Category: Health

Health

Private medical centres, labs continue to fleece patients

Editor

The tall claims of the government of providing better health facilities at the doorsteps of people exist only on papers as poor patients continue to depend on private medical centres, clinics and laboratories even for conducting simple tests by paying exorbitant charges. A heavy rush of patients mostly from far-flung areas can be seen at these private medical centres near government hospitals in different localities in the winter capital. “There is no care for poor patients like us in the government-run hospitals, which are generally overcrowded. The tests like CT…

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Honey can save lives by destroying harmful fungus

Editor

Scientists have discovered a powerful link between a medicinal type of honey and the destruction of a fungus that can cause blindness or even death. In the first-of-its-kind study, Zain Habib Alhindi, from University of Manchester in UK used different concentrations of Surgihoney, a biologically engineered honey that produces chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen, to test how effective it could be in destroying the fungus Fusarium. Fusarium is found on plants and in soil and can cause devastating infections in vulnerable people. Alhindi discovered even the lowest concentrations had a…

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Docs serving at Kashmir’s busiest maternity hospital a troubled lot

Editor

Lalla Ded Hospital staff seek psychiatric help and counseling to cope with pressure When Dr Sahrain Bhat (name changed) was examining a patient at Lalla Ded Hospital, the Valley’s major maternity centre, she received a kick on her abdomen. The doctor, who was 10 weeks pregnant, rushed downstairs in pain to get her own ultrasound done. Though everything was fine, doctors in the hospital are often on the receiving end of the attendant’s fury. The stress of work only adds to their miseries. The 500-bed hospital receives around 700-800 patients…

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Banned, substandard spices being sold in Valley

Editor

4.5 quintal spices destroyed in Srinagar markets DFCO cracks whip on traders, issues notices A major health hazard for common people cannot be ruled out in Kashmir valley as many traders have been found selling banned and substandard spices, KP has learnt. According to officials sources the large quantity of open substandard spices have been imported in Kashmir by unknown manufactures in gunny bags without proper permission and packaging. “There is a big mafia working in the valley who are transporting the banned spices to valley markets. These spices are not…

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29% people in JK get untreated tap water: NITI Aayog

Editor

In a shocking disclosure, around 29.2 percent populace in Jammu and Kashmir are being supplied untreated tap water, a survey by NITI Aayog reveals. According to data released by NITI Aayog, Jammu and Kashmir has around 2 million consumers registered with JK’s Public Health Engineering (PHE) department. The report mentions that of the total 20,15,088 consumers, only 63.8 percent have access to tap water. It further states that out of this only 34.7 percent get water from treated sources. The remaining 29.2 percent are provided water from the untreated sources.…

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Cancer on surge in Kashmir

Editor

SKIMS registers 4800 patients this year so far, Lung cancer on rise among men With cancer emerging as a major health threat across the world, Kashmir is witnessing a surge in the number of cases in the past few years with lung cancer topping the list. According to official data available at Regional Cancer Centre, Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, the number of registered patients has shown an alarming surge during past few years; more than 1,700 people have died due to cancer in Kashmir. It says that…

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FSSAI license now mandatory for food units in J&K

Editor

The Food Safety Department has made it mandatory for all Food Business Operators (FBOs) in the State to obtain online registration or license of their establishments for running their business. Officials told KP that the department has fixed March 1, 2016 as the last date for obtaining license or registration as per the guidelines of Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI).  “All food manufacturers, packers, wholesalers, distributors and sellers, food importers, hotels, restaurants, clubs, canteens, caterers, food transporters, food storage establishments, food processing units etc will have to obtain…

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Stray dogs create havoc inside SMHS premises

Editor

Even after Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) claimed to have reduced the stray dogs’ population, the regular visitors at SMHS hospital today alleged that there was an increase in dog populace in the premises of the hospital. As per 2011 census, population of dogs was 90,000. In 2012, a census done by Humane Society International, an independent placed the figure at 49,000. However, posing a threat to patients, their attendants and doctors, the stray dogs roam around freely near the gates, canteens and all around Government Medical College, Srinagar. Looking at…

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DAK warns of Zika virus threat in Kashmir

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Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Saturday warned of possible Zika virus threat in Kashmir as the virus is believed to have crossed over to the common mosquito. President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement said that up until now it was thought that aedes aegypti mosquito, which is confined to tropics, was solely spreading the virus, but scientists in Brazil believe that the virus is being carried and transmitted by the much more common culex mosquito. “They say they are as little as a month away from confirming that…

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Ensure availability of H1N1 medicines; Health Secy

Editor

After reports of suspected H1N1 cases from some areas of the state, Governor NN Vohra today reviewed the preparedness of the Health and Medical Education Department to deal with any arising problem. The Governor was informed that a control room had been established at the Directorates of Health Services in Jammu and Srinagar and an advisory issued to all districts for sensitisation of health care professionals and paramedics, including ASHAs and anganwadi workers. The Governor was told that screening and sample collections centres had been established at Government Medical College…

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