80 per cent of HIV cases in Kerala can be traced to Mumbai: Survey : (30/06/03)

KOCHI - A recent survey conducted by the Kerala Government health department on Malayali HIV carriers has revealed that 80 percent of the HIV cases in Kerala can be traced to Mumbai. As the alarm bells are ringing on the increase in the number of Malayali HIV carriers in Mumbai, the Government has started a cross-border extensive study as part of creating an awareness among these people on the dreaded disease. Two non-governmental organisations (NGO), Enkay Foundation from Kerala and Avert in Maharashtra, were entrusted with the work of conducting an extensive study on the Malayalis living in Mumbai. Read more >>

(Courtesy The New Indian Express dated 30/06/03)

No plans to lease out Medical College campuses: Sankaran : (30/06/03)

KOZHIKODE: Health Minister P Sankaran has strongly denied reports, appeared in a section of newspapers recently, that the Government was planning to lease out campuses of Government Medical Colleges to private groups to start profitable ventures. Talking to mediapersons here, Sankaran claimed that he never made such a statement, which would affect the smooth functioning of Medical Colleges. Read more >>

(Courtesy The New Indian Express dated 30/06/03)

SUT hospital announces new projects in anvil : (30/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Sree Uthradom Thirunal Hospital (SUT), on its 16th anniversary, has announced various ambitious projects, including a diabetes care centre, a cancer care centre and a medical college. The SUT, in agreement with the Attukal Bhagwathy Temple Trust, was planning to set up the Attukal Bhagwathy SUT Hospital for Diabetes, SUT Managing Director Dr. Bharath Chandran said. Read more >>

(Courtesy The New Indian Express dated 30/06/03)

Kerala approves private participation in govt hospitals : (28/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala government has approved the policy of developing the basic infrastructure in its hospitals with private participation, health Minister P Sankaran told the State assembly on Thursday. Replying to a calling attention motion by Mathai Chacko (CPI-M) in the assembly, he said hospitals could not be developed without assistance from the private sector as the government was starved of funds. Read more >>

(Courtesy The New Indian Express dated 28/06/03)

Surgery schedules go haywire at MCH : (28/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The continued shut-down of one of the twin operation theatres at the Medical College Hospital for the past three months has led to massive cancellation and rescheduling of major cardiology, urology and casualty surgeries. According to highly-placed sources, the "B'' Operation Theatre, which deals with the bulk of the surgeries of these disciplines, has been closed for months together owing to the delay in the completion of a modernisation programme embarked upon on March 28. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 28/06/03)

Kerala Govt. fixes fee in medical colleges : (26/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday decided to fix the fee in self-financing medical colleges at Rs. 1.76 lakh a year. The Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, told presspersons that the Cabinet had approved the recommendations of the Committee of Government Secretaries in this regard. The managements would not be allowed to collect any other fee from students admitted on merit. (Last year, the Government had suggested a fee of Rs. 1.5 lakh a year). Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 26/06/03)

Medicine kit programme runs into opposition : (26/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Allopathic doctors are up in arms against a move to `force' them to distribute Ayurveda, Homoeo and Unani medicines through the sub-centres and primary health centres of the Health department as part of the Central Government's Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) programme. The Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association, (KGMOA) has gone on record alleging that by attempting to make practitioners of modern medicine prescribe Ayurveda or Unani medicines, the Central Government was trying to aid the backdoor entry of indigenous medicine systems into modern medicine. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 26/06/03)

It is anthrax : (25/06/03)

Koraput (Orissa) - The disease which has claimed three lives in Lamtaput block of Koraput district during the last fortnight has been confirmed as anthrax, according to a private hospital where the patients were treated. The specimen of the skin lesion on the patients had been sent to the Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore, Tamil Nadu, who confirmed it as anthrax, Manoj Jacob, physician at the Asha Kiran hospital at Lamtaput said. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 25/06/03)

KGMCTA expresses concern over exam row : (24/06/03)

KOTTAYAM - The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA) has expressed concern in the alleged move to turn highly specialised examinations being conducted by Medical Colleges into subjects for controversy, as it would affect the very credibility of the profession. Referring to the controversies over last year's examinations conducted by the Kerala University at the Alappuzha Medical College and the suicide of one of the medical students there, the KGMCTA leaders said that their inquiry into the matter had found that the teachers were not guilty. The Association has suggested concerted effort on the part of the Government, teachers and the parents to avoid such unfortunate incidents in future. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 24/06/03)

