Articles by Somita Pal
Now, BMC to provide tetra milk packets in all civic-run hospitals
A BMC official said initially, the civic body thought of going ahead with the procurement of milk packets. “It took us four months before we decided to go ahead with tetra packs, as they are easy to store and can be used as per the day’s requirement.”
Updated on Nov 27, 2023 08:18 AM IST
Helium gas used to revive MRI machine at busy Nair hospital
Dr Sudhir Medhekar, dean, said MRI services will be given to hospitalised patients on priority and those in emergency. The 1600-bed civic run hospital’s radiology department conducts MRI of 30 people including inpatient, emergency services and outpatients each day.
Updated on Nov 24, 2023 09:14 AM IST
BMC announces ‘zero prescription policy’ in its hospitals
The BMC in Mumbai has announced a 'zero prescription policy' that will allow patients to obtain all necessary medicines from civic hospitals, eliminating the need to purchase them from outside drug stores. The BMC's central purchase department has expanded its list of procured items from 1,000 to 4,000, covering medicines, drugs, and surgical items. The move comes after an inquiry into the artificial shortage of medicines at BMC-run hospitals, which forced patients to buy them externally. The BMC aims to become the first municipal corporation in India to implement such a policy.
Updated on Nov 24, 2023 08:54 AM IST
State fast tracks SoBo medical college proposal
The state medical education department in Mumbai has ordered the Public Works Department to vacate a 12-storey building in GT Hospital to make way for a new state-run medical college. The building, currently occupied by various state departments, will be emptied in 15 days. The new medical college will be in addition to 13 other state-run medical colleges recently approved by the state, in an effort to improve healthcare infrastructure and address the shortage of doctors.
Updated on Nov 22, 2023 08:08 AM IST
Gas leakage and cylinder blast in Bandra injures 10
The Fitter Gully area is part of thousands of shanties, mostly ground-plus-one structures. According to the Mumbai fire brigade, the fire was confined to the electric wiring, electric installation and a stock of clothes in a 10ft-by-10ft house
Updated on Nov 19, 2023 06:34 AM IST
Govt revives plan for medical college in south Mumbai
The state medical education department plans to revive a proposal to set up a new state-run medical college in south Mumbai, with a capacity for 100 students. The proposal has faced delays due to lack of political will. Currently, Mumbai has only one state-run medical college.
Updated on Nov 19, 2023 06:30 AM IST
Powai resident injured in Bandra Worli Sea Link accident passes away
56-year-old Powai resident injured in BWSL accident on Nov 9, died on Nov 15 at Lilavati Hospital. Driver also injured, recovering. Accused driver booked.
Updated on Nov 17, 2023 06:52 AM IST
‘Address mental health crisis in Maha’s resident docs’
MARD demands waiver of penalty for resident doctors with mental health issues; highlights toxic work culture and long hours as reasons for mental health crisis.
