INDIABihar MLA helps husband flee from police station
Debashish Karmakar | TNN | Jan 19, 2016, 04.38 AM IST
JD(U) MLA from Bihar’s Rupauli Bima Bharti. (TOI file photo by KM Sharma)
PATNA: A Bihar MLA from the ruling JD(U) allegedly helped her husband escape from police custody in Purnia district.
Bima Bharti, JD(U)'s Rupauli MLA, along with JD(U) Purnia MP Santosh Kushwaha helped her husband Awadhesh Mandal escape from the police station within hours of his arrest on Sunday. Bharti is a former minister.
Mandal has nearly 100 criminal cases lodged against him.
Police sources said that Mandal was arrested after he reportedly threatened the widow and two children of Chanchal Paswan over deposing against him in court. Mandal is accused of murdering Chanchal in 2005.
Paswan Tola residents attacked Mandal after that following which police arrested him. Soon after the arrest, Bharti and Kushwaha arrived at Maranga police station around 8.30pm with more than 150 supporters. Mandal's handcuffs unlocked as he wanted to lodge an FIR against the attack on him.
While Kushwaha was talking to police officials in the station about the arrest, Bharti remained inside her white SUV with two armed guards in front of the police station building, sources said. Mandal suddenly jumped into the MLA's vehicle which then sped towards Harda. Soon Kushwaha also left.
Sources said the district administration had sent reinforcements sensing trouble but Mandal fled before they could reach the police station.
Reports said police teams in several vehicles chased the MLA's SUV but failed to intercept it. They also put certain cellphones on surveillance and learnt that the MLA and her guards were constantly changing locations. Police raided several places throughout the night but in vain.
ADG (HQ) Sunil Kumar said in Patna a probe has been initiated. A fresh FIR has also been lodged against Mandal.
The probe would make it clear who all helped him escape and action would be taken accordingly, Kumar said, adding that Maranga police station SHO Shiv Shankar has been suspended for dereliction of duty.
Purnia SP Nishant Tiwary on Monday said Mandal would be re-arrested soon.
The Purnia district administration had booked Mandal under the Crime Control Act during the recent assembly election in the state. He was asked to mark his presence at a police station everyday. The cases against him include those of murder and dacoity.
Bima Bharti, JD(U)'s Rupauli MLA, along with JD(U) Purnia MP Santosh Kushwaha helped her husband Awadhesh Mandal escape from the police station within hours of his arrest on Sunday. Bharti is a former minister.
Mandal has nearly 100 criminal cases lodged against him.
Police sources said that Mandal was arrested after he reportedly threatened the widow and two children of Chanchal Paswan over deposing against him in court. Mandal is accused of murdering Chanchal in 2005.
Paswan Tola residents attacked Mandal after that following which police arrested him. Soon after the arrest, Bharti and Kushwaha arrived at Maranga police station around 8.30pm with more than 150 supporters. Mandal's handcuffs unlocked as he wanted to lodge an FIR against the attack on him.
While Kushwaha was talking to police officials in the station about the arrest, Bharti remained inside her white SUV with two armed guards in front of the police station building, sources said. Mandal suddenly jumped into the MLA's vehicle which then sped towards Harda. Soon Kushwaha also left.
Sources said the district administration had sent reinforcements sensing trouble but Mandal fled before they could reach the police station.
Reports said police teams in several vehicles chased the MLA's SUV but failed to intercept it. They also put certain cellphones on surveillance and learnt that the MLA and her guards were constantly changing locations. Police raided several places throughout the night but in vain.
ADG (HQ) Sunil Kumar said in Patna a probe has been initiated. A fresh FIR has also been lodged against Mandal.
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Wah re Nitish Kumar ka Raj. Jungle Dance has started. Now Biharis are facing the result of their mistake like Delhiites ... Read MoreThe probe would make it clear who all helped him escape and action would be taken accordingly, Kumar said, adding that Maranga police station SHO Shiv Shankar has been suspended for dereliction of duty.
Purnia SP Nishant Tiwary on Monday said Mandal would be re-arrested soon.
