Latest news with #OPD
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Mind your posture: Doctors cite long hours in front of screen for increasing lifestyle diseases
New Delhi: Lifestyle ailments that are increasingly becoming commonplace among young professionals who spend long hours at work often have a common underlying cause: their sitting posture in front of the screen. The number of working professionals visiting hospitals with muscular, spinal, eye and heart disorders and mental concerns has increased 30-40% now compared with last year, doctors said. Many of these patients are millennials and Gen Zs, who spend long hours at work to stay relevant in workplaces that are changing fast with the disruption caused by artificial intelligence. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category MCA Operations Management Management Degree Data Science Leadership Data Analytics MBA Design Thinking PGDM healthcare Product Management Technology Artificial Intelligence others Others Data Science Cybersecurity Healthcare Digital Marketing Project Management Finance Public Policy CXO Skills you'll gain: Programming Proficiency Data Handling & Analysis Cybersecurity Awareness & Skills Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Master of Computer Applications Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details The rise in disorders linked to long hours working on computers has also led to terms like Tech Neck, Text Claw, Sitting Disease, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, Dead Butt Syndrome and Digital Fatigue Syndrome finding their way into the medical vocabulary. Doctors said many cases are so severe that they need medical intervention and at times even surgeries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Remember Him? Sit Down Before You See What He Looks Like Now 33 Bridges Undo At Delhi's Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, 70% OPD walk-in patients were elderly, mostly 60-plus, until four-five years ago, said Seema Grover, head of the Department of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation. But now they are much younger. 'Around 60-70% are now 20-40 years of age. This is especially true of younger professionals in corporates with long working hours who come with biomechanical and postural concerns.' Among these patients, degenerative changes are seen much earlier in the spine due to muscular imbalance and repetitive stress injuries. Live Events Excessive screen usage is damaging, especially with wrong posture, said Grover. Use of screen compels one to bend his/her neck at an around 60-degree angle and the neck has to strain to maintain the head position to bear 10 pounds (about 4.5 kg) load in neutral. 'This is six times the strain/load the muscles take compared to when in an upright position,' she explained. Long screen hours also cause damage to the heart, brain, muscles, and even lead to mental disorders, say doctors. 'We have seen an unprecedented surge — an almost 25–30% rise — in OPD visits over the last year alone due to sedentary lifestyles,' said Ripen Gupta, principal director and unit head of Cardiac Sciences, Cardiology, at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital. More and more 25- to 35-year-olds are coming with hypertension, obesity-related issues, and even pre-clinical heart disease, he said. Lifestyle-induced asymptomatic heart failures among people in their 20s is also becoming more frequent, said experts. Lower bone mineral density, early osteopenia, spinal disc-related problems, spondylosis and easy fractures are some other common disorders impacting working professionals. There is also a reported surge of palpitations due to stress, atrial arrhythmias, and metabolic syndrome at a younger age. These chair-bound routines are detrimental to vision as well, causing 'dry eyes, blurred vision, computer vision syndrome and early cases of carpal tunnel syndrome due to prolonged use of laptops/phones/desktops, excessive screen time and disturbed sleep cycles', said a medical expert. The unprecedented rise of competition, along with the fear of being replaced by AI, is creating a crushing pressure in the workplace, leading to mental health conditions emerging as a result of excessive screen time. 'We are seeing a rise in youngsters and middle-aged people presenting with neurohormonal and neurochemical changes linked to significant anxiety and depression and low concentration,' said Sameer Malhotra, director and head, Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, Max Super Speciality Hospital. Kamna Chhibber, a clinical psychologist at Fortis Healthcare , sees the problem not just in physiological terms but also as a deeper psychosocial shift. 'The nature of workplace pressure has evolved. The insecurity now is not just about job loss but about staying relevant. People are overworking to stay competitive, and loneliness, anxiety, and emotional withdrawal are all prevalent,' she said.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
PGI to act against private chemist for overcharging
1 2 Chandigarh: Taking cognisance of a TOI exposé on a private chemist allegedly fleecing patients with inflated drug prices, PGI authorities said they would issue a show cause notice to the operator running the outlet within its new outpatient department (OPD). T OI's 'reality check' last week unveiled a disturbing trend: the private shop, despite a contractual obligation to offer a 15% discount on medicines, was reportedly inflating the maximum retail price (MRP) on drug labels to negate this benefit. A comparison with prices at a private chemist in Sector 11 and the AMRIT store revealed that the PGI's OPD chemist was charging a staggering 50% more for the same medicines. "We shall issue a notice to him for the discrepancies pointed out in the news report. In case we are not satisfied with the reply, we shall constitute a committee. This is a serious matter," said PGI deputy director administration (DDA), Pankaj Rai. This isn't the first time a private drug store within PGI has come under scrutiny. In the past, there was a controversy surrounding PGI's emergency drug store, which paid a monthly rental of Rs 1.8 crore. That store was asked to vacate its premises in 2024 following the deaths of five patients who reportedly purchased Propofol injections from the shop. The DDA said, "We will not spare anyone found duping patients within the campus. "
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Health
- Business Recorder
FIC: Minister displeased with state of affairs
