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Saturday, November 22, 2014

Centre to roll out health cover for everyone soon


The government is likely to roll out its muchtouted National Health Assurance Mission (NAHM) in January , promising health insurance for all. The PMO last week asked the health ministry to work out the modalities of the scheme as well as revamp the existing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to expand its span to include universal coverage, said an official.

RSBY, currently managed by the labour ministry , will also be transferred to the health ministry ."A decision to this effect has already been taken by the PMO," the official, who attended the meeting, told TOI.He said the PMO wants the ministry to expedite the streamlining of the scheme.

For the time being, RSBY will be part of NHAM which will be rolled out in phases.Gradually , the two will be merged as one policy , the official said. "The complete merger will take around three years," he said. Improving public health has been high on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda. Sources said the Cabinet Secretariat and PMO have been regularly taking updates on the issue.

For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com

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Friday, October 3, 2014

CHANGEMAKERS HEALTH - Frontline fighters in good health crusade




Across India, battles are being fought and won to deliver efficient healthcare. Here's a look at some steps taken by people and NGOs who've won a Social Impact Award
Building trust and boosting tribal development

Bangalore: Thirty-four years ago, some doctors and activists trekked deep into the forests of Karnataka's BR Hills in Yelandur Taluk, 180km from Bangalore, to reach medical help to tribal set tlements.

They found only old people and leprosy-affected children. The rest had fled in fear of the disease. The team led by Dr Sudarshan stayed back and ensured the tribals overcame their fear and approached them for help. This formed the genesis of Karuna Trust, winner of the TOI Social Impact Awards for 2012. Today , the trust has transformed foul-smelling primary health centres (PHCs) into pleasant facilities."It implemented a PPP model leveraging government investment in public health infrastructure complementing it with a not-for-profit, competent management team," said Sudarshan, honorary secretary of the trust. As many as 13 Karuna Trust managed PHCs in Karnataka were granted ISO 9001:2008 certification.

Innovations like repositioning of family planning, distributing birthing kits and baby warmers helped reduce maternal and infant deaths. Sudarshan says "the challenges and changing dynamics in the sector have made us stronger and helped us stay grounded."

Sudarshan launched Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra (VGKK), a movement for integrated tribal development. An eight-bed hospital was started in BR Hills. Realizing that healthcare alone was not enough, VGKK formed the Karuna Trust in 1986 to provide education and help marginalized people. TNN

Boon of flood-proof handpumps

Bahraich: Every year, floods put people here to the test. They struggle for food and water. Food packets are para-dropped as the Ghaghra burst its banks. But safe drinking water is a challenge easier met because of flood-proof hand pumps installed at many places in the district.

These are normal pumps installed in 2010-11 by the local administration on concrete by the local administration on concrete platforms using NREGA funds. The 2.5-3.75-metre platforms ensure the hand-pumps don't go under water easily. This serves two purposes -guaran tee safe drinking water and serve as permanent structures that help people find a place to toehold when everything else floats.

Former DM Rigzin Sampleal led the project that proved effective in the 2011 floods and thereafter. It bagged the 2011 TOI Social Impact Award. Ghaghra's fury engulfed the city this year too. Once again, the hand-pumps came in handy .A visit to marooned Gangapurva village in Mahasi tehsil proved the point. Of its 10 flood-proof hand-pumps, seven were working.

"This year flood water swelled to over two meters in places. One hand-pump went under.Two others were partially inundated. The rest seven worked as usual," said Ghan Shyam, subdivisional magistrate, Mahasi. Some of these 1,000 hand-pumps were installed in villages along motorable roads. People in the interior villages waded through the submerged link roads to fetch safe drinking water.

"Team work helped. A villager sug gested the idea, which the administra tion implemented with help from headmen and officers," says Sampheal, now posted as special secretary to UP CM Akhilesh Yadav .

The Elevated Flood-Proof Bahraich Model hand-pumps are installed two to four meters above ground. When the river breaches, people come on boats to fetch water from these pumps.Today , it's recommended by the National Disaster Management Authority and replicated by several districts on pilot basis. TNN

The silent observer that helped save many a girl child

Kolhapur: In June, Kolhapur's sex ratio crossed 900, an adverse number that a unique technological initiative, painstakingly implemented, corrected in five years.

In 2008, then Kolhapur collector Laxmikant Deshmukh got ultrasound machines in the city to fix a device that recorded sonography images and linked them to an online portal, `save the baby girl'. An awareness drive was launched, doctors asked to fill in details of each pregnancy case they received.Within three years, the drive instilled fear among families wanting to check a fetus's sex.In 2011, Deshmukh won the TOI Social Impact award for the initiative. Two years later, the state scrapped the model, and asked doctors to file online details on sonography machine use. By then, the award had given the model national recognition, which encouraged the city's medical fraternity to embrace it.

"The award boosted the morale of the administration and those in the project. Other states approached the Kolhapur administration for details and implemented it," says Deshmukh. The silent observer model was replicated in Rajasthan, Goa, MP and it got implemented in 200 districts across the country . Kolhapur's medical fraternity still uses it, despite annual maintenance cost ranging between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh. "Kolhapur had become notorious after the 2001 Census, when sex ratio dropped to 829. The silent observer device changed everything," said Ajit Patil, senior Kolhapur gynaecologist. TNN

Changing the face of ambulance services

When it bagged the TOI Social Impact award in 2012, Ziqitza was already a superstar in the country's emergency medical aid sector.Its ambulance services operated locally in Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab and Orissa. Mobile medical units brought healthcare to the less accessible regions of J&K, Kerala and Jharkhand, working with states and corporate entities. Ambulances were equipped with life support, paramedics, resuscitation kits, oxygen cylinders and defibrillators. Free clinics, staffed by a medical team, conducted awareness programmes. Two years on, 1,200 Zi qitza ambulances operate across 18 states, providing medical care to about "3.2 million, delivering over 8,000 babies on board", says co-founder and CEO Sweta Mangal.The organization continues to grow.