The Purnia district administration had booked Mandal under the Crime Control Act during the recent assembly election in the state. He was asked to mark his presence at a police station everyday. The cases against him include those of murder and dacoity.
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Kerala set to adopt policy on antibiotic resistance
Rema Nagarajan | TNN | Jan 19, 2016, 04.32 AM IST
Rampant use of antibiotics have made many disease-causing pathogens resistant to medicines. (Representative photo)
Kerala is all set to become the first state to adopt a comprehensive policy to fight growing antibiotic resistance, identified as one of the biggest medical crises in the country. It is launching the first antibiotic stewardship programme, which will cover public and private health services.
On January 23, the state will be hosting an international symposium on antibiotic stewardship and infection control and prevention to be attended by health secretaries of over 16 states. They will discuss the model being tried out in Kerala and the feasibility of other states adopting it.
As part of the programme's introduction, a series of consultative workshops under the chairmanship of Kerala health secretary Dr K Ellangovan have been completed. They had active participation of various doctors' associations including the Kerala branch of the Indian Medical Association and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics.
"The irrational usage of antibiotics even for mild illnesses, which is actually not needed, ultimately leads to high treatment cost and poor treatment outcome by way of emerging antibiotic resistance," said Kerala health minister VS Sivakumar while announcing the programme, adding that his government was planning to create a model platform for all other states in the area of irrational antibiotic usage.
"The draft of the programme will be prepared out of the several pre-conferences and will be adopted by the government. This will be uploaded on the official website and updated every quarter, and there will be a review at the end of one year. In continuation with the development of state antibiogram, a series of parallel programmes are also planned to ensure behaviour change among patients and doctors in keeping with rational antibiotics usage," explained Dr Dileep Kumar SR, general manager of Kerala Medical Services Corporation who is a part of the organizing committee.
The programme will look at what antibiotics ought to be available and what ought to be used at various levels of health facilities and will also be looking into restricting self-medication and irrational prescriptions.
At this stage, the programme will be targeting allopathic doctors and pharmacists to educate them on rational use of antibiotics and will seek to change public behaviour through large scale awareness programmes. At the next stage, the state intends to examine and tackle the veterinary use of antibiotics and then address the issue of non-allopathic practitioners like ayurvedic and homeopathic doctors prescribing antibiotics.
On January 23, the state will be hosting an international symposium on antibiotic stewardship and infection control and prevention to be attended by health secretaries of over 16 states. They will discuss the model being tried out in Kerala and the feasibility of other states adopting it.
As part of the programme's introduction, a series of consultative workshops under the chairmanship of Kerala health secretary Dr K Ellangovan have been completed. They had active participation of various doctors' associations including the Kerala branch of the Indian Medical Association and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics.
"The irrational usage of antibiotics even for mild illnesses, which is actually not needed, ultimately leads to high treatment cost and poor treatment outcome by way of emerging antibiotic resistance," said Kerala health minister VS Sivakumar while announcing the programme, adding that his government was planning to create a model platform for all other states in the area of irrational antibiotic usage.
"The draft of the programme will be prepared out of the several pre-conferences and will be adopted by the government. This will be uploaded on the official website and updated every quarter, and there will be a review at the end of one year. In continuation with the development of state antibiogram, a series of parallel programmes are also planned to ensure behaviour change among patients and doctors in keeping with rational antibiotics usage," explained Dr Dileep Kumar SR, general manager of Kerala Medical Services Corporation who is a part of the organizing committee.
The programme will look at what antibiotics ought to be available and what ought to be used at various levels of health facilities and will also be looking into restricting self-medication and irrational prescriptions.
At this stage, the programme will be targeting allopathic doctors and pharmacists to educate them on rational use of antibiotics and will seek to change public behaviour through large scale awareness programmes. At the next stage, the state intends to examine and tackle the veterinary use of antibiotics and then address the issue of non-allopathic practitioners like ayurvedic and homeopathic doctors prescribing antibiotics.
