Full Marks to Director RIMS, Imphal

Sir,

It was very painful to learn about the incident in RIMS on the night of 19th December when students misbehaved, conducted themselves like a bunch of hooligans and turned an unruly crowd against the Director. The obnoxious behaviour on that fateful night and subsequent cease work followed by a smear campaign by these guilty students was totally unexpected, shameful to say the least and certainly deserves widespread condemnation. Student community must refrain from indulging in such unwarranted reaction and slandering, and admit their mistakes with humility and grace. They definitely deserve to be told where their place is and taught a lesson or two on how students are expected to conduct themselves, should they go astray.

I fully support and endorse with the bold and justified actions taken by the Director and kudos to him for this somewhat unprecedented drive. He has proved beyond doubts that he means business and will not tolerate nonsense of any sorts while he is at the helm of affairs. We certainly require more gutsy persons like him to head our rotting educational institutes so as to prevent further slump. In fact, I would have appreciated all the more had the Director gone a step further to rusticate and send those rowdy students home so that they can regret their impulsive outbursts at leisure.

At a time when the people of Manipur are facing the most severe power shortages and load shedding experienced in recent memories, the electrically pampered students of RIMS (who get 24 hrs uninterrupted power supply) have the audacity to claim right to use all sorts of power guzzling fancy/modern electric gadgets against existing institute orders. I am sure all that those students are more than aware of potential fire hazard inherent in use of high voltage gadgets en masse, especially in hostels and other heavily populated buildings (recent AMRI hospital fire in Kolkata still being fresh and vivid in our minds).

An average resident of Manipur (the lesser mortals like me who has neither a “VIP Connection” nor has a “Double Phase Connection”) hardly gets three/four hours of electric supply in a day. As a result, our children study with solar/emergency lamps (as electricity supply is inadequate to even charge inverter batteries and neighbours objects to generator noise as a matter of right in Manipur). On the other hand, students of RIMS, who would face the same pathetic situation at their homes, want to have the luxury of consuming unlimited (free of cost) amount of electricity even at the extent of not adhering to orders institute administration. They should consider themselves lucky with 24X7 uninterrupted power supply they are getting, concentrate on their primary business of being medical students rather than indulging into acts which are generally committed by the illiterate and irresponsible sections of the society.

The Director accompanied by the warden (who is a woman) and male security personnel has full rights and authority to enter the girls’ hostel, especially when the intentions are not mala fide. Are the girl students trying to say that no male fire tender should enter and douse fire in girls’ hostel and wait for arrival of female fire tenders in the unfortunate eventuality of fire breaking out. The PG students who marched towards the Director’s Official Residence should consider themselves lucky that the security guards did not open fire and merely resorted to pointing the gun at them as alleged.

Thus, it is in their own interests that the student community shed “mob mentality”, concentrate on their studies and endeavour to become good doctors and serve their kith and kin in their respective communities/states in right earnest rather than demean the noble profession. RIMS authorities also may consider taking stern disciplinary actions against erring students so as to deter them from venturing into misadventures in future. After all, the society looks up to medical fraternity as healers and even as demigods at time at certain places. Let us not let this healthy mutual trust and respect be dissipated because of irresponsible behaviour on the part of few offenders. I hope the student community, particularly students of NIT Manipur are listening and getting the message loud and clear too.

Yours faithfully,
Lt Col (retd) Naorem Kumar
Administrator, NIT Manipur

… Read More

via The Sangai Express

Slur on RIMS Dir, shutdown

IMPHAL, Jan 20 : PG students of RIMS, including interns and staff and numbering around 500 have abstained from casualty service and emergency with effect from 10 pm today, following an altercation with the Director of the institute.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, a group of students from RIMS said that security staff of RIMS accompanied by the Director descended on the girls’ hostel today evening at about 7 and confiscated all the electrical appliances without any prior information.

This was in violation of the rules of RIMS which say that no males are allowed inside the girls’ hostel, said the PG students and added that all the security personnel were males.

However RIMS Director said that it was a drive against use of electrical appliances, especially heaters and added that the warden was present, who is a woman. The PG students revolted, he added.