"When we started in 2004, the (ambulance) industry didn't exist," says Mangal. "We were one of a few organized players." The team, which included her, Shaffi Mather, Naresh Jain, Ravi Krishna and Manish Sancheti, worked closely with the government to ensure standards were established. "Earlier, anybody could buy a vehicle, put a stretcher inside and call themselves an ambulance service." There was no accredited course for paramedics, and dialling 102 (ambulance service number) often connected you to the cremation grounds. TNN Its services proved invaluable when Cyclone Phailin hit Orissa last year. Ambulances transported the injured and also food. "Everything else was shut but we were on high alert. A baby was born in an ambulance, he was named Phailin," recalls Mangal. The organisation made it to the Limca Book of Records last year, for their free, first-aid responder training workshops. Over 5,000 participants were trained in a year, across school and colleges in Punjab. TNN

 

 

 

 

 

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Monday, September 29, 2014

Heart disease hits Indians early, diabetes, high BP make it worse




Study By US Assn Covers 85,000 PatientsAlmost 70% Suffer From Hypertension And 10% Have Heart Problems
In the Indian pool of heart patients, almost every second patient has high blood pressure, every fourth has diabetes and every fifth had plaque deposits in his her arteries.

This scientific picture of Indian heart diseases, at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is touring the US, comes from the American College of Cardiology's newly set up study centres across India. ACC is a not-forprofit medical association th at works out guidelines for cardiac treatment which are invariably followed globally.

The ongoing study provided data of 85,295 patients who clocked 2.11 lakh visits to out-patient departments of 15 hospitals from Mumbai to Patna over the last 26 months.Of these patients--from both urban centres and rural areas--60,836 were found to have heart disease.

"In capturing all-India data, this is one of the most scientific studies,'' said Dr Prafulla Kerkar, the head of Parel's KEM Hospital's cardiology department. He is also the chairperson of ACC's Pin nacle registry's India Quality Improvement Programme.

In the backdrop of World Heart Day on Monday , the ACC data underlines that the average age of a heart patient in India is 52 years. "If one looks at ACC's American registry , the average age is much higher in the sixties.Clearly , Indians get hit with heart disease much earlier,'' said Dr Ganesh Kumar, cardiologist at Hiranandani Hospital in Powai and vicechairperson of the study .

The ACC study , for the first time, shows how badly diabetes affects the Indian heart. It provides the breakup of the 13,077 patients with diabetes who visited the 15 centres a total of 35,441 times. Here, we found a doubling of the diseases. For instance, 32% of the diabetic patients had narrowed arteries or coronary artery disease. Almost 10% of them had heart failure and 70% had hypertension. The corresponding numbers for non-diabetic patients are half,'' said Dr Kumar.

He said the actual number of diabetic patients with heart complications would run into millions."The amount of time and money lost due to treatment would not only be high for a particular family, but it would translate into a huge economic burden for the country as well. In fact, this is what the US is going through today with the increasing number of heart failure patients,'' he added.

Heart failure and atrial fibrillations are two relatively new heart conditions that Indian doctors have begun tracking."The ACC data provides an insight into the type of patients walking into our heart clinics,'' said Dr Kerkar. "If more centres across India are roped in to maintain data of heart disease, then we can understand the complete nature of our heart burden.We will be able to design better heart health policies,'' he added.










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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Health Tip : Here are 10 Foods That Burn Fat

Health tips to burn fat

By: Ramesh Pathak on Aug 31, 2014 | 140 Views | 2 Responses | Report Abuse

 

1. Oats : Its not only tastes great but also reduces your hunger. Oats contains fiber which helps and stabilizes the levels of cholesterol.
2. Eggs : Eggs are the rich sources of proteins and low in calories. Eggs helps us to build the muscles and develops the good cholesterol.
3. Apples : Apples are enriched with powerful antioxidants and other supplements. Most importantly it contains Pectin which helps to reduce the fat cells in the body.
4. Green Chillies : Green chillies contains Capsaicin which helps to develop the body growth cells and burns the calories in quick time.
5. Garlic : Garlic contains Allicin which has anti-bacterial properties helps us to reduce the fat and removes the bad cholesterol.
6. Honey : Honey is the best one to burn fat. Add honey in warm water and take it daily in the early morning.
7. Green Tea : Green Tea is the most effective one which helps you to lose weight. It contains Antioxidants which helps and stabilizes our body weight.Take daily 2 cups of tea for a better results.
8. Wheat Grass : It boosts our metabolism and helps to reduce the fat.
9. Tomatoes : Tomatoes helps us to burn the fat in quick time. It also helps us to stay away from cancer. So Take tomatoes in your diet regularly.
10. Dark Chocolate : Dark chocolate contains Flavonoids, anti-inflammatory properties which helps to reduce the cholesterol levels in the blood. It boost the growth of serotonin in the blood and also burns t

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New project aims to track and treat 20,000 `silent' TB patients by 2017




The city's two-yearold tuberculosis control programme has got another booster shot. In a bid to draw out `silent' patients who delay getting a diagnosis, medical vouchers for free medicines and diagnostic tests are being made available.

In a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented by international NGO PATH, patients with cough living in slums or poor localities will get the voucher to gently prod them to undergo an X-ray .The programme, called the Private Provider Interface Agency (PPIA), will focus on the 12 wards identified as highrisk for TB and cover almost 9 million people.

"During our interactions with doctors, we found they are reluctant to mention TB to patients on their first visit and choose instead to write out antibiotics for their persistent cough," said Dr Arun Bamne, who is a consultant with the BMC for the TB control programme. The patient feels better because the antibiotics check the tuberculosis for some time, but the problem invariably returns, at times in a potent form.

The PPIA programme will try to break this cycle, said PATH project director Dr Shibu Vijayan. "The vouchers, which are being used in the Indian public health sphere for the first time, will act as an incentive," said Dr Vijayan, adding that the same programme is being implemented in Mehsana, Gujarat, and in Patna, Bihar. In Mumbai, the aim is to draw 20,000 more patients into the programme by 2017.