Govt hospitals run short of medicines : (24/05/03)

KOCHI - With monsoon playing havoc with the healthcare scenario of the city, government hospitals are faced with a double increase in the number of patients and a shortage of medicines. As the supply of medicines has met with a ‘procedural delay’ from the State officials, authorities of Government hospitals in city are trying all possible measures to ensure that patients are not affected by the shortage. Read more >>

(Courtesy The New Indian Express dated 24/05/03)

Children with low birth weights more prone to adult diseases : (22/06/03)

KOZHIKODE - Children with low birth weights (LBWs) – most of them born to malnourished mothers from the low-income group – are more prone to adult diseases like hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary heart diseases. Interestingly, the mothers of these children with LBWs were also found to have low weight at their birth, raising serious apprehensions on the possibility of the permanent existence of a large community susceptible to these diseases world over especially in the third world countries including India. Read more >>

(Courtesy The New Indian Express dated 22/06/03)

Doctors up in arms against Centre : (20/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - A showdown between Allopathic medicine and other indigenous medicine systems is on the cards with the doctors in the State vehemently opposing a move by the Centre to distribute Ayurveda, Homoeo and Unani medicines through the sub centres and primary health centres of the Health department, as part of the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) programme. The Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association (KGMOA), has gone on record to allege that by attempting to make practitioners of modern medicine prescribe Ayurveda or Unani medicines, the Central Government is trying to aid the backdoor entry of indigenous medicine systems into modern medicine. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 20/06/03)

Distribution of Ayurveda medicine kits opposed : (20/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) has urged the State and Central Governments to withdraw the proposed move of the Union Health Ministry to distribute Ayurveda and Unani medicines through sub centres under the Health Department as part of the Reproductive and Child Health Programme in nine States in the country. The KGMOA president, K. N. Prasad, told reporters here that the move was totally unscientific since the Health Department officials were unaware of the use of several Ayurvedic medicines. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 20/06/03)

Dialysis machines gifted to Kerala caught in red tape : (19/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Nine second-hand dialysis machines, gifted to hospitals in Kerala for treating the poor by a Germany-based Keralite, have been gathering dust for a month thanks to endless procedural delays from the customs department. Businessman Tom Valuvanathara had gifted dialysis machines to the state once before and the then E K Nayanar government had cleared them without a problem. His representative in the state, Thiruvallam Bhasi, told IANS, "We have been asked to provide the customs with an invoice or a purchase bill for verification for them to levy a five percent duty." Read more >>

(Courtesy The New Indian Express dated 19/06/03)

Self-financing medical colleges, panel for fixing fees at Rs 1.75 lakh : (19/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The high-level committee appointed by the Government for fixing the fees in the self-financing medical colleges in the State has fixed the annual fee for MBBS course at Rs 1.75 lakh. A final decision on this would taken later. The High Court had given time till June 30 for fixing the fee in self-financing medical colleges. However, the committee which met here on Tuesday felt that the annual fee for the self-financing medical colleges should not exceed Rs 2 lakh. Last year the fee was Rs 1.50 lakh. Read more >>

(Courtesy The New Indian Express dated 19/06/03)

Indigenous malaria cases resurface at Valiathura : (19/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - After a lull of about six years, fresh cases of indigenous malaria have been reported from the coastal area of Valiathura, posing a new threat to the health scenario in the city. Since January this year, 23 cases of indigenous malaria have been reported from Valiathura, according to the District Malaria Officer, R. Unnikrishnan. Of this, 11 cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria, four cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria and nine mixed cases were reported. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 19/06/03)

RCC gets high-energy linear accelerator : (17/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) has acquired a state-of-the-art High Energy Linear Accelerator, which is expected to vastly improve the treatment of deep-seated tumours in cancer patients. The Rs.7 crore high-end radiotherapy equipment is expected to transform radiotherapy schedules since it can specifically target tumours, which are both deep-seated and minuscule in size. The linear accelerator is scheduled to be formally commissioned by the Union Minister for Health and Parliamentary Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, in the first week of July. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 17/06/03)