As news of the incident spread, a group of PG students including the PG Association went to meet the Director at his official quarters but they were stopped by the security personnel manning the residence of the Director and manhandled. The security personnel also verbally abused the PG students, claimed the students and added that they also pointed their guns at the students who merely wanted to talk things over with the Director over the incident.

… Read More

via The Sangai Express

Result Of Recruitment To The Post of 280 MHS Grade IV (Medical Officer) : MPSC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthcare for the needy: Opinion

The announcement by the Health and Family Welfare Minister L  Jayantakumar while inaugurating the Primary Health Centre at Kakwa to initiate the process for the recruitment of 270 doctors is yet another much needed move towards making health accessible to the general public. With liberal funding from the centre, the state did see some development in terms of strengthening health delivery system, a number of Primary Health Centres (PHC) and Community Health Centres (CHC) in various parts of the state came up during this period. But there have been numerous complaints from the people of the localities where they have been set up about the non- functioning of the same. While the building stands, these centres are sometimes without the most basic component of any health delivery system – doctors and nurses. The most oft repeated answer from the government in answer to non posting of doctors to these remote and rural areas is the inadequacy of doctors at its disposal. Hopefully this latest recruitment of doctors will be able to address the problem to a great extent. And if this proves insufficient the state government should go in for recruitment of more doctors, there should not be any compromise on ensuring access to health care to the most needy. But even after the government has the adequate number of doctors at its disposal to man the various health centres and district hospitals, the problem of absentee doctors and nurses would still persist. This, our past experience tell us. Most of the doctors who get posted to rural and remote areas try their level best not to go there and use every means at their disposal to avoid going to these places. And in most cases, an open secret here, this works to the advantage of those at the helm of affairs who can affect these transfers. There have been numerous cases of transfers being revoked, transferred doctors getting deputed to some other duties, some going on study leave etc. On the ground people are still deprived of the services of the doctors even after their posting at their concerned health centres. To ensure doctors are present where they are needed, the government or those in charge of the Health department should work out effective policies so that doctors posted in rural and remote areas do not view these posting as discriminatory or punishment. For starters, those who passes out from the state medical college, JNIMS can be made to serve for a certain number of years as part of their internship. Along with this, it should be made mandatory for all the doctors in the service of government of Manipur to serve in rural and remote areas for certain number of years for certain number of times, the exact modalities can be worked out by an expert committee. Whatever means the government adopts, the important thing is to ensure health care services is available to the people. But here again, it is clear that no policy will bring any relieve or pan out advantageously for the public, if those who are responsible for implementing the same are not sincere. Side by side, the practitioners of the medical profession usually termed a noble profession for its ability to give life and hope to the sick and infirm, should reignite the willingness to come to the aid of the most needy and not be perpetually distracted by considerations of career and financial returns.

Sources:- Hueiyen Lanpao

XXVII AMAMECON – 2011 INVITATIONS & PROGRAMMES SCHEDULES, Manipur

XXVII AMAMECON – 2011

INVITATION

 Dear Colleagues & Friends,

            The Indian Medical Association, Manipur State Branch’s Medical Conference (XXVII AMAMECON – 2011) will be held on   10^th & 11^th December 2011 at IMA House, Lamphelpat, Imphal.

            The organising committee warmly invites all the members of IMA and all doctors in the state for their active participation in the conference.

            This year’s IMA theme is “Be in health. Be active in public health.” In tune with this the conference aims to integrate various specialities in the field of medical sciences by the way of interactive deliberations and discussions for the common goal of  “Health for all”

            We will strive to make the conference more meaningful, deeply scientific and interesting with a wide array of Award Sessions, Guest Lectures, Orations, Mediquiz & Colourful cultural programmes etc.

            We look forward for your timely registration as Delegates and take active participation in the conference and make it a grand success.

            With warm regards.

