Category: Health

Health

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

DAK warns of Zika virus threat in Kashmir

Editor

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

DAK warns against swine flu complacency

Editor

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…

Read More

First ever ‘Essential Drug List’ finalized for JK

Editor

‘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…

Read More

DAK urges pregnant women to get flu vaccine

Editor

‘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…

Read More

Packed chicken kebabs declared unsafe for humans

Editor

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…

Read More

Medicos ‘fleece’ patients at private clinics

Editor

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’.…

Read More