Steps to tackle dengue, malaria intensified : (16/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - With the imminent onset of the monsoon, the district administration has stepped up its efforts to prevent the possible outbreak of infectious diseases like malaria, dengue and various forms of viral fever. According to the District Medical Officer (DMO), K.Shailaja, measures to control vectors like mosquitoes and rodents are in full swing. Fogging operations are at present focussed in the coastal area of Valiathura and also in several areas under the City Corporation. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 16/06/03)

Kochi set to become country's first blood literate city : (16/06/03)

KOCHI - Kochi is all set to become the first Blood Literate City in the country as the Corporation of Cochin, Kochi chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Blood Bank and Government Health Department join hands to write a success story out of a novel project. Estimated to cost around Rs. 30 lakh, this five-year phased plan involves testing the blood groups of all citizens under the Corporation fallong in the age group of 15 to 50 and preparing a complete list of persons who will volunteer to donate blood in an emergency. Read more >>

(Courtesy The New Indian Express dated 16/06/03)

Department of Orthopedics condcuts tele-conferencing : (15/06/03)

The Department of Orthopedics in Medical College Trivandrum successfully conducted a tele-conferencing case discussion with The Amrita Institute of Science and Technology yesterday. The event was organised by Dr. Sameer Badaruddin ('95 Batch). The satellite link was provided by the I. S. R. O. Congratulations for the Dept. of Ortho!

(Courtesy Sameer)

Rabies diagnostic laboratory at Palode : (15/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The first rabies diagnostic laboratory in the State, being set up at the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals (IAH & VB) at Palode, near here, will be inaugurated on June 16. According to a statement from the institute here today, the laboratory will be inaugurated by Agriculture Minister K.R.Gowri followed by a scientific seminar on `Current trends in disease control.' Read more >>

(Courtesy The New Indian Express dated 15/06/03)

HIV spread from chimps to man, say researchers : (14/06/03)

WASHINGTON - The ancestry of the virus that caused the AIDS epidemic has been traced to two strains of virus found in monkeys in Africa. The viruses probably passed into chimpanzees when the apes ate infected monkey meat, researchers say. Earlier studies have shown that HIV1, the virus that causes the most common form of human AIDS, originated from a simian immunodeficiency virus, or SIV, that is found in chimpanzees. But how chimps came to have SIV has been a mystery. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 14/06/03)

Health Department's monsoon alert : (14/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The district health administration has sounded a monsoon alert on the possible outbreak of leptospirosis, dengue, malaria, cholera and other diarrhoeal disorders. An official release from the District Medical Officer, K. Shailaja, said major diseases could be avoided by resorting to simple measures. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 14/06/03)

Govt plans to recruit 395 doctors : (14/06/03)

KOZHIKODE - Health Minister P Sankaran has said the Government was actively considering recruitment of doctors, to fill the existing 395 vacancies in the State. "The Government has appointed 600 doctors through the PSC during the last two years. The fresh recruitment of 395 doctors would mean 12 specialty units each in district hospitals, eight each in taluk hospitals and five each in primary health centres." The Minister was inaugurating the state-level Tuberculosis Prevention Programme at the Town Hall here on Thursday. Read more >>

(Courtesy The New Indian Express dated 14/06/03)

'MBBS graduates must serve in State for 2 years' : (13/06/03)

KOZHIKODE - The Health Minister, P. Sankaran, today said that the Government would make it compulsory for State MBBS graduates to put in two years of service within Kerala. Inaugurating the State-level Tuberculosis (TB) Disease Control Programme here, Mr. Sankaran said that this rule would be applicable for those medical graduates who return after higher studies from abroad. He said that the Government would formulate Kerala Medical Practitioners Act by codifying all other existing medical laws. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 13/06/03)

Sanitation, vector-control measures to be stepped up : (11/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Gearing up for the rainy season ahead, the City Corporation has drawn up an action plan to intensify sanitation and vector-control activities at the ward level. The programme assumes significance in the light of the Health Department's revelation that Thiruvananthapuram is emerging as a hotspot for various communicable diseases like malaria and dengue fever. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 11/06/03)