 Dr. Kh. Palin                                                      Dr.S. Gojendra Singh

 Chairman                                                           Organising Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

The Details of XVII AMAMECON – 2011 including the programmes schedules and registration needs can be downloaded from here :- http://on.fb.me/t1Lm3k

UNC’s Economic Blockade Leads To Health Care Crisis In Manipur

UNC’s Economic Blockade Leads To Health Care Crisis In Manipur, as the two major hospitals in Manipur have suspended normal surgical works for the last three days as stock of oxygen in the hospitals is alarmingly low resulting from the ongoing economic blockade along National Highways 37 and NH-2, sources from the two hospitals said today.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) and Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) hospitals  have limited stock of oxygen and the stock has been kept for emergency use only, the sources said and added that even some medicines prescribed for diabetes, blood pressure, etc. for daily use are not found openly in the markets.

The biggest private hospital in the state, Shija also reportedly faces depleted oxygen stock though the hospital is continuing normal operations to patients. But, how long the stock will last is a question of uncertainty, sources from the hospital said.

The counter economic blockade called by the UNC against creation of Sadar Hills District which started from August 21 has completed 83 days today. Notably, Economic blockade called by SHDDC had called off after signing an MoU with the state government after nearly 100 days of blockade.

Sources:- The Sangai Express

Dengue officially declared as epidemic outbreak in Churachandpur District of Manipur

Dengue is due to a flavivirus transmitted by the bite of the Aedes mosquito

Symptoms and Signs of Dengue infection

 

IMPHAL, Nov 11: Follo-wing outbreak of an unknown disease suspec-ted to be dengue in Churachandpur, the State Vector Borne Disease Control Society under the State Malaria Officer has collected blood samples from seven infected persons and sent the samples to RIMS laboratory  which has been accredited by the Government of India.

It is reported that more samples would be collected from different places of Churachandpur starting from tomorrow for further laboratory test.

Talking to The Sangai Express, State Malaria Officer Dr Ibochouba said that contentment measures like fogging and awareness programmes about Tiger mosquito species Ades, the carrier of Slavirus which causes

 

dengue have been taken up.

However, there is no specific method of treatment  if the samples being tested in RIMS laboratory turn out positive.

Though there is no specific drug for treatment of dengue, there is no reason to panic, Dr Ibochouba said.

Dengue was first discovered at Moreh in 2007, and there was no case of death due to infection by dengue, he said.

Symptoms like fever and ache in different parts of the body do not always mean dengue.

The symptoms include retrobulbar pain (acute pain within eyes) and growth of greenish spots on body parts, Dr Ibochouba explained.

Out of 12 different cases which were tested by the District Malaria Officer, Churachandpur, only one was found dengue-combo positive.

Dengue-combo is not exactly dengue. At the same time, it cannot be said that dengue-combo is not related with dengue.

When blood samples of 1000 people are found positive for Slavirus which causes dengue, only one or two persons may be infected by dengue.

As there is no specific method for treatment of dengue, the general practice is, injection of IV fluids and providing other supportive treatments in order to strengthen immune system of patients.

Growth of purpuric rash (greenish spots) on body parts could be observed on people infected by dengue seriously.

When the condition worsens, the greenish spots would start bleeding and this is an indication that platelet counts have decreased.

In such situation, the patient with be injected wit fresh platelets.

Incidentally, RIMS has the facility to remove RBC and WBC from blood and concentrate only platelets in blood, informed Dr Ibochouba.

Sources:- The Sangai Express

MCI schedules common MBBS entrance test for May 13

NEW DELHI: The Medical Council of India (MCI) on Friday finalized syllabus for the the all-India common entrance test for admission to MBBS courses and fixed May 13 for holding the exam next year.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) for admission of students to undergraduate courses in 335 medical colleges of the country is scheduled to be held on May 13 next year, the MCI on Friday said even as the nod of the Ministry of Health in this connection is awaited.

The Council also uploaded core syllabus on which NEET-UG will be based and students can upload the same from its website.

Meanwhile, an element of uncertainty continued on the exam with the Ministry of Health’s notification in respect of NEET still awaited.

The MCI on Friday said time was crucial in holding the test. “We are ready and so is the CBSE. We are waiting for the Ministry to notify the same. We hope it would be done soon,” MCI officials said.

Sources:- Times Of India

IMA joins issue with health ministry on short-term medical course

NEW DELHI: A day after TOI reported on the Union health ministry’s plans to roll out the 3.5-year medical degree, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) asked the Medical Council of India (MCI) not to compromise on patients’ safety.

