Nitesh Sangral

No isolated ward, Tamiflu syrup 2/26/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report   Jammu, Feb 26 Children are at higher risk for getting the H1N1 influenza virus but Jammu and Kashmir Health Department has failed to provide isolated wards and Tamilflu syrup to the `children of lesser god'. An allegation, severely contested by the department which says that enough Tamiflu medicine and isolated wards are available in SMGS hospital. Senior doctor at SMGS hospital informed Early Times that government hospital Jammu is not ready to deal with swine flu cases of children due to non- availability of Tamiflu syrup. It's a serious subject as many children are visiting the government hospitals OPDs everyday with normal flu symptoms. Children are at higher risk for the flu because their immune systems are not fully developed. Children with chronic health conditions are at even higher risk of getting the flu and experiencing complications, he stated. He also said, if the c...

2/24/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report  Jammu, Feb 24: With increasing cases of deadly Swine Flu triggering panic across the state, suspects flocking GMC hospital in Jammu are alleging insensitivity and callousness which is adding on to their anxiety.                                                                        People allege that there is no doctor to attend to those coming in with suspicion of H1N1 virus and even the OPD is not starting in time. "An isolation cell has been established at Col. Sir RN Chopra Nursing Home, but the OPD starts at 11 am against the scheduled timing 10 am to 2 pm. Moreover, the isolation cell is frequented by attendants and no precautions are being taken by the staff deputed there" said an attendant who had escorted his brother from Udhampur. Sur...

2/24/2015 Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report  Jammu, Feb 23: With panic gripping people across the state due to increasing number of H1N1 cases, doctors in the hospital are apprehending their own safety as they have not been provided the N95 masks which are mandatory to deal with such infectious disease. A doctor on duty in causality ward, pledging anonymity informed Early Times that the doctors of GMCH Jammu are being compelled to purchase the N95 masks on their own to save themselves from H1N1 during duty hours. "The state health department should be well prepared to deal with such eventuality, especially the doctors who are expected to take care of infected patients" he lamented. "The N95 masks are a must for the doctors and staff during duty hours since H1N1 cases are increasing in the State", the doctors at GMCH said and added that surgical masks being used may not protect the staff on duty and the situation would only complicate if any case of ...

Health Deptt fails to spend funds released by Guv 2/22/2015  Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report  Jammu, Feb 21: Owing to unavailability of specialized labs along with insufficient of medicine vaccines in the government hospitals, a major threat about Swine Flu taking a shape of epidemic is looming large over Jammu and Kashmir. "Lackadaisical attitude of the Health Department and its failure to keep the state hospitals equipped with medicine and other necessary facilities cn prove fatal for the state," sources said. They said the Governor N N Vohra released Rs 30 lakhs to the Health Department to augment the stock of medicines and vaccines and purchase ventilators to effectively deal with the flu. "Two days have passed when the amount was released but the health department is claiming that it would take three more days to purchase the vaccines and ventilators," they added. MLA Sat pal Sharma speaking to Early Times said that he had given instruc...

Second suspected H1N1 death in Jammu Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report Jammu, Feb 20: With the second Swine Flu death in the winter capital, the toll has gone up to two in Jammu province. According to reports, a person undergoing treatment in Chest Disease Hospital succumbed Friday. He is suspected of having carried the deadly H1N1 virus. The doctors , however, are investigation to ascertain whether the death was caused by Swine Flu or other ailment. Meanwhile, 23 more samples in the Jammu were sent to National Institute of Communicable Diseases in New Delhi (NICD). Yesterday, a Superintendent of Police Sunil Gupta who died in a private hospital due to respiratory disorder. Officials Sources of GMC hospital informed Early Times that total 23 samples were sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases in New Delhi (NICD) and out of them, seven reports of suspected patients have been received in GMC hospital and three of them tested positive. "Four ...