Report sought on stocks of expired medicines at MCH : (11/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Medical College Hospital authorities are learnt to have sought a preliminary report on the unearthing of large quantities of date-expired medicines and other discards which were heaped inside a godown on the campus the other day. The medicine stocks were found in a dumping room located behind the Dental College. The space was being used to dump all sorts of discarded hospital wastes, ranging from drugs to linen and condemned materials. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 11/06/03)

Focus on arthritis : (11/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - An interactive awareness session on various types of arthritis was held here on Sunday to clear common misconceptions about the disorder. The programme, `Meet-the-Doctor', was organised at the Kesari Memorial Hall. Responding to queries from the audience, the Medical College Hospital Superintendent, Mathew Thomas, explained that contrary to popular belief that arthritis was a single disease, there were several disorders that come under the group of arthritic ailments. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 11/06/03)

Action against illegal scan centres : (10/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The functioning of unauthorised scan centres, which might be aiding the selective elimination of female foetuses, will be restricted, the Health Minister, P. Sankaran, has said. Inaugurating the third phase of the State-level family health awareness programme here today, he said steps were being taken to improve the facilities in at all health centres in the State, including Medical Colleges. Steps would also be taken to make available specialist doctors at Medical Colleges. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 10/06/03)

Epidemic control exercise : (09/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The District Medical Officer, K. Shailaja, has said there will be an outbreak of epidemics in the city if public awareness about diseases is not created and there is an increased need for hygiene among the public. Dr. Shailaja told a news conference here on Saturday that Dengue fever, malaria and cholera were some of the common diseases that might reach epidemic scales. Improper disposal of waste, lack of potable water and high density of population made disease control difficult for the Government. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 09/06/03)

SCTIMST plans national diagnostic testing centre : (09/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) is working towards establishing a national testing centre for a whole range of bio-materials and medical devices, it is learnt. While the tertiary care institution, which deals with the cardiology and neurology streams, already has investigative facilities that are on a par with international standards, there is now a growing need for coining a gold standard so as to benefit both the industry as well as the patient community, sources say. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 09/06/03)

Clinical Club at MCH to be revamped : (07/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The clinical club at the Medical College, which serves as a forum for clinicians and students to review rare medical cases, is being revamped to encourage participation of senior doctors and unit chiefs. As old as the premier institution itself (1951), the clinical club meetings have been held on Tuesdays as part of a time-bound tradition. The hour-long meetings, organised under the auspices of the Medical College's General Medicine Department, turn out to be brainstorming sessions where rare cases, diagnostic problems and management challenges are discussed. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 07/06/03)

Special teams to tackle Dengue : (06/06/03)

KOZHIKODE - The Health Minister, P. Sankaran, has said special medical teams have been constituted in every district to tackle Dengue fever in the State. The Minister said here today that these teams were supplied with medical kits--each worth Rs. 14,000 and sufficient to treat about 80 persons. He had directed the Director of Medical Education (DME) and Director of Health Services (DHS) to take appropriate action to check the spread of the disease. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 06/06/03)

Medical super speciality admission : (06/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Applications have been invited for admission to the post- graduate medical super speciality courses for the year 2002, in the medical colleges at Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Kozhikode. The courses offered are M.Ch. in Paediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Genito-Urinary Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Neuro Surgery and Gastro Enterology Surgery and DM in Cardiology, Gastro Enterology, Neurology and Nephrology. Read more >>

(Courtesy The Hindu dated 06/06/03)

All-India medical allotment : (05/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Those students who have secured the first 2,000 ranks in the all India pre-medical and pre-dental admission test conducted by the CBSE can avail of the facility to authorise the two liaison officers appointed by the State Government to represent them at the first stage of allotment to be held in New Delhi from June 18 to 28. Read more >>

(Courtesy The New Indian Express dated 05/06/03)

Schemes for hospital waste disposal : (05/06/03)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Minister for Health, P. Sankaran, said here on Wednesday that facilities for disposal of hospital wastes would be set up at Nooranad, Koratti and Pariyaram. The Minister told presspersons that the facilities would be built by the private sector on build-operate-and-transfer (BOT) basis. Read more >>

(Courtesy The New Indian Express dated 05/06/03)

State under epidemic threat, says Health dept survey : (02/06/03)