Reacting to the three-week ultimatum given by Union health minister Ghulab Nabi Azad to the MCI on the BRM (Bachelor of Rural Medicine), national president of IMA Dr Vinay Aggarwal on Tuesday said the MCI would not bend before the government and refused to endorse the course. IMA called for more debates ahead of falling in line with the government’s directive. “IMA is willing to cooperate with the government to find a solution on rural health,” the letter said.

It added, “There are better ways to overcome the shortage of modern medicine professionals in rural area. Lowering the standard of medical education and producing low-quality professionals is not the solution.”

Dr Aggarwal said, the MCI is mandated to upkeep certain standards and cannot be bullied. “It is duty bound to consider patient safety and cannot obliviously reverse a process initiated by the Bhore Committee report of 1946 to abolish such mediocre short-term courses.” IMA says it is not convinced about the government’s intentions on BRM.

“The notion that over 30% of primary health centres do not have a MBBS doctor is not supported by statistics. Only 5.3% of PHCs are without a qualified doctor. For whatever small shortfall that exists, compulsory rural health posting of MBBS graduates for one-year after internship would make available 30,000 MBBS graduates every year. The National Human Rights Commission has come out against such a course, and has termed it as discrimination,” IMA said.

TOI on Tuesday had reported that Azad set the MCI a three-week deadline to endorse this new course, failing which the ministry will issue a directive to the MCI to recognize and roll out the course. Azad had said that the course had enjoyed the backing of all the state governments for long, and attributed the tardiness to MCI’s apathetic attitude.

“We have made up our mind to introduce the Bachelor of Rural Medicine degree. Sometimes the MCI gets influenced by its own fraternity. With doctors unwilling to serve in rural areas, even after being given incentives, we are left with no choice but to introduce a new cadre of health workers,” Azad had told TOI.

He had added, “We want an MCI stamp on the degree so that it is universally recognized. The syllabus of the course is ready and it is need based. If MCI endorses it, students will get the confidence that the degree has a standing. If MCI does not agree, we will send them a directive which they have to adhere to.”

Union health secretary P K Pradhan had added, “They will be rural public health officers and will look after primary and preventive healthcare. They will not carry out surgeries.”

Sources:- Times of India

Doctors of Manipur Health Services furious over due salary

Imphal, October 27: The newly absorbed 282 medical officers and dental surgeons of Manipur Health Services, who were recruited through MPSC, have not been paid their salaries for the last 9 months. Highly agitated over this negligence of the state government, they are all set to approach the High Court.

Speaking to media persons at a press conference held at Manipur Press Club, Dr Noren, President, Medical Officers and Dental Surgeons Association, said that the salary of the 282 newly recruited Medical Officers and Dental Surgeons of Manipur Health Services have not been given for the last 9 months on the ground of non completion of MGEL.

The doctors and surgeons have been posted in different CHCs and PHCs of the state and have been performing their duties hence. But, they have not paid their salaries so far. They have lodged a complaint with the CM in this regard and the CM had given a one time relaxation on MGEL and arranged the salary for 6 months.  However,  the salary was also not given based on the status of an employee, but on a lump sum basis as wages.

He further went on to say that after a writ petition was filed in the Gauhati High Court, the court had directed the state government to complete the formation of MGEL for the doctors by March 31. Concern officials never gave a satisfying answer when they were enquired about the non completion of MGEL. On some occasions, they said that it would be completed in a month’s time and on other occasions the officials said that the documents furnished by the doctors are insufficient for its completion.

There were even instances where the office doors of the Health services remained closed from inside and the concern staffs were busy playing cards inside, keeping aside the work for the completion of MGEL, he further alleged.

He further  informed that the process of MGEL is not completed till today and the salary of the doctors have not been released because the Health services is not under the organized services recognized by the state government. Manipur Finance Services, IAS, IPS, MCS and IPS etc are all under the organized services. Hence, even police constables, as soon as they get recruited, receive their salaries without any problem. So looking at all these, the Health Services need to be placed under organized services recognized by the state government and the MGEL of doctors be completed at the earliest possible time.

Sources: Hueiyen Lanpao