The city received the first booster dose for TB control in 2012 when reports of totally drug-resistant TB cases cropped up for the first time.The Union government immediately released special funds, granted hi-tech infrastructure and drew up a special plan for Mumbai. As a result, detection rates soared, with the number of drug-resistant cases climbing to almost 3,700 in the last two years.

"Despite the best effort and services, the public health system at best draws 50-60% of the targeted population. There is a huge population that prefers the private sector," said BMC's TB officer Dr Minni Khetrapal. As the private sector doesn't follow standard protocols, it is feared not all patients get equal or right treatment."Using programmes such as the PPIA, we want to be able to cover 100% of the population," added the doctor.

To start with, the pro gramme has identified 40 small and medium hospitals where the voucher can be used. "Patients who go to informal doctors with complaint of cough will be sent for a free X-ray at the nearest hub hospital we have identified," said Dr Vijayan. If the X-ray shows worrisome signs, the patient will be sent for a subsidized GeneXpert scan, costing barely Rs 500 as against the Rs 1,500 in other labs.

"If the GeneXpert test shows the patient has normal TB, he can use the voucher to buy free medicines for up to six months from a chemist," said Dr Bamne. If the GeneXpert shows the patient has drugresistant TB, he will be inducted into the BMC-run free treatment programme. The BMC gets medicines, costing Rs 2-5 lakh for each patient, from the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme.

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How to Detox your Liver ~ the Natural Way

How to Detox your Liver

A well functioning liver is vital to our health as it is the main way our bodies expel toxins. The liver detoxifies and cleanses our bodies by continuously filtering the blood of poisons that enter it through the digestive tract, the skin, and the respiratory system. But when your liver becomes overworked as a result of stress or excessive exposure to toxins, your entire system can be thrown off balance, and your health severely compromised. But with these simple natural remedies we could detox our livers and restore them to peak working order….

HOW TO NATURALLY DETOX YOUR LIVER 
1. WARM LEMON WATER – A glass of warm water with fresh organic lemons squeezed into it taken every morning is a great way to cleanse your liver. Not only does it smell fresh and zingy but it has been shown that the liver will produce more healthy enzymes in processing water with lemon than any other food tested. (i)
2. GARLIC – Garlic contains sulfur compounds that activate the enzyme production in the liver. In addition garlic is a rich source of selenium and allicin which help protect our livers. Add small amounts of garlic to your dishes, it doesn't have to be overpoweringly strong, or try a thinly sliced clove of garlic over a fresh salad regularly.
3.TURMERIC – Turmeric is often called curcumin orindian saffron, is powerful spice and has been well documented to have a wide range health benefits. Not only does is protect our livers from damage , it actively encourages the cells in our liver to regenerate themselves. Adding it to our diet regularly also helps to increase our levels of natural bile production – essential to ridding our bodies of harmful toxins.
4. CILANTRO – Cilantro also known as coriander, is a fabulously versatile herb which can be put in everything from salads, curries , pastas or even smoothies. It helps to eliminate heavy metals from our systems – a job that the lover struggles to do when overloaded. 
5. AVOCADOS – Reserach in Japan discovered that avocados contain several compounds which help protect our livers from long term damage. It is often mentioned as a 'super food' that we should eat for many health benefits, but in particular with relation to maintaing a healthy liver. They found that when they compared avocados with 21 other fruits, and analysing their effect on protecting livers from galactosamine , which is a damaging toxin and amino sugar, avocados came out top. High levels of galactosamine causes liver damage in a similar way to the human viral hepatits.
These are all simple ingredients we can find, organically where possible, and incoroporate into our daily diets very easily and is not an exhaustive list , also helpful are grapefruit, green tea, walnuts , green vegetablesto name just a few. But all of these give us a great start to a healthier and detoxed liver.

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~~HEART ATTACKS AND WATER !~~


How many folks do you know who say they don't want to drink anything before going to bed because they'll have to get up during the night.
Heart Attack and Water - I never knew all of this ! Interesting.......
Something else I didn't know ... I asked my Doctor why people need to urinate so much at night time. Answer from my Cardiac Doctor - Gravity holds water in the lower part of your body when you are upright (legs swell). When you lie down and the lower body (legs and etc) seeks level with the kidneys, it is then that the kidneys remove the water because it is easier. This then ties in with the last statement!
I knew you need your minimum water to help flush the toxins out of your body, but this was news to me. Correct time to drink water...
Very Important. From A Cardiac Specialist!
Drinking water at a certain time maximizes its effectiveness on the body
2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate internal organs
1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion
1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure
1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack
I can also add to this... My Physician told me that water at bed time will also help prevent night time leg cramps. Your leg muscles are seeking hydration when they cramp and wake you up with a Charlie Horse.
Mayo Clinic Aspirin Dr. Virend Somers, is a Cardiologist from the Mayo Clinic, who is lead author of the report in the July 29, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Most heart attacks occur in the day, generally between 6 A.M. and noon. Having one during the night, when the heart should be most at rest, means that something unusual happened. Somers and his colleagues have been working for a decade to show that sleep apnea is to blame.
1. If you take an aspirin or a baby aspirin once a day, take it at night.
The reason: Aspirin has a 24-hour "half-life"; therefore, if most heart attacks happen in the wee hours of the morning, the Aspirin would be strongest in your system.
2. FYI, Aspirin lasts a really long time in your medicine chest, for years, (when it gets old, it smells like vinegar).
Please read on...
Something that we can do to help ourselves - nice to know. Bayer is making crystal aspirin to dissolve instantly on the tongue.
They work much faster than the tablets.
Why keep Aspirin by your bedside? It's about Heart Attacks.
There are other symptoms of a heart attack, besides the pain on the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating; however, these symptoms may also occur less frequently.
Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack.
The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep did not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep.
If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water.
Afterwards: - Call 911. - Phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by.- Say "heart attack!" - Say that you have taken 2 Aspirins.
Take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and ...DO NOT LIE DOWN!
A Cardiologist has stated that if each person after receiving this e-mail, sends it to 10 people, probably one life could be saved!
I have already shared this information. What about you?
Do forward this message. It may save lives!
"Life is a one time gift"

www.healthdigezt.com

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Friday, August 15, 2014

Indians' craving for salt leading to a rising number of strokes in country



Restricting It Must Be Part Of Policy Planning, Say Docs
Almost 1.65 million people across the world die due to heart problems brought on by excess intake of salt, said a research analyzing populations from 187 countries.

