sent back after they exhibited flu-like symptoms. So far, 675 suspected cases of swine flu have been reported in Chandigarh hospitals, of which over 115 tested positive. The positive cases included over 50 students. Four private schools and two engineering colleges of Chandigarh, were closed down after their students reported flu-like symptoms. 'We have clearly directed the school authorities to check every child properly. We know that there is a fall in attendance but we cannot take any chances. We have also told the schools to postpone or reschedule the exams or unit tests for ailing students,' said an official of education department. According to the guidelines issued to city schools, if three or more students test positive from different classes of the same school, then the authorities are to close down the premises for at least one week. Meanwhile, two new cases of influenza A - virus were reported here Saturday. They included a Class 7 student, 'We are keeping a close tab on the situation. Overall, the situation is under control and there is no need to panic. Our health officials are also well-equipped to tackle any emergency,' nodal officer for swine flu H.C. Gera told IANS.

http://www.rxpgnews.com

Schema therapy offers hope for mental disorder patients

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:23:40 PST

( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Patients coping with mental disorders can now look forward to major changes in their lives through an innovative treatment called Schema Therapy -. Schema therapists help patients change their entrenched, self-defeating life patterns - or schemas - using cognitive, behavioural, and emotion-focused techniques. Three major outcome studies have shown that many patients with 'borderline personality disorder' - can fully recover across the complete spectrum of symptoms. In one study, ST was shown to be more than twice as effective in bringing about full recovery as a widely-practiced traditional treatment. It was also found to be more cost-effective and to have a much lower dropout rate. In a second study, group ST led to even stronger outcomes than those in the previous investigation over a briefer period with a zero percent drop out rate and a recovery rate of 94 percent over an eight month period. A third study, now in press, shows that individual ST can be successfully implemented in regular mental health care settings with no loss of effectiveness. While other specialised treatments for BPD have demonstrated empirical support, all but ST have serious limitations in their impact on patients' functioning and quality of life, says a release of the International Society of Schema Therapy. Dutch investigators, including Josephine Giesen-Bloo and Arnoud Arntz, were associated with the study along with Joan Farrell, Ida Shaw and Michael Webber of the Indiana University School of Medicine. The first of these studies was reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry, published by the American Medical Association, the second published in the Journal of Behavioural Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry and the third will soon be appearing in Behaviour Research and Therapy. These findings will be published by the Cambridge University Press this year.

http://www.rxpgnews.com

Bihar doctors continue strike despite rights panel's threat

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:02:36 PST

( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Patna, Nov 21 - Bihar's junior doctors, whose strike for increased stipend entered its 12th day Saturday, have decided to continue the stir despite the state human rights commission's threat to file criminal cases against them. The doctors said the strike would continue till an amicable settlement is reached with the Bihar government. 'We are not going to call off the strike till the government issues a notification to fulfil our demands,' Junior Doctors Association leader Dheeraj Kumar said. The junior doctors' decision comes despite the state human rights commission's direction Thursday to the Bihar government to file criminal cases against them and initiate steps for cancelling their registrations. 'The state government is yet to order the concerned authorities to initiate action against the striking doctors following the state human rights commission directive,' an official in the health department said. Unconfirmed reports said the state health department has ordered the Patna Medical College and Hospital - and the Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital - to give the striking junior doctors 24-hours notice to return to duty or face stern action. Emergency services have been hit and surgeries have been postponed in the two hospitals. An official said the state government has submitted a list to the rights commission of more than 100 patients who have died during the strike.

http://www.rxpgnews.com

Uttar Pradesh to run new medical colleges under PPP

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:27:12 PST

( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Lucknow, Nov 20 - The six new medical colleges and two para-medical colleges coming up in Uttar Pradesh would be run under a public-private partnership - arrangement. A decision to this effect was taken by the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mayawati here Friday. The medical colleges with a capacity of 100 MBBS seats in each, are being set up in Azamgarh, Kannauj, Jalaun, Ambedkar Nagar, Banda and Saharanpur, while two schools for para-medical studies are coming up in Jhansi and Saifai -. According to an official spokesman, 'most of these colleges are in an advanced stage of construction'. He said: 'The decision to entrust the running of these institutions to private entrepreneurs under a PPP arrangement was taken in the wake of increasing shortage of teaching faculty in most medical institutions.' The modalities of the PPP model and the award of necessary contracts would however be worked out later. This would be the first of its kind arrangement in the field of medical education. Similar models were being worked out for setting up new polytechnics and industrial training institutes.