Updated on Nov 17, 2023 06:28 AM IST
Data shows rise in mental health related deaths in the state
All 26 deaths in 2019 were due to schizophrenia and delusional disorders. But in subsequent years, mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use constituted a major reason for death
Updated on Nov 16, 2023 05:19 PM IST
Mumps outbreak in Mumbai’s poorer areas causes worry
The mumps virus spreads through direct contact with infected saliva or through respiratory droplets from an infected person’s nose, mouth or throat. While there is no definitive treatment, patients are given medicines to treat body ache and fever, asked to apply cold or warm compresses on their swollen salivary glands and drink plenty of water and fluids
Updated on Nov 14, 2023 06:40 AM IST
Mankhurd slum pocket gets a promise of good health
The mohalla clinic is the city’s first community initiative, along the lines of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s 2015 drive to offer quality healthcare to the vulnerable section for a nominal fee. The clinic in the Mankhurd neighbourhood was started in the first week of October to meet the acute demand of primary healthcare in the area
Updated on Nov 13, 2023 05:30 AM IST
Work on new block at JJ Hospital hit due to RMC shortage
The hospital is supposed to have four wings, of which two are supposed to be ready by June 2024, said the official. The deadline for the entire project is August 2025
Updated on Nov 11, 2023 07:38 AM IST
FDA issues stop work notice to Burn-Bar & Kitchen in BKC
However, the restaurant remained open even after the FDA issued a stop-work notice on Tuesday. Shubham Pandey, manager, Burn-Bar & Kitchen, said they have not received any FDA notice. “There was no FDA inspection and no stop work notice served to us,” Pandey said
Updated on Nov 08, 2023 08:44 AM IST
In a first, Tata Memorial Hospital to set up Ayurveda-based cancer hospital in Khopoli
Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai will become the first cancer hospital in India to offer Ayurveda treatment with the establishment of a 100-bed facility in Khopoli. The hospital plans to integrate Ayurveda with modern medicine and will also grow its own medicinal plants for research purposes. The hospital has received funding of INR300 crore ($39.8m) from the Department of Atomic Energy for the project. The facility is expected to be operational by 2026 and will also provide standard cancer treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Updated on Nov 07, 2023 07:34 AM IST
Jarange-Patil hospitalised with swelling in kidneys
Jarange-Patil had called off his hunger strike after giving the Shinde government a two-month ultimatum to address the issue of Maratha reservations. The activist was placed under the care of Dr Vinod Chaware at the Aurangabad Hospital at 10:15 pm on Friday
Updated on Nov 04, 2023 07:24 AM IST
How transpersons are finding their unique voice
Persons who are born male but identify as female face severe challenges with their voice, and surgeries can play a crucial role in helping them get integrated into the society
Updated on Oct 30, 2023 06:41 PM IST
Yavatmal man with rare blood group system donates his own blood for open-heart surgery
A 50-year-old man in Yavatmal, India, who has a rare blood group system, had to donate his own blood for an open-heart surgery due to a lack of compatible donors.
Updated on Oct 28, 2023 08:18 AM IST
Somita Pal, Mumbai
To restart CPS courses or not: Two ministers fight it out
A fight between two senior cabinet ministers has erupted over attempts to restart courses offered by the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS). The decision to de-recognise CPS courses was taken by the former medical education secretary, Ashwini Joshi, after irregularities were found in its affiliated institutions. CPS has challenged the de-recognition in court. The medical education department is reportedly rethinking the decision. The Maharashtra Medical Council has justified the action against CPS, claiming that none of its affiliated institutions are teaching hospitals.
Updated on Oct 28, 2023 07:38 AM IST
Keep record of drug invoices: FDA to chemists
After the death of the man, his wife had written to the FDA to institute an inquiry, following which the regulator recalled all the injections (500 mg /10 ml) manufactured by Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd, from across the country
Updated on Oct 26, 2023 08:08 AM IST
Bandra’s Papa Pancho reopens following FDA clearance
Papa Pancho, which was known for its Punjabi cuisine, was issued temporary closure notice on August 18 after the regulatory body found multiple instances of non-compliance, ranging from absent water analysis and food safety reports to incomplete staff medical records
Updated on Oct 21, 2023 08:16 AM IST
Gorai resort continues to operate despite MPCB stop-work notice
The notice by MPCB identified five non-compliances, with the major focus being on the absence of the mandatory CRZ clearance. It also highlighted the resort’s failure to seek MPCB’s permission before commencing operations with 40 rooms apart from its lack of appropriate waste disposal mechanisms
Updated on Oct 19, 2023 07:56 AM IST
FDA shuts CCD, five other restaurants
The FDA launched the drive against restaurants in August after bank executive Anurag Singh filed a police complaint after finding a rat in his dish at Papa Pancho Da Dhaba at Bandra West
Updated on Oct 18, 2023 07:46 AM IST
Months after SC order, BMC yet to appoint custodian for living wills
As per the SC order, a person desirous of creating a living will has to notarise two copies of it. While one copy remains with the person who is supposed to take decisions on the will maker’s behalf, the other has to be sent to the local civic body custodian. During the execution of the will, this has to be shown to the doctor by the proxy holder, who will then verify it with the custodian’s copy
Updated on Oct 17, 2023 08:12 AM IST
Cou Cou, 8 other restaurants shut down after FDA inspection
Nine high-end restaurants in Mumbai, including Cou Cou By Oberoi, were shut down following a surprise raid by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA found violations relating to pest control, medical fitness certificates and auditing records. Cou Cou by Oberoi claimed a notice was issued in error and that it was intended for another restaurant. The FDA has inspected 152 restaurants, closed 15 eateries and collected fines totaling INR 170,000 ($2,600) in the past two months.
