Latest news with #OPDs
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Private psychiatrists' backing gives Punjab's anti-drug campaign critical push
Chandigarh: In a significant breakthrough for Punjab's anti-drug efforts, private psychiatrists agreed to join the state govt's flagship 'Yudh Nasheyan De Virudh' campaign, offering critical support in the face of a severe shortage of specialists, albeit with riders. Their decision came after initial reluctance and marked a pivotal step forward in expanding clinical care for those battling addiction across the state. The move is expected to substantially strengthen the state's capacity to manage the growing number of individuals seeking rehabilitation, following an intensified crackdown on drug abuse. Currently, over 10 lakh individuals are undergoing treatment at 529 govt-run Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres and 180 private facilities. In addition, the govt added 1,200 new beds for addiction treatment in private institutions to meet rising demand. Faced with an acute shortage of psychiatrists in public health facilities, the health department turned to the private sector for help. The breakthrough came after Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh announced that private psychiatrists operating through OPDs would be permitted to dispense all approved medications for addiction treatment—including buprenorphine and naloxone—to their own patients. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Promoções imperdíveis de voos baratos Voos | Anúncios de Pesquisa Saiba Mais Undo This was a longstanding demand of private mental health professionals. Following this policy shift, the Association of Psychiatrists (AOP) conveyed their decision to "provisionally" accept the govt's offer to support the clinical management of addiction cases in govt-affiliated de-addiction facilities. However, the collaboration comes with conditions aimed at safeguarding the autonomy and interests of private practitioners. The AOP underscored several key demands: services should remain entirely voluntary, adequately remunerated, and logistically feasible; arrangements must be formalised through a detailed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) clearly outlining terms of engagement, payment schedules, notice periods, and exit clauses. Moreover, psychiatrists seek legal indemnity from complications that may arise during treatment, such as patient absconding, injury, death, adverse drug reactions, or treatment failures. The association shared a list of the doctors who expressed their willingness to collaborate along with the choice of station. Nabha-based psychiatrist Dr Rajoo Saroj welcomed the govt's broader strategy, stating, "The Punjab govt has adopted a comprehensive and community-driven approach to strengthening de-addiction treatment facilities across the state. The initiative encompasses public-private partnerships, community engagement, outpatient opioid-assisted treatment, infrastructure development, and the establishment of a centralised drug de-addiction registry portal for robust policy monitoring. These multifaceted efforts are aimed at tackling the addiction crisis in Punjab." Association of Psychiatrists (AOP) president Dr Rupinder Kapur said, "The Punjab govt approached us to support the 'Yudh Nasheyan De Virudh' campaign. Our understanding is that it seeks to empower patients by expanding treatment options and empower doctors by granting them greater autonomy, including the ability to dispense all approved medications from their OPD setups. However, the campaign's success is contingent on the govt fulfilling its commitments to both patients and doctors. The AOP is closely monitoring the govt's policy decisions, and our support will continue only if those promises are honoured." Dr Balbir Singh called the decision of private doctors to assist govt mutually beneficial. "Private psychiatrists will be allowed to dispense medicine to their own patients, while the govt will be able to expand the reach and effectiveness of its substance abuse treatment programmes," he said. BOX Call for mental health reform In addition to their support for the anti-drug campaign, the Association of Psychiatrists is also pressing the state govt for full implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act. They argue that rights-based and comprehensive treatment for drug addiction cannot be achieved without aligning existing practices with the Act. The association is also advocating for an end to the so-called "licence raj", greater clarity on govt policy in mental health, and redressal of local challenges faced by private practitioners. MSID:: 121488359 413 |
New Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Delhi sets up State Health Agency to implement Ayushman Bharat scheme across city hospitals
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has established a dedicated State Health Agency (SHA) within the Delhi Secretariat to oversee the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme across city hospitals. To operationalise the agency, the health department has diverted 28 medical professionals, including doctors and other staff, from various facilities such as the Dengue Control Centre, district health units, and other government hospitals to the SHA which will be responsible for ensuring effective rollout and monitoring of services under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the capital. 'The officials will be responsible for facilitation between the empanelled healthcare providers (EHCP) and the National Health Authority. Their tasks include verification and processing claims made by the hospitals for serving patients under the Ayushman Bharat scheme,'a health department official said. Additionally, a grievance management cell would also be institutionalised under the health panel which will be managed by the diverted officials, the official added. As per the established mechanism, claims are raised using a centralised online portal within 24 hours of patient discharge, submitting relevant documents and clinical notes. The SHA then approves and processes the claim, with payments made to the EHCP within 15 days of authentication. Meanwhile, as part of this initiative, the government has issued strict directions to all hospitals under its jurisdiction to begin generating Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs for every patient visiting Outpatient Departments (OPDs), effective May 1. The ABHA ID is a unique identifier that will allow patients to access digital health services and streamline their medical records under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Additionally, Heads of Institutions have been instructed to compile a Health Professional Registry comprising detailed digital profiles of all doctors and nursing officers employed at their respective hospitals or medical colleges. The deadline for this task has been set for May 11, with a clear directive for strict compliance. Officials said the move is aimed at strengthening digital health service delivery in Delhi and ensuring that the capital hospitals are fully integrated into the nationwide digital healthcare ecosystem.
