
Health min orders regular inspections of hospitals
Medical education department
on Monday informed
health minister Gajendra Khimsar
that the public works department (PWD) indicated a requirement of Rs 84 crore for repair works in the state's govt-run hospitals, against which approval for about Rs 44 crore had been issued. Of the 81 hospitals attached to medical colleges in the state, nod was given for establishing PWD posts in 29 hospitals.
Khimsar told officials that public health was a very sensitive issue and negligence at any level would not be tolerated. He said all officials should regularly inspect hospitals within their jurisdiction and immediately address any deficiencies found during inspections.
On May 1, two patients undergoing treatment in the surgery ward of SMS Hospital were injured when plaster from the ceiling fell on them. Khimsar said the state's medical colleges and their affiliated hospitals will now undergo regular inspections. If deficiencies found during inspections are not resolved within a specified period, disciplinary action will be taken against the responsible officer. Additionally, efforts will be made to strengthen cleanliness, repairs, testing, medication, and treatment facilities to make hospitals more patient-friendly.
In the meeting, medical education secretary Ambrish Kumar said around 150 officials in 33 teams conducted intensive inspections in medical colleges and their affiliated hospitals on Friday. A report of the inspections was prepared, and based on this, improvements will be made soon.
Medical education commissioner Iqbal Khan said the inspections evaluated cleanliness in hospital premises, necessary repairs of buildings, availability of medical resources, patient convenience, security arrangements, and service quality. Proper disposal of biomedical waste, availability of electricity and water, and functionality of fire safety equipment were also examined.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hans India
25 minutes ago
- Hans India
Human milk bank offering lifeline to fragile newborns
Tirupati: A silent revolution has been unfolding at the Government Maternity Hospital in Tirupati, one drop at a time. The Rotary Human Milk Bank, launched just over a year ago on April 3, 2024, has emerged as a vital support system for fragile newborns unable to receive their mother's milk, while simultaneously fostering greater public awareness about milk donation. This initiative holds particular significance as the theme for this year's World Breastfeeding Week (August 1 to 7) is 'Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems'. Established with a generous Rs 30 lakh contribution from the Rotary Club of Tirupati, the bank's mission is clear: to ensure every infant receives safe, life-sustaining nourishment during their most vulnerable phase, irrespective of their mother's health. With approximately 1,200 deliveries annually at the hospital, the need for such a facility was evident. Many babies are born prematurely or face complications that hinder breastfeeding, often leading to reliance on formula or unprocessed milk, both of which carry potential health risks. "Breast milk is a divine gift for a newborn. It strengthens the baby's body and boosts immunity," explained Dr B Manohar, Head of Paediatrics at SV Medical College. "However, some mothers - such as those who have undergone premature delivery or had complications during childbirth - may not be able to produce sufficient milk. For such babies, the Human Milk Bank is a great help." The milk bank bridges this gap by collecting surplus milk from healthy, lactating mothers. This donated milk undergoes rigorous safety protocols: potential donors are screened for infections like HIV, Hepatitis B (HBsAg), and Hepatitis C (HCV), often during their admission for delivery. "Mothers who are healthy and lactating in abundance can donate their excess milk. This milk is thoroughly tested, pasteurised, stored hygienically, and given to needy newborns. When you donate your milk, you may be saving a newborn's life," Dr Manohar added. K Bhuvaneswari, Manager of the milk bank, noted the efforts to sensitize mothers post-delivery on the importance of donation. While many mothers are willing, we still face resistance from their elders, especially in-laws, who discourage them, she said. Despite these challenges, awareness is clearly on the rise. From April to December 2024, 643 mothers donated milk, and an additional 459 mothers contributed from January 2025 to date. One mother even garnered appreciation from the district collector for donating over 2,000 ml. The Human Milk Bank provides approximately 30 ml of breast milk daily to each infant in need, particularly those admitted to the neonatal ICU. Its benefits have also extended to supporting children recovering from surgeries at the Padmavathi Children's Heart Centre. This facility has undeniably become a crucial component of neonatal care within the hospital, immensely benefiting numerous infants. Beyond the recipients, mothers who donate also experience advantages. Experts suggest that breast milk donation helps regulate supply, prevents engorgement, and contributes to overall maternal well-being.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Dairy diaries: Milk, paneer worst hit by adulteration, says dept