Updated on Oct 17, 2023 07:58 AM IST
Patients, students of BYL Nair Hospital in a fix over MRI machine breakdown
While patients are suffering, radiology students too suffer, apart from revenue loss to the BMC. The private MRI centre is charging BMC ₹2,400 per scan. “It is a revenue loss of ₹72,000 per day for MRI and ₹60,000 for CT scan per day. Instead of purchasing the new MRI, which will cost ₹30-35 crore, BMC is now planning to get helium gas for ₹25 lakh which will make the old machine functional for another three to four months,” the official said
Updated on Oct 16, 2023 07:38 AM IST
After medicines, shortage of TB testing cartridges sparks concern
CBNAAT (cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification testing) is an automated cartridge-based molecular technique that detects multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) and resistance to the first-line drug rifampicin within two hours
Updated on Oct 15, 2023 06:20 AM IST
Special lectures for medical students with low attendance to qualify them for exams
Nearly 180 medical students in Mumbai who were at risk of not being allowed to appear for exams due to lack of attendance have been given another chance. The administration of Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital has started special lectures and tutorials to help them qualify for the exams. The students need 75% attendance to sit theory papers and 80% attendance for practical sessions. Many students were found to have attendance as low as 35-40%. The decision to hold special lectures is intended to help the students and not to penalize them, according to the dean of the college.
Updated on Oct 13, 2023 07:14 AM IST
Thane man takes to X as last resort to get TB drug
A drug-resistant tuberculosis patient from Thane, India, had to resort to social media to receive delamanid, a new drug for TB treatment, after it was unavailable for more than a month. The patient's plea on social media went viral, and officials from a TB center reached out to provide the medicine. However, there is a shortage of delamanid and other TB drugs in Mumbai and Maharashtra, highlighting the urgent need for the government to address the issue. The lack of uninterrupted drug supply poses a risk of developing further drug resistance and disease transmission.
Updated on Oct 11, 2023 09:14 AM IST
Somita Pal, Mumbai
180 medical students to miss exams for low attendance
Around 180 medical students from two colleges in Mumbai are at risk of not being allowed to take exams due to lack of attendance. The students have approached various channels to request permission to sit for the exams. The colleges have cited attendance criteria and the importance of attending classes for clinical and practical knowledge as reasons for not allowing the students to take the exams.
Updated on Oct 10, 2023 06:10 AM IST
Restore DMER’s centrality in purchase of medicines and recruitment of staff
The recent high death toll at a government hospital in Nanded, India, has highlighted the shortcomings of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) in the state's healthcare system. The DMER's powers were curtailed in 2014, resulting in issues such as shortages of medical staff and medicines. Previously, the DMER was responsible for purchasing medicines and equipment for government-run hospitals, but its role was reduced and two separate purchasing authorities were created. The government has now granted district collectors and deans increased purchasing power to address the issues. However, some experts argue that a centralised purchase system would be more effective. Additionally, there is a shortage of professors at medical colleges in the state, with faculty members being transferred to colleges to meet inspection requirements.
Updated on Oct 07, 2023 07:58 AM IST