Category: Health

Health

DAK warns against swine flu complacency

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With expected increase in swine flu activity in coming days, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today warned public health officials not to be complacent as influenza could become more widespread as season wears on. Although so far, this flu season has been mild, President DAK and Flu expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan said that does not mean we are out of woods yet. “This year’s slow start to the flu season isn’t out of ordinary as other seasons have had the same pattern. During previous flu season when we thought worst…

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First ever ‘Essential Drug List’ finalized for JK

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‘The list comprises of 1200 essential medicines, to be given free of cost to the patients in all state-run hospitals after government approval’ Jammu and Kashmir has finalized the first-ever list of Essential Drugs, comprising of 1200 essential medicines, to be given free of cost to the patients in all state-run hospitals after government approval. It took more than two years for the government to finalise the list, which will be implemented after approval by Governor or upcoming Cabinet. Chairman J&K Drug Formulary Committee, Dr Ajit Nagpal told KP that the…

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DAK urges pregnant women to get flu vaccine

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‘Antivirals safe in pregnancy’ Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today urged pregnant women to get vaccinated as this is the best means to protect them and their babies from flu. Despite the benefits of influenza vaccination during pregnancy, majority of pregnant women in Kashmir are unvaccinated. Voicing concern over low vaccination rates among pregnant women, President DAK and flu expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan said that though there are clear guidelines, pregnant women are not advised by their health providers to get vaccinated. Unvaccinated women say that they would have been…

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Packed chicken kebabs declared unsafe for humans

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The Jammu and Kashmir Food Control Organisation Tuesday declared packed chicken kebabs being sold in Kashmir as “unsafe” for consumption as the food analyst report has found the sample of kebabs lifted from the market containing chicken skin, feathers, charcoal and other odourable items. The Food control organisation after receiving complaints swung into action and sealed samples of the chicken kebab and sent it for analysis to Food Analyst for fact finding. The report accessed by us reveals that: “The sample contains maximum skin pieces, feathers, charcoal, discoloured onion pieces, masoor…

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Medicos ‘fleece’ patients at private clinics

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Weak and inadequate regulations and complete lack of monitoring of fees charged by doctors at private clinics in Kashmir has left the patient’s high and dry. Huge disparities in fee charged by doctors for private consultations have gone unnoticed over the years. A rudimentary ‘circular’ issued by Health and Medical Education Department in 2013 outlining the consultation fee that a doctor working with the government can charge was discarded even before it could be implemented. Doctors are charging patients as per their likes, a practice that patients have called ‘loot’.…

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‘Winter increases heart attack, stroke risk’

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Cold weather can be dangerous medically: DAK With surge in heart attacks and strokes during winter, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today said that sudden drop in temperature increases the risk. Asserting winter as risk for these diseases,President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement issued here said that the number of heart attack and stroke patients in Kashmir doubles during winter. “Frigid temperatures constrict arteries that increase blood pressure which makes heart attack or stroke more likely,” Dr Hassan said. “Blood tends to be thicker and become stickier during…

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‘Killer Kebabs’ on sale in Kashmir

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3 Quintal ‘unsafe’ mutton, chicken & fish Kebabs seized from City market The Food Safety Department has seized nearly three quintal unsafe packaged Kebabs that have entered from unknown manufacturers in Kashmir and circulated in the markets. Officials told that a special market checking squad of the department today confiscated a huge supply of illegally marketed and unhygienic Kebabs. “The Kebabs mostly made of mutton, chicken and fish products are being sold in Tengpora, Karan Nagar, Khayam, Chattabal, Bemina, Chanapora and other market areas. However, the packaging and ingredients are…

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Minister warns against nexus between docs, pharma companies

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Minister for Health and Medical Education Choudhary Lal Singh today said the process of e-tendering was being followed to make the functioning of the Health Department more accountable and transparent. The minister said this during a general body meeting of the Jammu Pharmaceutical Distributors Association. Lal Singh told distributors to provide medicines to the poorest at affordable cost and warned against any type of nexus between the pharmaceutical companies and doctors. Controller of Drugs and Food Control Organisation Lotika Khajuria along with several other officials of the department was also…

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Hemophilic patients suffer, writhe in pain at SMHS

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Non availability of life-saving drugs cause of concern, admin unmoved  Hemophilic patients across Kashmir valley continue to suffer in Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, Srinagar due to the non availability of drugs. 80 per cent of 267 patients have been crippled for life, for no fault of theirs. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court, 2011 had directed the hospital to keep the vital drugs available for hemophilic patients available for 24 hours. ‘Due to non availability of funds’, authorities say, the ‘factors’ aren’t available. “The factors balance body’s deficiencies.…

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Viral infection breaks out in Tral villages

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12 children test positive for jaundice An epidemic-like situation has emerged in the Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district with scores of children having been affected by a viral infection. Many children of Hardmeer, Ameerabad and Sangrama villages in the area complained of vomiting and abdominal pain today. They were taken to the sub-district hospital in Tral. Officials in the hospital said many residents of the villages were admitted to the hospital and almost all of them were relieved after treatment. “Twelve children from the villages have been found…

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