Ludhiana: Despite repeated drives and stern exhortations from authorities, quality of food being sold in the city remains questionable. More than 20% of food samples taken by the health department from January to June-end have failed tests. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Most of these are of milk and dairy products. According to the health department, of the 324 samples taken from January to June, reports of 299 have been received and 25 are pending. Data suggests that of the total samples, 158 were of milk and dairy products like ghee, paneer, curd, khoa, and lassi, whereas 166 were of other foods like masala, dals, fast food-related articles, dry fruit, sweets, etc. A total of 62 of the 299 samples for which the health department received reports, failed. Of 158 milk and dairy product samples, 48 failed tests. Of 166 other food articles, samples of 14 failed. Among dairy products, 28 out of 76 samples of paneer, collected from January to the end of June, failed. Seven out of 11 samples of curd also failed. Of the 34 samples of milk, eight failed. Speaking to TOI, district health officer (DHO), Dr Amarjeet Kaur, said that they had increased sampling in view of the ongoing monsoon season and the upcoming festival season. She added that drives were being carried out to ensure that people consumed clean and safe food. When asked about action taken in case of failed food samples, the officer said that if unhygienic conditions were found at the place where food was prepared, served, or stored, challan was issued to the vendor on the spot. If the food sample taken was found to be substandard, the department filed a case in the court of the ADC (additional deputy commissioner), after which a fine was imposed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now If the food sample was found to be dangerous for consumption, the department filed a case in the court of the CJM (chief judicial magistrate) and punitive action was taken. The DHO said that in 35 cases decided by the ADC court from September to the end of June, a fine of Rs 10 lakh was imposed on vendors. She added that they had filed two cases in the CJM court, and 10 more were in the pipeline. Health officials warned vendors against storing or selling adulterated food articles and said that legal action would be taken against defaulters. Testing milk at home Yogesh Goyal, food safety officer in Ludhiana, shared a quick method to detect water adulteration in milk. He explained that placing a spoonful of milk on a plate and tilting it can reveal its purity. If the milk leaves a visible trail or imprint, it is likely pure and contains the proper fat composition. If no line is left behind, the milk may be adulterated with water. For other types of adulteration, Goyal said the department's mobile food testing van operates across Ludhiana 25 days each month, offering doorstep milk testing for just Rs 50. Additionally, agencies like Gadvasu, PAU, and the dairy development board (DDB) have developed affordable testing kits priced at Rs 100, which can be used for up to 10 tests. Box 2: Staff, infra crunch A health department official, asking not to be named, said that food safety teams have only one vehicle for six zones of the district. Therefore, they said, they can carry out raids at only one place. Sources said that there are four food safety officers in the district, of whom one is deputed from outside. They emphasised the need to increase the number by two. Box 3: Report in 14 days An official said that since September last year to July end, the department filed 69 cases in the ADC court, and 15 unhygienic challans were issued. He added that after a sample was taken, it was sent to the food safety laboratory in Kharar, from where a report was normally received in 14 days. In special cases, the department receives the report in 24 hours. MSID:: 123022056 413 |


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Bone marrow transplant comes under Swasthya Sathi, more patients to benefit
Kolkata: The state has included bone marrow transplant in its universal health scheme, Swasthya Sathi, eliciting hope for more patients getting the opportunity to undergo the procedure. Nine institutes in Bengal conduct the procedure, two of them govt facilities. NRS Medical College was the first hospital in eastern India to start bone marrow transfusion in 2009, followed by the Institute of Haematology & Transfusion Medicine at MCH in 2011. Despite a govt hospital being the first to launch the procedure in the eastern region, private facilities, such as Tata Medical Centre Kolkata, which started it in 2011, have carried out a higher number of cases than that at the two govt hospitals combined. One of the main reasons behind this gap was finance, said a health department official. Even if the procedure was free at govt hospitals, many crucial tests were not available there, forcing patients to go to private labs for the investigations, said the health department official, adding it was a deterrent for patients who could not afford the cost. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "The proposal to include bone marrow transfer under Swasthya Sathi came from NRS. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo The two govt hospitals can carry it out under Swasthya Sathi," said a health official. "Under Swasthya Sathi, we are ready to serve more patients. At our hospital, we have at least 60 patients lined up for it," said professor Tuphan Kanti Dolai, head of haematology department at NRS, who will be the organising chairperson of Eastern India Blood Marrow & Cellular Therapy meet 2025 to start on Friday. The procedure costs Rs 8 lakh to Rs 20 lakh at a private hospital. Bringing the cost down will be discussed at the two-day EIBMCT meet. "Aside from the transfusion's one-time high cost, it is the most cost-efficient treatment for blood disorders. In thalassaemia, its success rate as a curative option is 90% if held by seven years of age," said NRS haematology professor Rajib De, organising secretary of the EIBMCT meet.