The paper, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) on Thursday, found that the average consumption of salt across the globe was 3.95gm per day , nearly double the 2gm recommended by the World Health Organization.

A separate Indian study released a few days ago--the INDIAB study of the Indian Council for Medical Research--found that the mean salt intake in urban India was 7.6gm per day , much higher than the global mean.

"It is well known that salt or sodium is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke," said endocrinologist Dr Shashank Joshi, one of the lead authors of the INDIAB study .
Considering that one in four Indian adults suffers from high blood pressure, one can gauge the extent of heart problems caused by salt.

The highlight of NEJM's study , conducted by a 100-member team of academicians led by Tufts University , is that it's the first to quantify the effect of excess sodium on cardiovascular diseases. The final conclusion was that in 2010 alone, around 1.65 million across the world suffered fatal heart problems aggravated by their high sodium intake.

To arrive at the conclusion, the study--funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation--analyzed existing data from 205 surveys of sodium intake in 66 countries. The effects of sodium on blood pressure and of blood pressure on cardiovascular diseases were determined separately . The researchers then combined these findings with the current rates of cardiovascular diseases around 187 countries to estimate the number of cardiovascular deaths attributable to sodium consumption above 2gm per day .

"This important study reiterates that excess salt intake is equivalent to tobacco intake in terms of human disease and death. India ranks high on the list of countries with excess salt intake and resultant cardiovascular disease and deaths," said senior Delhi-based endocrinologist Dr Anoop Misra. He felt that a reduction in salt intake is not possible without legal restrictions and policy changes. "Salt restriction should be at the top of health policy planning to contain hypertension and heart disease," he added.

The INDIAB study on the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in India published two weeks ago found that Indians have a "salt-preponderance". "We crave salt. We not only reach for packed namkeen stuff and dishes high on salt, we also take hidden salt in pickles, papads, etc," said Joshi.

The explosion of hypertension in the country is higher than diabetes.
"The number of Indians suffering stroke is rising. One of the causes is our high salt intake," said Joshi.

The NEJM study found that four out of five global deaths attributable to higher than recommended sodium intakes occurred in middleand low-income countries. The research team also said the 1.65 million deaths meant that nearly one in 10 of all deaths from cardiovascular causes worldwide was due to higher salt ingestion. It concluded that strong policies are needed to reduce dietary sodium across the world.

Maha On Sodium High The INDIAB study of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) released data last fortnight, showing the mean salt intake in urban areas was significantly higher than that in the rural areas (7.6gm per day against 6.8gm per day).

The mean salt intake was highest in Chandigarh (8.3gm per day), followed by Maharashtra (7.2gm per day), Tamil Nadu (6.8gm per day) and Jharkhand (5.9gm per day).






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Saturday, August 9, 2014

Best way to brush? Even dentists disagree




Brushing our teeth — we all do it, once in the morning, once before bedtime. And we all think we know the best technique.

However, it would seem that after all we don't and, more worryingly, neither do our dentists nor do the people who make our toothbrushes.

A new study, by dental experts at University College London, has condemned "unacceptably inconsistent" advice from national dental associations, manufacturers and dentists themselves on the simple matter of brushing teeth.

Across 10 countries, researchers identified no fewer than six basic methods of brushing, and a variety of advice on the important aspects of dental hygiene: how often to brush, how long to brush for, technique and ways of rinsing.

The authors said there appeared to be "no consensus among professional bodies on the best method of toothbrushing for the general population or for people of different ages or with particular dental conditions. Such diversity in recommendations should be of serious concern to the dental profession".

Dr Nigel Carter of the British Dental Health Foundation admitted that experts "struggle" over toothbrushing recommendations. "When you actually look at the science there is no clear evidence around what method might be best, and the recommendations on toothbrushing intervals also vary hugely around the world," he said.

In the UK for instance, widely followed advice says to brush for two minutes twice a day. But many countries recommend three minutes, while most South American countries advise brushing for one minute, three times a day.

"I think the toothbrush manufacturers have been guilty of not doing as much research as they might," said Dr Carter. "Hopefully what [the UCL study] will do will focus some scientists on doing some more robust research on both the various techniques of brushing and the brushing intervals."

The most-commonly recommended method is known as the modified bass -which involves horizontal brush movements, accompanied by vertical and sweeping motions to create circles. However, no large studies have been carried out to determine whether it is really more effective than other simpler methods — including the most basic scrub technique taught to children.

Dr John Wainwright, the study's lead author and a practising dentist, said that he often encountered patients concerned that his recommendations differed to what previous dentists had told them.

"What I feel we need is better research into what the easiest to learn, most effective and safest way to brush is," he said.

"The current situation where not just individual dentists, but different dental organisations worldwide are all issuing different brushing guidelines isn't just confusing — it's undermining faith and trust in the profession as a whole. For something most people do twice a day, you would expect dentists to send a clearer, more unified message t o t h e i r p a t i e n t s o n how to brush their teeth."



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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Insurance claim's rejection due to `delay' not alright




`Treatment Went On For A Yr After Hospitalization'
A consumer forum has ruled in favour of a woman whose insurance claim was rejected by her insurer because it was filed 416 days after hospitalization instead of within the 30-day deadline.

The forum found that the complainant was under continuous treatment for her injury for more than a year.

It recently chastised National Insurance Co Ltd for repudiating the claim on technical grounds that "cannot be held as just and proper". "The insurance company adopted (an) unfair trade practice," said the South Mumbai District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, while directing the firm to pay Worli-based Jyoti Raut the insurance amount of Rs 39,439 along with compensation of Rs 12,000.