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Government panel wants prices of stents, medical implants capped
Sushmi Dey | TNN | Jan 19, 2016, 04.21 AM IST
Illustration showing cardiac stents.
NEW DELHI: In a move that could help keep medical costs in check, a government task force has recommended that prices of medical devices, including cardiac stents and implants, be regulated under a mechanism that is distinct from medicines. The committee has taken the view that costs of medical devices should balance consumer and medical industry interests so that the volume of business provides a sufficient incentive to manufacturers.
"Pricing of medical devices should be different from that of drugs. It should be done in such a manner to ensure sufficient incentives in terms of returns on investment," said the latest report of the task force, headed by secretary, department of pharmaceutical (DoP).
The core committee under the health ministry has called for a meeting with manufacturers of medical devices and stakeholders on the need for capping prices of cardiac stents and implants. Sources said this meeting is likely to take a final view on the issue. "The committee has to take into consideration the views of the industry before submitting its final report," an official said. Once included in the national list of essential medicines, prices of stents will be automatically capped, the official said.
However, DoP has been advocating a lenient price regulation for medical devices. It has proposed voluntary price reduction by companies to avoid a price cap by the Centre. It had asked the industry to submit representation to this effect by December, so far nothing has moved on the ground.
While on one hand there are concerns regarding exorbitant prices of critical care devices and equipment leading to high healthcare cost, on the other side the industry claims that margins are largely being cornered by distributors, hospitals and other parties. There are concerns about the huge disparity between prices of locally made medical devices and imports. While the government's aim is also to plug this loophole, multinational companies claim their technology and quality standards are superior than those of indigenous firms.
Though keen to check spiraling prices of critical devices like stents and implants, it may be very challenging for the government to bring in a stringent pricing regime at a time when it is eyeing foreign investments in the medical devices sector.
Last year, the government eased policy to allow 100% FDI under the automatic route in this sector. Such investments were also exempted from conditions like 'non-compete clause' applicable for FDI in existing pharmaceutical manufacturing units.
However, in the wake of uncertainty about pricing, India has failed to attract investment. At present, India imports over 70% of medical devices needed and the global market is estimated to reach over $ 400 billion next year. If India manages to promote and develop manufacturing hub for low-cost medical devices similar to drugs, it can attract not only potential investment but also export revenue in future.
"Pricing of medical devices should be different from that of drugs. It should be done in such a manner to ensure sufficient incentives in terms of returns on investment," said the latest report of the task force, headed by secretary, department of pharmaceutical (DoP).
The core committee under the health ministry has called for a meeting with manufacturers of medical devices and stakeholders on the need for capping prices of cardiac stents and implants. Sources said this meeting is likely to take a final view on the issue. "The committee has to take into consideration the views of the industry before submitting its final report," an official said. Once included in the national list of essential medicines, prices of stents will be automatically capped, the official said.
However, DoP has been advocating a lenient price regulation for medical devices. It has proposed voluntary price reduction by companies to avoid a price cap by the Centre. It had asked the industry to submit representation to this effect by December, so far nothing has moved on the ground.
While on one hand there are concerns regarding exorbitant prices of critical care devices and equipment leading to high healthcare cost, on the other side the industry claims that margins are largely being cornered by distributors, hospitals and other parties. There are concerns about the huge disparity between prices of locally made medical devices and imports. While the government's aim is also to plug this loophole, multinational companies claim their technology and quality standards are superior than those of indigenous firms.
Though keen to check spiraling prices of critical devices like stents and implants, it may be very challenging for the government to bring in a stringent pricing regime at a time when it is eyeing foreign investments in the medical devices sector.
Last year, the government eased policy to allow 100% FDI under the automatic route in this sector. Such investments were also exempted from conditions like 'non-compete clause' applicable for FDI in existing pharmaceutical manufacturing units.
However, in the wake of uncertainty about pricing, India has failed to attract investment. At present, India imports over 70% of medical devices needed and the global market is estimated to reach over $ 400 billion next year. If India manages to promote and develop manufacturing hub for low-cost medical devices similar to drugs, it can attract not only potential investment but also export revenue in future.