LAHORE: Steps are under way to implement the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for a healthy Punjab, Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, said. During his visit to the Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology, Salman expressed his displeasure over the mismanagement of the queue management system and non-availability of medicines at FIC. He also visited the pathology lab and echography ward and inquired about the details of diagnostic tests and reporting time. Khawaja Salman Rafique also expressed his displeasure over the mistreatment of patients by the security staff and the poor hygiene conditions. The Minister and the Provincial Health Secretary inquired about the facilities available to patients individually in the emergency and OPD pharmacies and the provision of medicines. He directed authorities to create a regular mechanism for the availability of medicines other than heart disease for the patients under treatment. He inspected the packaging process and records of the supply of medicines to homes. Khawaja Salman said that Rs 33 billion were provided for the provision of medicines in the last fiscal year. 'Implementation of the SOPs of service delivery set by the Chief Minister of Punjab should be ensured. Strict action will be taken on complaints about ordering medicines from outside the hospital,' he added. The Minister said all medicines related to heart diseases should be available in the hospital, adding there is a zero tolerance policy for negligence in service delivery to patients. Provincial Health Secretary Azmat Mahmood Khan said that Rs 23 billion funds were provided to hospitals to pay the dues of previous years. 'As per the instructions of the Chief Minister, strict action will be taken on the non-availability of medicines to patients,' he said. Executive Director FIC Dr Hamid Saeed and MS Dr Nadeem Akhtar gave a briefing during the visit. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Planning to port your health insurance policy? When and how to do it
With a host of health insurance products available in the market, consumers are now spoilt for choice. Awareness too has increased, thanks to several online platforms that dissect every policy and come out with all the pros and cons. And then there is the option of porting which helps you in case you are not satisfied with the current policy. Porting allows you to switch your health insurance provider at renewal without losing accrued benefits like waiting period credits and no-claim bonuses (NCBs). However, experts caution that while portability is a valuable consumer right, it should be exercised with caution. Why policyholders port their health insurance 'Policyholders usually port because of rising premiums, dissatisfaction with claims handling, or to access newer features like OPD cover and wellness-linked rewards,' says Surinder Bhagat, head of employee benefits at Prudent Insurance Brokers. He adds that poor service experiences or delays in claims settlement often act as triggers for people to switch insurers. Changes in life stages also drive this decision. 'Marriage, having children, or even witnessing a family member's medical crisis often prompt people to reassess their coverage,' notes Siddharth Singhal, head of health insurance at Policybazaar. Post-pandemic, medical inflation has made this even more pressing. But porting isn't always the answer. 'It should be done only for compelling reasons and not just because you can. A hasty decision can backfire,' cautions Hari Radhakrishnan of the Insurance Brokers Association of India (IBAI). How to port your health insurance? Porting is permitted only at the time of renewal. 'You need to notify the new insurer at least 45 days before renewal, though starting 60 days in advance is even better for a smooth transition,' advises Akanksha Jain, head – products, Digit Insurance. Here's how to port -Research and shortlist: Compare policies from various insurers for coverage, premiums, and network hospitals. -Submit documents: File a portability request with the new insurer, providing the proposal form, KYC papers and details of your existing policy and claims history. -Underwriting process: The new insurer retrieves your records via the IRDAI portal and may call for medical tests or telephonic verification. -Approval and payment: Once approved, pay the premium. Your continuity benefits, like served waiting periods, are preserved for the existing sum insured. 'For family floater plans, ensure all family members are ported together. If any member has chronic conditions, a medical evaluation is likely,' explains Jain. Key checks before porting 'Don't get lured by the lowest premium. Focus on continuity of benefits, sub-limits, co-payment clauses, and the insurer's claim settlement record,' says Vaibhav Kathju, founder & chief executive officer of Inka Insurance. Anand Prabhudesai, promoter of Turtlemint, clarifies. 'Continuity benefits like NCB and waiting period credits apply only up to the existing sum insured. If you increase the cover, new waiting periods may apply for the additional amount.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
A yr on, 310-bed Rims shelter home battles operational challenges
1 2 Ranchi: The shelter home (Vishram Sadan) of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims), built to offer affordable accommodation to attendants and relatives of patients, is grappling with operational challenges. The facility was projected to benefit around 90,000 people annually. But only 62 beds on the first floor is on offer against the structure's capacity to accommodate 310 people. The Power Grid Corporation of India began constructing the ground-plus-five floors' structure with a basement on a 5,034sq mt plot in 2019 and handed it over to Rims in July last year. The land acquisition cost Rs 17.82 crore. A total of 217 people availed the facility in January, 184 in February, 261 in March, 244 in April, 218 in May, and 164 till June 18. The public relations officer (PRO) of Rims, Dr Rajeev Kumar, said, "The aim is to ensure dignified and affordable accommodation to the attendants, especially from rural and remote areas. The shelter home is being operated internally by Rims owing to the lack of effective management and delay in onboarding an external agency." Rims had floated a tender for hiring a private agency to manage the facility in January 2025. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo But the attempt failed as as those who applied did not meet the eligibility criteria. The hospital authorities reissued the expression of interest (EOI) last Monday, hoping to find a capable agency to take over operations. "Hospital authortities aim to ensure proper healthcare management. Hence, there is a need for a dedicated agency to run the accommodation properly," said a source. Accommodation is available at a subsidised cost of Rs 100 per day for families presenting an OPD or IPD slip, with payment accepted at any Rims cash counter. An amount of Rs 150 is charged per day from those staying beyond seven days. Dr Rajeev said, "Posters have been put up at multiple points of the hospital to generate awareness about the available accommodation among the patients and their family members." "We came from Simdega for my wife's treatment and had no idea that such a facility existed. We ended up paying over Rs 700 per day for a lodge nearby. If we had known earlier, we could have saved a lot," said Lakhiram Oraon, an attendant waiting outside the hospital ward. Rims would manage the shelter till an agency is finalised. One person has been assigned the task of a caretaker of the shelter home while a few take care of day-to-day maintenance, sources said.