Raut was admitted in hospital on February 9, 2010, after she had a fall. When she was discharged the next day, Raut informed the insurer about the fall and the need for hospitalization and requested it for a claim form. She alerted it that as her treatment was on-going she would file the claim upon its completion. This point was iterated in letters on March 9, 2010, and March 7, 2011.

On April 25, 2011, Raut sent a letter claiming expenses incurred on the treatment that continued till March 31, 2011.

Two months later, however, the company repudiated the claim on the ground that the papers were not submitted within 30 days from the completion of the hospital treatment.

Raut lodged many protests with the insurer but when they were ignored she filed a complaint before the forum on July 11, 2012. The insurer, in response, argued there was no evidence to prove her continuous treatment till March 2011. "The last receipt of the doctor's clinic is dated September 9, 2010. It shows the treatment was completed," the company claimed.

The forum however pointed to bills showing that Raut had purchased medicines "on doctor's advice" on five different dates till February 2011.

"The evidence shows the complainant was under treatment till the end of March 2011 and that she incurred an expenditure of Rs 39,439 on treatment," it said.

It observed that Raut had informed the insurer that the doctor had advised her to continue treatment till March 2011. Thus, "it cannot be said that there was delay in submitting the claim on the part of the complainant," the forum said.






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Thursday, July 31, 2014

Day's rain gives city over a month's water supply




Santa Cruz, which recorded the lowest June rainfall in 63 years with a paltry 87.3mm, got 1468.7mm of rain in July the highest ever in the month since 1951. It surpassed even the 1,454.5mm recorded in July 2005, which included the downpour of 26/7. Moreover, rainfall received on July 30-31 in catchment areas has increased the city's water stock by 1.2 lakh million litres.

The low rainfall in June this year had become a matter of concern but it gathered pace in July. Rainfall in Santa Cruz since June 1 this year is 1,556mm, of which only 87.3mm was received in June.

V K Rajeev , director, Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai, said weather systems being different every year, rainfall could vary during the four monsoon months. "There are variations in systems and the distribution of rainfall varies every year. Currently , there is a low pressure trough, which is moving inwards and we have issued a forecast of heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours. This year the maximum quantum of rainfall so far was received in July," he said, denying rumors of a `cloudburst' which were doing the rounds on social media.

In the past decade, rainfall higher than 1,400mm was received only in 2005, which was the year of the deluge that sank several parts of the city. The excess rainfall so far in case of Colaba and Santa Cruz is 120.3mm and 197mm respectively . While Colaba has already received 68.7% of the season's required average so far, Santa Cruz received 69.7%.

The good news also continued in catchment areas and there was a 100% rise in water stocks in a week. While on July 25 water stock in catchment areas was 3.3 lakh million litres, on July 31, it rose to 8 lakh million litres. Vihar and Tansa, which supply a combined 11% of water to the city , are just two metres below the overflow level whereas Upper Vaitarna is 3.5 metres off. BMC on Thursday halved water cuts to 10% and may lift it completely if good rain persists.

2 drowning deaths in city

Two separate cases of drowning were reported in the city on Thursday. A teenager, Rafiq Shah (17), drowned in the sea at Versova behind Sagar Kutir building, Yari Road, around 2.30pm. He had gone for a swim with his friends.
In the other case, Khalid Ansari (30) of Bhiwandi drowned in Nadi Naka river. He had gone for a swim after seeing the river overflow. Fire brigade officials could not trace either Shah or Ansari's bodies till late in the night.

Downpour hits highways

Heavy rain on Thursday afternoon caused a major crack on the Mumbai-Nashik highway at the new Kasara Ghat. One side of the highway, towards Mumbai, was blocked. The crack was a foot wide and three feet deep and just next to a 150-metre-deep valley. Later, National Highway 222 was cut off between Kalyan and Titwala after Rayta bridge connecting both submerged.
Waldhuni river in Kalyan and Nadi Naka river in Bhiwandi, too, overflowed. A total of 200 families living close to Waldhuni river were shifted. In Bhiwandi, in the absence of civic facilities, around 2,000 people are forced to live in 3-foot water.










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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Anti-diabetic drug may slow aging


 

Metformin, the world's most widely used antidiabetic drug, may slow aging and increase lifespan, a new study suggests.

Researchers at the University of Leuven, Belgium decoded the mechanism behind metformin's age-slowing effects: the drug causes an increase in the number of toxic oxygen molecules released in the cell and this, surprisingly, increases cell robustness and longevity in the long term.

"As long as the amount of harmful oxygen molecules released in the cell remains small, it has a positive longterm effect on the cell. Cells use the reactive oxygen particles to their advantage before they can do any damage," said doctoral researcher Wouter De Haes.

"Metformin causes a slight increase in the number of harmful oxygen molecules. We found that this makes cells stronger and extends their healthy lifespan," he added.

The researchers studied metformin's mechanism in the tiny roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, an ideal species for studying aging because it has a lifespan of only three weeks. PTI




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Saturday, May 31, 2014

Exposure to light while sleeping can make you fat




Women who are exposed to greater levels of light while sleeping are more likely to gain weight, a new study has claimed.

Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, found body mass index, waist-hip ratio, waistheight ratio and waist circumference, all increased with increasing exposure to light at night.

These associations were seen after adjustments were made for confounding factors that could be associated with light exposure levels and weight in the study participants.

The findings come from cross-sectional analyses of data from the Breakthrough Generations Study , which followed over 113,000 women from across the United Kingdom for 40 years to find the root cause of breast cancer.

"Metabolism is affected by cyclical rhythms within the body that relate to sleeping, waking and light exposure," said Anthony Swerdlow, a researcher from the institute.






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Thursday, May 29, 2014

Laser triggers stem cells to regrow teeth





With a simple, low-power laser, researchers have triggered naturally-occurring dental stem cells to regrow teeth in rats. The work could soon be used to repair teeth in humans

A team was the first to demonstrate the ability to use low-power light to trigger stem cells inside the body to regenerate tissue, an advance they reported in Science Translational Medicine. The research, led by Wyss Institute Core Faculty member David Mooney lays the foundation for a host of clinical applications in restorative dentistry and regenerative medicine more broadly, such as wound healing, bone regeneration, and more.