Hans India
30-04-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Patients in despair as doctors protest against govt in Pakistan's Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi: The ongoing doctors' strike at all three major government hospitals in Pakistan's Rawalpindi left thousands of patients distressed in the city. The Young Doctors Association (YDA) have been on strike since last week in protest against the Punjab government's plan to outsource public hospitals. The protesting doctors boycotted the Outpatient Departments (OPDs) services at Holy Family Hospital (HFH), Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), and Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital (RTH) Raja Bazaar on the call of the YDA Punjab, according to local media reports. The protest brought OPD services to a standstill as patients at the three hospitals continue to suffer. The officials from the divisional administration visited the hospitals but reportedly did little to engage the Young Doctors Association (YDA) to resume services at the OPDs, Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported, quoting sources. The patients at Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital criticised the strike, saying that the government had failed to provide better healthcare despite its claims, adding that doctors often go on strike every month. "Mostly the poor come to government-run hospitals for medical treatment, but there are no facilities here," said Riaz Khan, a patient at BBH. Speaking to Dawn, YDA BBH President Aarif Aziz said that Tuesday marked the ninth day of the YDA's OPD strike in Rawalpindi's three major teaching hospitals, but neither the divisional administration nor the hospital administration had contacted them. "This protest is not about salaries. It is solely against the outsourcing of hospitals. We will not allow the privatisation of healthcare. If hospitals are outsourced, poor patients will be deprived of affordable treatment," he said. "Our struggle is for public welfare and the protection of government institutions. The OPD strike will continue until the government formally ends the outsourcing plan," he further added. Meanwhile, young doctors across Punjab shut down operation theatres of many government hospitals on Tuesday after the police uprooted the protest camp of employees of the state-run health facilities. The police lodged an FIR against 200-300 protesters, allegedly for attacking police and injuring some of the personnel. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, YDA Pakistan president Dr Atif Majeed condemned Police FIRs against the employees of the government hospitals, and claimed that they were protesting peacefully for their "legitimate demands." Local media reported that last week, YDA's Punjab chapter announced the shutdown of Lahore by staging sit-ins on all the main roads of the provincial capital in a bid to force the Punjab government to review the decision of outsourcing the state-run health facilities in the province.
Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
At Delhi Cabinet meeting today, discussion on roping in PSUs for managing OPDs likely
Management of OPDs through public sector undertakings (PSUs), and introduction of MRI facilities in all government hospitals, apart from other projects related to healthcare, will be in focus as the Delhi Cabinet holds a key meeting on Tuesday. According to officials, the key aim of these projects is to improve and expand the services in government hospitals. 'A three-point agenda will be discussed in tomorrow's Cabinet meeting that will be chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. One of the key projects that will be taken up in the meeting is introducing MRI scan facilities in all major government hospitals under the PPP model,' said an official. Currently, only three hospitals — Lok Nayak Jaya Prakash Hospital (LNJP), GB Pant, and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital — have MRI scan facilities in Delhi. Even at these hospitals, the machines are often out of order. Patients have to wait for a long period — ranging from 30 days to six months — for a scan. Another proposal to be discussed in the meeting is the management of OPDs. 'To streamline the process, the government is planning to rope in PSUs to manage the crowd and curb long queues in the OPD. Currently, hospitals engage private third parties for data entry, appointment, registration of patients, generating OPD cards etc…,' said an official.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
World Malaria Day: Fever screening camps organised
Varanasi: The health department organised camps in hotspot areas for fever screening on Friday to mark World Malaria Day. The World Malaria Day is observed every year on April 25 to raise awareness about malaria. This year's theme is 'Malaria ends with us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite.' Chief medical officer Dr Sandeep Chaudhary said that schools provided information to students on malaria prevention , especially during prayer assemblies. "A special communicable disease control and awareness campaign is also being conducted in April. Interdepartmental activities are underway to prevent vector-borne diseases. The breeding sources of mosquitoes are being destroyed in urban and rural areas. Efforts are ongoing to make the country malaria-free by 2030," he said. The CMO said that ASHA workers were asked to visit homes to inspect mosquito-breeding conditions and eliminate sources. The lower the mosquito density, the safer people will be from malaria. Therefore, breeding sources are being destroyed in both urban and rural areas. Anti-larval spraying and fogging are also being conducted. Malaria patients will receive a 14-day treatment upon diagnosis. In this way, Varanasi district is progressing towards malaria eradication. District malaria officer Sharat Chandra Pandey said that a four-level approach is being implemented for malaria eradication in Varanasi. Under the active approach, ASHA workers are conducting door-to-door fever tracking. The passive approach involves fever screening for all patients visiting OPDs. The mass contact approach includes fever tracking in 50 homes around the residence of any positive patient. The fourth is the camp approach, where weekly camps are held in hotspot areas for malaria testing of fever patients. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo He said 1,16,536 tests were conducted with 69 positive cases in 2022, while in 2023, 1,67,000 tests found 23 malaria patients. In 2024, only 13 malaria patients were found out of 2,29,000 tests. Thus, while surveillance increased, the percentage of malaria infections is decreasing, he said.