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Don’t let me become delicate, I live among thorns, PM Narendra Modi says
TNN | Jan 19, 2016, 04.09 AM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an exhibition of seasonal flowers in Gangtok, on Monday. (PTI photo)
NEW DELHI: "Don't let me become delicate like a flower. I have lived among the thorns, I will continue to live among the thorns." PM Narendra Modi struck a poetic note while addressing a conference of agriculture ministers of states in Gangtok on Monday.
However, he added: "... Lekin jahan zarurat, vahan phool jaisi komalta ke saath dukhi ke ansoon ponchne ke kaam yeh zindagi aa jaiye. Iss se bada kya sobhagya hoga. (But there cannot be any bigger privilege if my life can be useful in wiping the tears of a sad person with the delicacy of a flower whenever necessary)," agencies quoted Modi as saying. He made the comment when naming three orchid species developed in Sikkim. They were named 'Cymbidium sardar' (after Sardar Patel), 'Cymbidium deen dayal' (after Deen Dayal Upadhyay) and 'Cymbidium namo' (after the Prime Minister).
He said Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling had requested him to name two orchid species while he would name the third one.
The PM took a dig at the previous governments, saying, "in the 20th century, one PM had spent a night in Gangtok and in the 21st century, I have come to stay for a night."
Earlier applauding the achievement of Sikkim that has turned itself into the first and only fully organic state in the country, PM Modi in Gangtok on Monday appealed to all states to identify a district, or even a block, to convert it into a 100% organic area.
Branding Sikkim as a 'model state' for the world, the PM said that the state was developing successfully without harming the environment. "It has been agreed by all nations that we have to change our lifestyle. We cannot exploit nature. We have to live in harmony with nature and go back to basics. At COP21 (Paris climate summit in November-December last year), it was decided that you need to learn to love nature and Sikkim has proved just that. Nature is protected here and development is not compromised," he said.
Modi is on a two-day visit to the north-east. He will on Tuesday interact with students of IIT, NIT & central universities of the north-east in Assam. He would also address a public meeting of tribal communities in Kokrajhar and a youth rally in Khanapara, Guwahati. Setting the tone for the conference, the PM even before speaking at the gathering tweeted that he envisions the entire north-east to be a hub of organic farming.
However, he added: "... Lekin jahan zarurat, vahan phool jaisi komalta ke saath dukhi ke ansoon ponchne ke kaam yeh zindagi aa jaiye. Iss se bada kya sobhagya hoga. (But there cannot be any bigger privilege if my life can be useful in wiping the tears of a sad person with the delicacy of a flower whenever necessary)," agencies quoted Modi as saying. He made the comment when naming three orchid species developed in Sikkim. They were named 'Cymbidium sardar' (after Sardar Patel), 'Cymbidium deen dayal' (after Deen Dayal Upadhyay) and 'Cymbidium namo' (after the Prime Minister).
He said Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling had requested him to name two orchid species while he would name the third one.
The PM took a dig at the previous governments, saying, "in the 20th century, one PM had spent a night in Gangtok and in the 21st century, I have come to stay for a night."
Earlier applauding the achievement of Sikkim that has turned itself into the first and only fully organic state in the country, PM Modi in Gangtok on Monday appealed to all states to identify a district, or even a block, to convert it into a 100% organic area.
Branding Sikkim as a 'model state' for the world, the PM said that the state was developing successfully without harming the environment. "It has been agreed by all nations that we have to change our lifestyle. We cannot exploit nature. We have to live in harmony with nature and go back to basics. At COP21 (Paris climate summit in November-December last year), it was decided that you need to learn to love nature and Sikkim has proved just that. Nature is protected here and development is not compromised," he said.
Modi is on a two-day visit to the north-east. He will on Tuesday interact with students of IIT, NIT & central universities of the north-east in Assam. He would also address a public meeting of tribal communities in Kokrajhar and a youth rally in Khanapara, Guwahati. Setting the tone for the conference, the PM even before speaking at the gathering tweeted that he envisions the entire north-east to be a hub of organic farming.
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