The team used a low-power laser to trigger human dental stem cells to form dentin, the hard tissue that is similar to bone and makes up the bulk of teeth.
What's more, they outlined the precise molecular mechanism involved, and demonstrated its prowess using multiple laboratory and animal models.

A number of biologically active molecules, such as regulatory proteins called growth factors, can trigger stem cells to differentiate into different cell types. Current regeneration efforts require scientists to isolate stem cells from the body, manipulate them in a laboratory, and return them to the body ­ efforts that face a host of regulatory and technical hurdles to their clinical translation. But Mooney's approach is different and, he hopes, easier to get into the hands of practicing clinicians.

"Our treatment modality does not introduce anything new to the body, and lasers are routinely used in medi cine and dentistry, so the barriers to clinical translation are low," said Mooney. "It would be a substantial advance in the field if we can regenerate teeth rather than replace them."

RAT DENTISTRY The team first turned to lead author and dentist Praveen Arany. At the time of the research, he was a Harvard graduate student. Arany took rodents to the laboratory version of a dentist's office to drill holes in their molars, treat the tooth pulp that contains adult dental stem cells with low-dose laser treatments, applied temporary caps, and kept the animals comfortable and healthy. After about 12 weeks, high-resolution x-ray imaging and microscopy confirmed that the laser treatments triggered the enhanced dentin formation.

"It was definitely my first time doing rodent dentistry," said Arany, who faced several technical challenges in performing oral surgery on such a small scale. The dentin was strikingly similar in composition to normal dentin, but did have slightly different morphological organisation. Moreover, the typical reparative dentin bridge seen in human teeth was not as readily apparent in the minute rodent teeth, owing to the technical challenges with the procedure.

"This is one of those rare cases where it would be easier to do this work on a human," Mooney said.
HOW IT WORKED Next the team performed a series of culture-based experiments to unveil the precise molecular mechanism responsible for the regenerative effects of the laser treatment. It turns out that a ubiquitous regulatory cell protein called transforming growth factor beta-1 played a pivotal role in triggering the dental stem cells to grow into dentin.
Beta-1 exists in latent form until activated by any number of molecules.

Here is the chemical domino effect the team confirmed: In a dose-dependent manner, the laser first induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are chemically active molecules containing oxygen that play an important role in cellular function. The ROS activated the latent Beta-1-complex which, in turn, differentiated the stem cells into dentin.

The clinical effects of low-power lasers have been subtle and largely inconsistent. The new work marks the first time that scientists have gotten to the nub of how low-level laser treatments work on a molecular level, and lays the foundation for controlled treatment protocols. Next Arany aims to take this work to human clinical trials.








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Cancer, AIDS, malaria drugs may get cheaper




Drug prices regulator NPPA is looking at bringing medicines used for treating diseases such as cancer, AIDS and malaria under the price control mechanism.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority met recently to consider ways of bringing medicines, which are not covered by the list of essential drugs, under some regulatory ambit in order to check prices, sources said.

"We are examining the possible actions to bring down the prices in public interest in case of drugs whose prices vary to a great extent and the treatment is very costly," a senior official said. The prices of some of the medicines targeting diseases like cancer vary up to 600 per cent, the official added.

"Moreover, NPPA is also examining the prices of medicines targeting malaria and dysentery," the official said. As of May last year, prices of 348 medicines in the National List of Essential Medicines were under control with the implementation of Drug Prices Control Order (DPCO), 2013.

The move followed the approval of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy (NPPP) 2012 by the Cabinet on November 22, 2012. This was later notified on December 7, 2012.

The NPPA has been authorised to fix and revise prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce prices and availability of the medicines in the country.

It is also mandated to monitor the prices of decontrolled drugs in order to keep them at reasonable levels. PTI




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Thursday, May 1, 2014

Medicare costs biggest worry for Indians over 45

Mumbai: Indians approaching their silver innings seem most worried about their ability to foot their medical expenses in future, an online survey has found. 

    Respondents above 45 years rated high out-of-pocket spending on health above fears about physical and mental wellbeing. While life expectancy is up, thanks to medical advances, this generation is more likely to be living its sunset years alone as the young migrate for work. 
    "As they live longer, they become financially dependent for their living and health costs have to be met for an extended time. They are 
increasingly being seen as burdensome by the younger population, thus increasing the likelihood of abuse," said Dr Smita Bammidi, a researcher on ageing with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Deonar. In a Nielsen survey of 30,000 people, 54% of those above 45 cited not having enough money to cover medical costs as their top concern. 
45+ SHADES OF GREY 
There are over 190 million Indians over the age of 45 
In a Nielsen survey of 30,000 people, 54% of those above 45 cited 
not having enough money to cover medical costs as their top concern 
Physical and mental fitness 
concerns are more widespread, but rank below healthcare costs 
Current senior citizens more worried about losing their motor skills 
Elderly short of cash, but have 'vote power' 
Mumbai: A nationwide survey has found that for Indians aged over 45, physical and mental fitness was a more widespread concern (81%), but rated below medicare costs. 
    Interestingly, senior citizens seemed more concerned about losing their motor skills as they grow older than funding their lifestyle. "More than half (53%) of respondents claim their biggest fear is losing physical agility, followed by not having enough money to live comfortably or cover medical expenses,'' the survey, completed in December 2013, said about those above 60. 
    "There are over 190 million Indians over the age of 45 as per Census 2011, making up for 19% of our population,'' said Nielsen India president Piyush Mathur. But there is no planning at government or private sector level for this sizeable section. "In the West, the ageing segment is a driver of consumer perspective. In India, this niche segment is 
rarely targeted. There isn't enough medical insurance or packages targeting this group." 
    Shailesh Mishra of the Silver Innings Foundation, which works for Alzheimer's patients in Mumbai, said there is no concept of "planning for the future senior citizens". "Medical expenses are rising. If a family has an Alzheimer's patient, a parttime nurse will cost Rs 15,000," he said, highlighting the urgent need for government-run programmes for the elderly. 
    "Older persons in India find funding their expenses post-retirement when there is no regular income their single biggest concern. A majority may not have enough savings and are dependent on their children," said Bammidi of TISS. 
    The elderly could be a force to reckon with as they are high in absolute numbers, she added. "They are consumers of various products and healthcare, they can decide which party comes to power, but we don't use them effectively."




