Latest news with #Covid-time
Time of India
10-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Covid-era teleconferences back as hosps struggle with viral load
Kolkata: Several hospitals have gone back to the Covid-time practice of teleconferencing for patient consultations while others have revived their home-care services and reactivated fever clinics to handle the spike in patient load that has continued since early July. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the wake of a surge in viral and bacterial infections across the city, which has seen hospital occupancy touch 85%-90%, a hospital on E M Bypass has set up fever clinics at local complexes to ensure early treatment and prevent hospitalisation. BP Poddar Hospital has reintroduced e-consultations and fever clinics that made their debut during Covid. Forty-seven patients received virtual consultations in a week while nine are under home care. "This has helped ease the bed crunch to some extent, reducing demand by 10%-12%. This also ensures that critical patients receive prompt care and recover under expert supervision without the stress of hospitalisation," said Supriyo Chakrabarty, group advisor, BP Poddar Hospital. At Charnock Hospital, teleconsultations are "an integral part of services now". "Home care, on the other hand, offers a seamless continuation of professional care outside the hospital, and we are actively counselling suitable inpatients to opt for this service. Currently, we are running at 70% occupancy and have scope to admit more," said Rupali Basu, group CEO, Charnock Hospital. Desun Hospital has set up a 'neighbourhood connect team' or 'on-site fever clinic' to reach out to patients in the vicinity. "We are actively taking doctors to nearby complexes and residential areas in the evenings and weekends," said Sajal Dutta, chairman & MD, Desun Hospital. Manipal Hospitals, running at 85% of its capacity at present, has revived teleconsultation and home care services too. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These platforms are helping patients, especially those from the districts or those requiring follow-up care, access specialists remotely, said Ayanabh Debgupta, regional COO, Manipal Hospitals (East). At RN Tagore Hospital (RTIICS), video consultations are being offered to patients, including senior citizens, to ensure they get preferential services without having to get admitted or visit the OPD. "Occupancy is 85% but our operational processes are beefed up to ensure faster discharges and admissions with no waiting period," said R Venkatesh, COO (East) of Narayana Hospitals. Woodlands Hospital, running at full occupancy, is counselling select admitted patients about continuing treatment at home under the care of a competent home-care team. "This helps us optimise bed availability for those who need hospitalisation the most. Fever patients are being thoroughly assessed, and admissions are being recommended only when clinically essential," said Rupak Barua, managing director & CEO.
Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
After Bhopal '90-degree' bridge goes viral, Congress drops pic of Andhra's ‘Temple Run' highway
The Congress Kerala on X shared a Google Maps image of a bridge in Andhra Pradesh Monday, showing its peculiar design featuring three sharp turns squeezed into a single stretch. This post followed the viral discussion about a controversial railway overbridge with a 90-degree curve in Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal. In a playful jab at the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-BJP ruling alliance, the Congress Kerala post read: 'Bhopal made a 90° flyover. Andhra: 'Hold my chai.'' According to the comments section, the bridge is located on State Highway 57 (SH 57) near a place called Vasudevapuram. Bhopal made a 90° flyover. Andhra: 'Hold my chai' — Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) June 16, 2025 The post quickly gained traction, racking up over seven lakh views and sparking plenty of amused reactions. One user wrote, 'Temple Run — Andhra version.' Another joked, 'I think these were designed by Covid-time engineers.' A third chimed in, 'I've seen worse ones — imagine this underground with waterlogging during rains.' Meanwhile, a curious user asked, 'Why can't it be connected to the other side in a curved manner? Any technical reason?' Also Read | Couple fined Rs 53,000 in Noida after 'objectionable' bike ride video goes viral; netizens call them 'Besharam' The Congress's post has come even as the internet was still busy roasting Bhopal's railway overbridge for its bizarre 90-degree curve. A newly built railway overbridge near Aishbagh Stadium in Bhopal stirred controversy just as it neared completion — not over delays or budget issues, but over what many believed was a major design flaw. The sharp, almost 90-degree turn right after the ascent raised serious safety concerns. While Congress criticised the design online, Madhya Pradesh PWD Minister Rakesh Singh dismissed their claims as politically driven but assured a review. The Rs 18-crore bridge was meant to ease traffic for nearly three lakh daily commuters in the area.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
World must now build on the pandemic treaty
The world now has its first pandemic treaty that will hopefully orient its preparedness and response to avoid a repeat of the suffering endured during the Covid-19 pandemic. Member-States of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted the landmark agreement at the ongoing World Health Assembly at Geneva. The treaty's birth has certainly not been smooth. Mooted in 2021, the initial deadline of 2024 expired amid a sea of distrust between the global South and North and swirling misinformation — such as the WHO assuming sweeping powers over sovereign member-States on ordering vaccine mandates, lockdowns, etc, forcing the global health body to issue a denial. Even now, crucial pandemic management aspects will likely have to wait for an annexure expected in a year. Key among these is pathogen access and benefit sharing (Pabs) or easier access to vaccines, life-saving treatments, and other such resources for a member-State in exchange for data on any novel pathogen surfacing within its jurisdiction. If Covid-time talks are a precedent, this will be one of the toughest hurdles. Developed nations — where the bulk of research on the relevant areas happens — had a tightfisted response to the developing and least developed world's call for sharing from their stock. On calls to ease intellectual property rights held on pandemic essentials, harnessing the TRIPS mechanism, they were unyielding. Another factor that will have a significant impact on the treaty's eventual effectiveness is the absence of the US, at WHO and within the list of likely signatories. Given it is a powerhouse of pathology and medicine research, its rejection of the treaty has serious implications for technology-sharing and surveillance, among others, hindering pandemic management. And its refusal to fund WHO — it was the body's largest historical funder — will mean the watchdog is left with very little teeth unless China or Europe fills the vacuum. The pandemic treaty is certainly a foundation, but if an edifice of global health cooperation can be raised remains to be seen.
