Healthcare Archives - Lokmarg

India’s First Transgender OPD Opens In Delhi’s RML Hospital

By LokMarg 17th September 2023

In a step toward inclusivity and healthcare accessibility, Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital inaugurated India’s first transgender Outpatient Department (OPD) today.

The inaugural ceremony was led by Professor Dr Ajay Shukla, Director of RML Hospital, who emphasized the importance of providing equitable healthcare services to the transgender community.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Ajay Shukla highlighted the challenges faced by transgender individuals when seeking medical care. “Transgender individuals were facing numerous difficulties in accessing our hospital’s services,” he noted.

“Their numbers in the hospital were negligible, largely due to discomfort and the fear of discrimination. Hence, on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, we have initiated this special OPD dedicated to their healthcare needs.”

One of the key features of this initiative is the provision of a dedicated restroom facility for transgender patients within the hospital premises.

This restroom has been designed to ensure that transgender individuals feel comfortable and do not face any difficulties during their visits to the hospital.

Transgender individuals present at the inauguration expressed their delight and gratitude for this pioneering step. Members of the transgender community stated, “We are overjoyed with this initiative. Today’s inauguration feels like a special gift to us on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday. Previously, we often hesitated to come to the hospital.”

In addition to the inauguration of the transgender OPD, RML Hospital also organized a blood donation camp on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.

The establishment of India’s first transgender OPD and the thoughtful provision of restroom facilities is a significant step toward ensuring that healthcare services are accessible to all, regardless of gender identity.

It is anticipated that this pioneering initiative at RML Hospital will set an example for inclusivity and inspire similar efforts across the nation, furthering the cause of equitable healthcare for all. (ANI)

Mock Drills To Be Conducted At All Health Facilities In Wake Of COVID Alarm

By LokMarg 25th December 2022

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday decided to hold mock drills at all health facilities across the country on December 27 in the wake of the COVID alarm due to a surge in infection in many countries.

This is to ensure readiness in the availability of oxygen support, and ICU beds among other preparedness measures in case of a surge of COVID cases in India.
In a letter duly signed by Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan dated December 24, the Ministry said that it is necessary that in all States/UTs requisite public health measures are put in place to meet any exigencies, adding that preparedness of COVID health facilities to ensure that the states are in a state of readiness to meet the increase in clinical care needs due to any spurt in cases.

“It has therefore been decided to hold the mock drill at all health facilities (including identified COVID-dedicated health facilities) across the country on Tuesday, 27th December 2022,” the Ministry said.

According to the Ministry, the objective of the exercise is to ensure the operational readiness of these health facilities for the management of COVID.

Detailing the focus on the parameters during the mock drills, it said that the main focus will be on the bed capacities including isolation, oxygen-supported, and ICU beds at the health facilities.

“Geographically representative availability of health facilities — covering all districts. Bed capacities — Isolation beds, oxygen-supported isolation beds, ICU beds, and ventilator-supported beds.

The focus will also be on the optimal availability of human resources which include doctors, nurses, and paramedics. AYUSH doctors, other frontline workers including ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, etc.

“Human resource capacity. Healthcare professionals trained in COVID-19 management, Healthcare professionals trained in ventilatory management protocol for severe cases, healthcare workers trained in the operation of PSA plants, etc. Referral services: Availability of Advanced and Basic Life Support (ALS/BLS) ambulances, availability of other ambulances (under PPP mode or with NGOs), availability of functional ambulance call centre,” it said.

Boosting the testing capacities and availability of RT-PCR and RAT kits, availability of testing equipment and reagents will also be the focus.

“Logistics availability. Availability of essential drugs. ventilators, BIPAP. SPO2 systems, PPE kits, N-95 masks. etc” the Ministry said.

“Medical oxygen: Oxygen Concentrators, Oxygen Cylinders, PSA Plants. Liquid Medical Oxygen Storage Tanks, Medical Gas Pipeline Systems, etc,” it added.

The Ministry informed that the mock drill may be conducted under the guidance of respective district collectors, and district magistrates in close consultation with officers of the Health Department of the State/UT.

Earlier, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday announced that the RT-PCR test has been made mandatory for passengers coming from five countries including China.

“The RT-PCR test to be mandatory for international arrivals from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand. On arrival, if any passenger from these countries is found symptomatic or tests positive for Covid-19 infection, then he/she will be put under quarantine,” Health Minister Mandaviya said in a conversation with ANI.

He also said that the Air Suvidha form filling to declare the current health status will also be made compulsory for international passengers arriving from these Asian countries.

Taking note of the rising cases of COVID globally, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said that the Centre and States need to work in “tandem” and in a “collaborative spirit” as was done during the previous surges.

Mandaviya, while chairing a virtual meeting Friday with the health ministers of the states, Principal Secretaries, Additional Chief Secretaries, and Information Commissioners, said that the country needs to be on the alert and be fully prepared for COVID management.

The meeting was held in view of the recent upsurge in cases in some countries like China, Japan, Brazil, and the United States in the presence of Union Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar, NITI Aayog member V K Paul to review the public health preparedness for containment and management of COVID-19 and progress of national COVID-19 vaccination campaign. (ANI)

#MyVote2019 – ‘BJP Did Well in Healthcare’

By LokMarg 24th December 2018

In this regard, I hold Modi regime has performed well. The revision of stent prices was a revolutionary decision taken by the government. I have seen patients giving blessings to Modi. Earlier, stents were dubiously priced high and beyond the reach of the poor and lower middle class patients. Things drastically changed when the Centre standardized the stent prices.

Even people from low income groups are able to opt for a stent placement. I would like to share the story of Shanti Singh, a patient from Varanasi who came to Lucknow for treatment. When she came here, the price of one stent was about Rs 1.5 lakh. After we gave her an estimate, she quietly went back home. However, after the prices were revised, Shanti came back to us and this time the entire cost of her treatment –which included installing two stents in her coronary arteries, medicines and hospital stay — totaled just Rs 70,000.

Next, the Ayushmaan Bharat health scheme is a revolutionary step towards providing comprehensive healthcare services to this country’s citizens. A majority of the beneficiaries under this scheme are able to get themselves treated at private hospitals, which are bound to entertain them without any excuse. This takes the load off government hospitals to a great extent.

And we can improve our performance. Private hospitals did have initial objections, but now they have no other choice. A friend of mine who runs a private hospital in the neighboring district was forced to allocate a sizeable number of beds for the beneficiaries of this scheme.

He was rather perturbed by this but gradually he had to get accustomed to it. Also putting most of the life-saving drugs under direct price control and opening of Jan Aushadhi Kendras at government hospitals will surely be another feather on the cap for the BJP government. I will undoubtedly support a repeat term for the Narendra Modi government.