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Thursday, April 17, 2014

‘Anti-diabetes efforts lead to cut in health risks’

Federal researchers on Wednesday reported the first broad national picture of progress against some of the most devastating complications of diabetes, which affects millions of Americans, finding that rates of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and amputations fell sharply over the past two decades. The biggest declines were in the rates of heart attacks and deaths from high blood sugar, which dropped by more than 60% from 1990 to 2010, the period studied. 

    While researchers had had patchy indications that outcomes were improving for diabetic patients in recent years, the study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, documents startling gains. 
    "This is the first really credible, reliable data that demonstrates that all of the efforts at reducing risk have paid off," said Dr David M Nathan, director of the Diabetes Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, who was not involved in the study. "Given that diabetes is the chronic epidemic of this millennium, this is a very important finding." 
    The number of Ameri
cans with diabetes more than tripled over the period of the study and is now nearly 26 million. Nearly all the increase came from Type 2 diabetes, which is often related to obesity and is the more common form of the disease. An additional 79 million Americans have pre-diabetes, which means they are at high risk of developing the disease. 
    Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who wrote the study, estimate that diabetes and its complications account for about $176 billion in medical costs every year. The study measured outcomes for both Type 1 and Type 2. 
    Experts said the declines were the fruit of years of efforts to improve the health of patients with Type 2 diabetes. Doctors are much better now at controlling the risk factors that can lead to complications — for example, using medications to control blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure — health experts said. What is more, a widespread push to educate patients has improved how they look after themselves. And a major effort among health care providers to track the progress of diabetes patients and help steer the ones who are getting off track has started to have an effect. NYT NEWS SERVICE

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Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Ghee, butter and cheese not tied to heart disease? Experts: No Proof That Saturated Fat Is Unhealthy

London: A dollop of ghee or butter in your diet does not cause as much harm to your heart as it was believed till now. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the British Heart Foundation have found there is actually no evidence that confirms changing the type of fat you eat from “bad” saturated to “healthier” polyunsaturated cuts heart risk. 

    The researchers analysed data from 72 unique studies with over 600,000 participants from 18 nations and found total saturated fatty acid, whether measured in the diet or in the bloodstream as a biomarker, was not associated with coronary disease risk in the observational studies. Similarly, when analysing the studies that involved assessments of the consumption of total monounsaturated fatty acids, long-chain omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, there were no significant associations between consumption and cardiovascular risk. 
    Saturated fat is the kind of fat found in butter, biscuits, red meat, sausages and bacon and cheese and cream. There has been a big drive to get more people eating unsaturated fats, such as olive and sunflower oils, and other non-animal fats instead. But the latest study raises questions about the current guidelines that generally restrict the consumption of saturated fats and encourage con
sumption of polyunsaturated fats to prevent heart disease. 
    “These are interesting results that potentially stimulate new lines of scientific inquiry and encourage careful reappraisal of our current nutritional guidelines,” said Dr Rajiv Chowdhury, lead author of the research at the University of Cambridge. “Cardiovascular disease, in which the principal manifestation is coronary heart disease, remains the single leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In 2008, more than 17 million people died from a cardiovascular cause globally. With so many affected by this illness, it is critical to have appropriate prevention guidelines which are in
formed by the best available scientific evidence.” 
    The research collaboration led by the University of Cambridge analysed existing cohort studies and randomised trials on coronary risk and fatty acid intake. They showed that current evidence does not support guidelines which restrict the consumption of saturated fats in order to prevent heart disease. The researchers also found insufficient support for guidelines which advocate the high consumption of polyunsaturated fats (such as omega 3 and omega 6) to reduce the risk of coronary disease. 
    For the full report, log on to www.timesofindia.com 

HEART OF THE MATTER: The latest study raises questions about the current guidelines that restrict the consumption of saturated fats and encourage consumption of polyunsaturated fats to prevent heart disease

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Thursday, March 13, 2014

A PICTURE OF GOOD HEALTH


 This weekend, Tisca Chopra, along with numerous women in the city, took the Revital Woman health pledge. “I am proud and inspired to be a part of this special initiative by Revital Woman to get women’s health in focus. I hope that with this initiative, women would have got inspired to think about their health. I would urge everyone to spread this message,” she said. Winners of the brand’s ‘U are Vital’ activity were also rewarded by the actress. 
    On the occasion, Dinesh R Barthwal, said, “Through the initiative, we want to tell every woman that your health is vital. It is time you start caring for it. We aim to spread awareness and put women’s health in focus.” 
    To get a chance to gift a free health check-up voucher to your special woman, give a missed call on 095552 95552 or log on to 
www.revitalwoman.com 

Women taking the health pledge


Sharat (Manager, Trade Marketing, Ranbaxy Consumer Healthcare) and Dinesh R Barthwal (Regional Sales Manager-West, Ranbaxy Consumer Healthcare)


Tisca Chopra


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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

May you liver long OD-ed on alcohol on New Years? Heavy drinking is not just about hangovers but fatty liver and alcoholic hepatitis too