SP dies of suspected swine flu Nitesh Sangral  Early Times Report     Jammu, Feb 19: Jammu Province has recorded its first swine flu death and 17 more cases have been detected so far, an official told Early Times on Thursday that admiration of concerned hospital as well as Government Medical College and Hospital are awaiting his report to discover whether the death was due to swine flu. Pertinently, in Kashmir Province two patients infected with H1N1 virus have died while over 70 persons have tested positive and are undergoing treatment. Official Sources informed Early Times that the deceased has been identified as Sunil Gupta resident of Gandhi Nagar, Superintendent of Police administration at the Zonal Police Head quarter, Jammu. He was admitted in Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences, Sidhra in a critical condition as he suffered from respiratory related disorder. "The case history was just five days old and he died, it's shocking that de...

Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report Jammu, Feb 18: The vehicles of Government Medical College (GMC) hospital and some other government hospital are misusing the Red Cross Emblem (symbol)-which is meant for only the members of the Red Cross movement while on official duty and the Army Medical Corps (AMC) personnel. Officials' sources informed Early Times that administration of hospital knows that the use of the Red Cross emblem by doctors and ambulances is punishable offence and in addition to a fine of Rs. 500, the offence can result in forfeiture of goods or vehicles on which the emblem has been used. "Despite that the doctors have their own symbol, doctors' vehicles, ambulances, staff busses, vans and other vehicles of GMC hospital-have been using the emblem as if it were their own logo owing to lackadaisical approach of IRCS J&K along with higher administration of these hospital or medical institutions in Jammu province," they stated. Sources of IRCS...

Less facilities for handicapped patients, authorities unmoved Nitesh Sangral Jammu, Feb 16: The GMC hospital has been operating with five wheelchairs in emergency ward, of which three are lying defunct for the past few months. However, the administration has been calming that they are providing facilities for the benefit of patients. Sources at GMC informed Early Times that at present the hospital has been operating with two wheelchairs out of five for last some months. Although, sources say there should be at least 15 available. “Sometimes have to carry critically ill patients to the wards, but owing to insufficient of wheelchairs patients being faced hardship. If sometimes patients who need immediate attention have to wait for the next available wheelchair to be transported to the emergency units, “Sources claimed. Sources further stated remaining wheelchairs are not fully functional and does not know how long it will take so they avoid to use them before the other on...

Wears colourful dress, forgets apron Nitesh Sangra Jammu, Feb 11: Causality Medical Officer of Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu today threatened the Early Times reporter and humiliated him when this reporter suggested to him that he should wear a whit apron so that patients  are able to recognize that he is a doctor.   The CMO, who was donning a colorful dress, was offended when this reporter told him that white apron helps patients to identify the right person. Pertinently, a few days back, the same CMO was reportedly found having coffee with MLA to seek his blessings for more than an hour. The story was carried by Early Times newspaper as ‘CMO prefers coffee over patients’, ‘Goes missing amid jr docs strike’ in Early Times on February 7, 2015. This journo visited GMC hospital’s emergency ward once again on Wednesday, there were junior doctors, who were found doing their job without donning the uniform, which is necessary for doctors during duty ...

2/10/2015 11:12:00 AM Nitesh Sangral Early Times Report JAMMU, Feb 9: Ambulances of two premier hospitals in Jammu province- Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital and Shri Maharaja Ghulab Singh hospital - are doing odd jobs throughout the day like delivering store items, ferrying doctors and other staff members.  Pertinently, the Government of India as well as the state government had provided ambulances to the hospitals for patients but interestingly when patients need the same they are denied the service on one or other pretext.. Sources at GMC hospital informed Early Times that the ambulance at GMC hospital bearing (no. JK02J-5954) and other ambulance at SMGS hospital (bearing no. JK02BA-1845) are being used for odd jobs for past many years. "The administration has maintained silence over the misuse of the ambulances in the government hospitals for the reasons best known to it, "they claimed.  Those ambulances drivers spend more travel time on duties than em...

Goes missing amid junior doctors' strike 

59 bite cases reported daily, administration unmoved 

25 tempos provided by centre turn into scrap