http://www.rxpgnews.com

India to have guidelines for probiotic food by 2010

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:35:04 PST

( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, Nov 20 - Scientists Friday said that the government was in the process of formulating guidelines for regulation of probiotic foods, which have flooded the Indian markets, and the guidelines would be in place by January 2010. A task force set up by the Indian Council of Medical Research - is formulating the guidelines that would ensure product safety, quality, reliability and level playing for all companies introducing probiotic products. 'Probiotic food is an emerging category in India and with the number of probiotic foods making a foray into Indian market, it becomes imperative to establish guidelines to regulate them,' said N.K. Ganguly, former director general of ICMR. Ganguly, who was speaking at the Third India Probiotic Symposium here, said these guidelines would have a provision for assessment of efficacy, safety and health claims made by the probiotic foods that are being launched and would define a set of parameters required for a product to be classified as probiotic. 'Stringent labelling of the probiotic product, shelf life and storage conditions would prevent companies from misleading the consumers,' he said. Probiotics are dietary supplements of live micro-organisms considered to be good for health. Explaining the benefits of probiotic food, Gregor Reid, former president of the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics, said: 'Besides playing an important role in digestive, immunological and respiratory functions, probiotics could have a significant effect on alleviation of infectious diseases in children, women and other high risk groups.'

http://www.rxpgnews.com

CII launches toll free helpline on HIV/AIDS

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:17:14 PST

( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, Nov 20 - In a bid to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS, the Confederation of Indian Industriy - Friday announced the launch of a toll free helpline in four languages. Making the announcement at a discussion organised by the International Labour Organisation -, Delhi State Aids Control Society - and the CII here, Meenakshi Dhanda of the CII said that the helpline will be in four langauges - Hindi, English, Urdu and Punjabi. 'This initiative's aim is to spread awareness among as many people as we possibly can, therefore we have the helpline in four different languages. One can dial 1800-180-2008 or 0172-266217 to speak to the counsellors and seek information regarding HIV/AIDS,' Dhanda said. 'CII has trained 38,500 people through workshops and infotainment in order to strengthen corporate responsibility for a safer tomorrow. In addition, 463 professionals have been trained on Anti Retroviral Therapy - and 233 corporate members are signatory to the HIV policy for CII,' she added. P. Joshina, training and advocacy officer at ILO, said that 90 percent of HIV infections in India spread during the most productive age of 15-49 years. Therefore a person infected with the disease must not be asked to leave his or her workplace. 'The national policy on HIV/AIDS released by the ministry of labour is a testimony to right to work for people suffering from the disease. The corporates must undertake HIV/AIDS awareness programmes within the organisation, and broaden its domains by reaching out to its supply chain and community at large,' Joshina said.

http://www.rxpgnews.com

Nearly 50 percent of Indian women marry before 18: Unicef

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:45:43 PST

( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, Nov 20 - India has a legislation prohibiting child marriage, but latest household surveys indicate that 47 percent of women, who are now aged 20-24 years, were married before the legal age of 18, a Unicef report released Friday said. The survey also found that nearly 16 percent of men, who are now aged 20-49, were also married as minors. The special edition of the Unicef State of the World Children Report was launched here Friday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child - by the UN General Assembly. India ratified the convention in 1992. 'The 2005-2006 National Family Health Survey shows sharp divergences in access to essential services and key development outcomes across ethnic, gender and wealth strata. These disparities extend to child protection, given the country's moderate rate of birth registration - and high rate of child marriage,' the report said. The report also says that fewer under-five children are dying as the mortality has fallen from 117 births per 100 in 1990 to 72 in 2007. More children have access to improved drinking water, rising from 62 percent in 1992-1993 to 88 percent in 2005-2006. School enrolments have also gone up from 1992-93 to 2005-06. The report finds that attendance rates for girls aged 6 to 10 have increased from 61 to 81 percent, 'helping raise the gender parity rate for primary education from 0.82 percent to 0.96 percent'. India's progress reflects a global phenomenon of change towards realising the rights of children, Karin Holshof, Unicef India representative, said while releasing the report. The report also outlines India's challenges, saying that social problems hindering realistion of child rights 'can't be overcome overnight'. 'It is uncertain how the 2008-2009 global fuel, food and economic crises will affect the country's social progress. As all three threaten to undermine India's economic growth, there is...