 The heavy drinking synonymous with Christmas and New Year's Eve can put a serious strain on the liver, say experts. Excessive alcohol consumption is known to cause either short or longterm liver damage. 
    Alcohol is a essentially a poison, and if drunk in excess over the long-term, it can lead to either a fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis. 
    Over a number of years, most heavy drinkers tend to develop a fatty liver. In this condition, fat globules form within liver cells. 
    If alcohol consumption continues, hepatitis or inflammation of the liver develops. And with continued drinking, cirrhosis or scarring of tissue follows, making liver damage irreversible. 
SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR 
The liver becomes enlarged, causing discomfort in the right upper abdomen. After about 10 years, symptoms of nausea, vomiting, pain under the right ribs, weight loss, fever, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) and a swollen 
abdomen appear. 
    The alarming bit is that cirrhosis may often cause no symptoms for a number of years or only mild ones, including poor appetite and weight loss, nausea and muscle wasting. 
    In some cases, severe cirrhosis may lead to varicose veins in the gullet that bleed into the digestive tract. Liver failure ensues, with coma and death. 
HOW TO TREAT IT 
Stop drinking completely and forever, is what doctors will tell you. If not, the disease may be fatal. If drinking stops, you may get a few extra years of life. 
    Fatty liver often disappears after three to six months of abstinence from alcohol. 
    About half of the people with cirrhosis die from liver failure within five years. 
    More than one in 10 with cirrhosis go on to develop liver cancer. 
    People who do not have any other serious health problems and have stopped drinking may be candidates for a liver transplant. 
    Swelling of the abdomen can be treated with diuretic drugs. Nausea can be relieved by antiemetic drugs. 
    — Daily Mirror


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I’ve learnt my lesson Top 10 city docs on the healthy promise they are trying to keep, and how you can too


Exercise to get into that pair of jeans DR FIRUZA PARIKH, fertility specialist Imust remind myself of the aphorism, physician, heal thyself. Exercise, yoga and a sensible diet are my priorities for the year. I need to work on getting into that pair of jeans I have secretly locked away in my cupboard. 
    As for my patients, I'm going to stress on concentrating on the simple things that help increase reproductive potential —adequate exercise, balanced diet, taking vitamin supplements, and sleeping well. Plastics, that we use every day, have a toxic effect on our reproductive organs. It's important that I discuss the outcome with couples during consultation.


Bring back fun into my life 
DR SAMIR DALWAI, 
developmental paediatrician 

    I've been falling in love with my work, and now realise, it may not be such a good thing, actually! As we progress in our careers, we tend to focus on output and targets at the expense of having fun. This only ends up reducing efficiency, and ruining your health. I used to be a regular at salsa classes, but haven't had the time to do it in a while. My plan is to make sure this year is about bringing back fun into my life.


Strive to achieve a gadget-detox 
DR PARUL TANK, psychiatrist 

    In Latin, 'mens sana in corpore sano' means a healthy mind in a healthy body. This year, I wish to work towards achieving it. It's tough for a doctor to find time to exercise, but it's important if I must stay fit for patients who seek emotional solace from me. I am trying to reduce the importance of technology in my life. We are reaching out to phones, the Internet and social media to achieve targets and success and dodge boredom. In the bargain, our listening and communicating skills are getting blunted. It's an advice I am going to share with my patients, too.


Start eating fish regularly 
KAJAL S KHATURIA, 
Nutritionist 
Ineed to stop thinking about nutrition 24/7, and train my focus on socialising. Regular walks in the park and playing badminton, meeting close friends and family for dinner is what I am keen to incorporate into my schedule. But since I cannot be separated from my profession (laughs), I plan to spread awareness about the benefits of including fish in your diet. It's known to protect against heart disease, stroke, is great for your skin and brain functions. At the moment, I get my supply of Omega 3 fatty acids through supplements, but I've made up my mind about including fish in my meals.


Play with my daughter 
DR RAVI KOTHARI, 
Ayurveda practitioner 
    
As an Ayurveda expert, I'm aware of the benefits of the Dincharya, the practice of promoting a healthy mind and body. The way to achieve it is through Pranayama and Yogasanas, Oil Pulling, Rasayana, Nasya, Anjan, Karna puran etc. I've decided I must practise a few of these myself. I'm also going to stay away from stress, and count the little blessings, spend time doing what makes me happy — playing with my daughter. This will be my way be at peace with the world.


Spend time meditating 
DR AASHISH ARBAT, Knee and hip replacement surgeon 
    
Iam a regular gymmer, and my expertise makes it evident when I see people exercise around me that that they are doing it incorrectly or over-exercising. This is especially harmful after 35, and leads to shoulder and knee injuries. My resolution is to stick to a healthy diet, not skip meals, do floor exercises instead of skipping and running on the treadmill, and replace it with cycling and badminton in a bid to protect my joints. And yes, I am making time to take care of my mind too with Pranayam and meditation.


Cut stress with a Bali holiday 
DR APRATIM GOEL, Non-surgical cosmetic specialist 
    
I'm committed to lessening the obsession with being 'thin and fair'. Crash dieting does more harm than good, and ODing on fairness creams is a recipe in disaster because so many of them contain hidden ingredients like steroids and mercury. I will continue to bust myths associated with skin health, like — moisturing oily skin leads to acne. Removing your make-up at the end of the day and moisturising your skin, no matter what type, are two of the most important bits of advice I give my patients. I will make time for the well-deserved holiday in Bali.


Give more listening time to patients 
DR NILESH GOYAL, 
Dermatologist 
    
I've planned to listen attentively to my patients. A doctor's daily life is cluttered with incessant calls and complaints. Amid the chaos, we stand the danger of losing track of our primary duty — listen to the patient and attend to his primary worry. It's one the main causes for dissatisfaction among patients; not being given a patient hearing and answering their queries. This harms the relationship between patient and doctor, and can even affect success of treatment. I'm keen to change this.


Discuss cutting-edge technology 
DR KAUSHAL MALHAN, 
knee and hip surgeon 
    
This year, I've resolved to propagate new technology available in the field of joint replacement surgery. Disability from arthritis has risen manifold, especially among younger patients. It's the expectation of this group that must be addressed while taking into account that a long term solution is the need of the hour. I must spread the word about tissue preserving customised techniques of joint replacement that allow faster recovery and better results.


Eat healthy so that my kids learn too 
DR HARSHADA RAJADHYAKSHA, 
Orthopaedic physiotherapist 
    
Like charity, fitness begins at home. I'm trying to strike the delicate balance between food, sleep and exercise. I make time for a mix of cycling, swimming and gymming, which I will continue in the hope that my kids learn healthy habits, too. Restricting oily food, sweets helps keep cardiac disease, diabetes, and hypertension at bay

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