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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 |
Business Insider
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Foreign oil giants seek re-entry into Nigeria's oil market, eye deepwater prospects
Petrobas' re-entry into Nigeria's oil market marks a significant shift from its previous divestment strategy, reflecting a renewed commitment to expanding its international presence. The development was disclosed in a post by Nigeria's Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday. Shettima attributed Petrobras' renewed interest in Nigeria to the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu-led administration. ' As the economic reforms of the administration of President take root, the company, which had previously wound down its operations in Nigeria at the Agbami Field, is now actively engaging with Nigerian authorities as part of broader efforts to revitalise bilateral cooperation ahead of the 2025 Nigeria–Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM), ' he noted. Speaking further, Shettima added, ' We have not maximally capitalised on the fraternity between us and Brazil, but it is better late than never. The upcoming SDM presents an opportunity to execute sector-specific Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and unlock investment flows.' The update came amid an inter-ministerial review meeting chaired by the Vice President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, convened to coordinate Nigeria's preparations for the second session of the SDM, scheduled for June 2025. Confirming the development, Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar—who was part of the delegation—stated that Petrobras is keen on acquiring frontier acreage in Nigeria's deep waters. "Petrobras is no longer active in Nigeria, but they are very keen on coming back to Nigeria. They said they want frontier acreage in deep waters," Tuggar was quoted in a statement from the vice president's office as saying. This interest aligns with Nigeria's broader efforts to strengthen bilateral relations with Brazil, particularly in the energy sector. Earlier this year, Petrobras had also expressed interest in acquiring stakes in African assets from major oil companies such as ExxonMobil, Shell, and TotalEnergies. Petrobas' interests in Nigeria's oil industry Petrobras, officially known as Petróleo Brasileiro S.A., is Brazil's state-controlled oil and gas corporation and stands as one of the largest energy companies globally. Petrobras initiated its operations in Nigeria in 1998, participating in several deepwater projects as part of its international expansion strategy. Petrobras held an indirect 8% stake in the Agbami Field (OML 127), operated by Chevron, which peaked at around 250,000 barrels per day. It also had a 16% indirect interest in the Akpo and Egina Fields (OML 130), operated by TotalEnergies, with peak outputs of 175,000 and 200,000 barrels per day, respectively. However, in 2020, Petrobras sold its 50% stake in Petrobras Oil & Gas B.V. (POGBV), a joint venture through which it held its Nigerian assets. This divestment marked the company's exit from the Nigerian oil sector and was part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and refocus on core domestic projects in Brazil. Now, in 2025, Petrobras is seeking to re-enter the Nigerian oil industry with a specific interest in frontier deepwater acreage.
Libya Review
05-05-2025
- Business
- Libya Review
Libya & Morocco Launch Joint Audit Initiative for Transparency
On Sunday, Libya and Morocco formally activated a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening public sector auditing, accountability, and transparency across both countries. The agreement, signed between Libya's Audit Bureau and Morocco's Supreme Court of Accounts, was brought into action during an official meeting in Rabat, where senior officials from both sides laid out an operational roadmap for joint oversight and reform. The agreement is part of Libya's broader push to modernize its governance institutions and restore credibility to public financial management. As implementation begins, Libya and Morocco have agreed to focus on several critical domains of oversight. These include strengthening the identification and documentation of financial violations, improving mechanisms for ethical inspection, enhancing monitoring of government contracts and infrastructure projects, and accelerating digital transformation within audit institutions. During the official launch, the heads of both institutions stressed the importance of building a new model of regional cooperation that promotes international standards of good governance. A technical task force from each side has been formed to manage the first implementation phase, which includes a timeline and performance benchmarks for each area of cooperation. The Libyan Audit Bureau emphasized that this partnership with Morocco represents not only an institutional step forward but also a symbol of shared regional responsibility in curbing mismanagement and corruption. Both countries reiterated their intent to expand the agreement in future phases to include additional areas such as anti-corruption enforcement, fiscal reforms, and regulatory innovation. This development also coincides with the signing of the headquarters agreement for AFROSAI (the African Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions), reinforcing both Libya and Morocco's roles as active contributors to the continent's institutional oversight network. Tags: FinanciallibyaMoroccoTransparencyViolations
New Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Visa-free extension heralds new era of Malaysia-China relations
KUALA LUMPUR: The extension of visa-free travel between Malaysia and China is a strategic move that not only reflects deepening bilateral ties but also promises to boost cross-sectoral cooperation in tourism, education, and business, experts said. The arrangement is expected to significantly enhance people-to-people connections, enabling deeper cultural exchange, understanding, and academic ties between the two nations. Universiti Malaya's Asia-Europe Institute (AEI) Deputy Executive Director, Associate Prof Dr Roy Anthony Rogers, said the mutual visa exemption will not only benefit both governments and businesses, but also pave the way for greater opportunities to strengthen people-to-people connections. "The visa exemption will increase the flow of people, which is something we should encourage, because for the past 50 years, bilateral relations have been too focused on government-to-government engagement. "It is time to promote second and third track diplomacy through this visa exemption," he told Bernama. Echoing similar views, chairman of the Centre for Regional Strategic Studies (CROSS), Lee Chean Chung, said the decision underscored the robust bilateral ties between the two nations, shaped by mutual trust and confidence. He said the initiative is poised to effectively promote economic growth across sectors such as tourism, academic collaboration, and healthcare tourism. "This will allow a wider array of Chinese visitors to Malaysia, encompassing not only tourists but also parents accompanying students, and individuals seeking medical treatment. "This extended stay supports longer staycations and short-term visits, potentially ranging from a couple of weeks to a month, which is undoubtedly positive news for Malaysia's tourism sector," he told Bernama. "When visits are short, interactions are limited. With more time, visitors can immerse themselves more deeply in the local culture and communities," he said. Likewise, Lee said the agreement will also open opportunities for Malaysians to explore China more extensively. "Previously, due to time constraints, many only visited coastal cities. Now, there's an opportunity to venture further inland and truly understand each other's cultures," he said. During Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit here recently, Malaysia and China signed 31 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), notes, and cooperation agreements spanning various sectors. Among them was an agreement on mutual visa exemption for holders of public affairs and ordinary passports, exchanged between Malaysia's Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. On April 22, Saifuddin announced that the Malaysia–China visa-free period would be extended for five years. Under the Visa Liberalisation Plan (PLV), Chinese nationals entering Malaysia as tourists may stay for up to 90 days visa-free, with China reciprocating the arrangement. – Bernama
The Star
23-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Wisma Putra to coordinate implementation of 31 MOUs with China, says Fahmi
PUTRAJAYA: The Foreign Ministry will be the ministry in charge of coordinating the implementation of the 31 Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) inked between Malaysia and China, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. The Communications Minister and government spokesperson said the decision to appoint Wisma Putra as the coordinating ministry was made by the Cabinet. Speaking at the weekly presser here on Wednesday (April 23), Fahmi said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also instructed that all MoUs have to be realised at the soonest possibility. The 31 MOUs were inked in conjunction with Chinese President Xi Jinping's official visit to Malaysia last week. The exchange of documents were witnessed by both Anwar and Xi on April 16. The mutual visa exemption for travellers between the two countries were among the highlights of the MoU. Other strategic areas of cooperation include security, development, trade, transport, agriculture, education and digital technology. Among the key agreements signed with ministries and agencies is one concerning giant pandas, comprising an MoU on the Cooperative Research Agreement for the International Conservation of Giant Pandas.