http://www.rxpgnews.com

Diabetes testing being made mandatory in India: Azad

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:42:47 PST

( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, Nov 20 - Blood tests to detect diabetes are likely to be made compulsory at health centres across India following the internationally followed 'opportunistic screening' norm. The scheme was in its pilot stage in 10 states, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Friday. 'The government has launched a National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke - on a pilot basis in 10 districts in 10 states which, among other things, seeks to facilitate early detection of this disease. This is in consonance with the internationally accepted strategy of opportunistic screening,' Azad told the Lok Sabha. According to the health ministry, the exact number of diabetics in India is not known but the World Health Organisation estimates that there were 32 million diabetics in India in 2004. India is estimated to have the largest number of diabetics - in the world by 2030, Azad said. 'An outlay of Rs.1,660.50 crore - has been allotted for NPDCS during 11th Five Year Plan which will cover the entire country eventually,' Azad informed.

http://www.rxpgnews.com

Rs.332-cr budget to check swine flu: Azad

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:33:58 PST

( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, Nov 20 - The central government has committed Rs.332.92 crore in various health measures to check the spread of Influenza A -, more commonly known as swine flu, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Friday. The first case of swine flu in the country was confirmed in May this year. 'The central government has so far spent or committed funds to the tune of Rs.332.92 crore -. Direct financial assistance to the states has been in the form of Oseltamivir supplied to the states and for training,' Azad told the Lok Sabha. The total swine flu toll in the country was 537 as of late Thursday. The contagious flu has infected more than 16,000 people. The central government has sent Central Rapid Response Teams to states like Punjab, Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to contain the pandemic. 'Since a large number of cases are now being reported from Rajasthan and Kerala, the Central Rapid Response Teams are visiting them,' Azad said. Forty-one laboratories have been made operational across the country for testing clinical samples, he added.

http://www.rxpgnews.com

India working well on child issues, but too slow: Unicef

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:40:44 PST

( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, Nov 20 - Progress on child issues is slow even though India has accomplished a great deal in ensuring the rights of children almost two decades after it ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child -, Unicef India representative Karin Holshof said Friday. 'All the pointers are in the right direction but progress - is too slow here -. For India to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and achieve what is in the 11th five year plan -, progress needs to be quicker and faster with more outreach into villages,' Holshof told reporters here. She was speaking at an event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of CRC by the UN General Assembly. India ratified the convention in 1992. 'Fewer under-five children are dying as the mortality has fallen from 117 births per 100 in 1990 to 72 in 2007. More children have access to improved drinking water, rising from 62 percent in 1992-1993 to 88 percent in 2005-2006,' Holshof said. She also said that school enrolments had gone up from 1992-93 to 2005-06. She informed: 'Attendance rates for girls aged six to 10 have increased from 61 to 81 percent.' India's progress also reflects a global phenomenon of change towards realising the rights of children, Holshof said. On the occasion, the special edition of the Unicef State of the World Children Report 2009 was launched by Planning Commission member Syeda Hameed. It says that annual deaths of children under five years has fallen from 12.5 million in 1990 to an estimated 8.8 million in 2008, representing a 28 percent decline in the under five mortality rate. The report reflected more success of the convention, which has been ratified by 193 countries on other fronts as well. Between 1990 and 2006, around 1.6 billion people worldwide gained access to improved water sources, the report said. Regarding protecting children from prostitution and soldier recruitments, the report says important steps have...

http://www.rxpgnews.com