CHANDIGARH:

The Regional HTA Resource Centre, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health at PGIMER, Chandigarh, successfully organized an international workshop on “Communicating Science for Policy Making: A Health Technology Assessment Perspective”. The workshop took place today and garnered significant attention from renowned individuals and institutions from both India and abroad.

The workshop welcomed a diverse gathering of 20 distinguished resource persons from five countries, along with more than 150 participants from esteemed medical colleges and institutions in India. The participants delved deep into discussions about the effective communication of scientific evidence for policy making, particularly in healthcare.

During the event, Prof. Vivek Lal, Director of PGIMER Chandigarh, commended the valuable contributions of Ayushman Bharat in enhancing healthcare services in India. Dr. Basant Garg, Additional CEO of the National Health Authority, emphasized how the evidence from Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is employed to design the Ayushman Bharat scheme and determine pricing. Anu Nagar, Joint Secretary in the Department of Health Research, highlighted how HTA evidence on sickle cell disease screening significantly reduced costs by over 1500 crores. Dr. Arun Aggarwal, Head of the School of Public Health, reiterated the importance of fostering collaboration between researchers and policy makers for effective knowledge translation. Dr. Shankar Prinja shared insights on how the PMJAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) has improved access to treatment and reduced individual expenditure.

Dr. Vinod Kotwal, Member Secretary of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, Government of India, brought attention to the challenges faced in real-world evidence utilization, particularly in pharmaceutical product pricing decisions. She discussed the regulatory functions performed by the NPPA and its contributions towards making healthcare more affordable in India.

The workshop also witnessed significant participation from prominent experts from HTA Agencies in Colombia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the World Health Organization, enhancing the global perspective on knowledge dissemination for evidence-based policy making.

This international workshop proved to be a crucial platform for fostering collaboration, sharing experiences, and exploring innovative strategies in communicating scientific evidence for policy making in the realm of health technology assessment. The Regional HTA Resource Centre, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health continues to play a leading role in promoting evidence-based decision making in healthcare in India and beyond.

CHANDIGARH:

 The National Institute of Nursing Education, PGIMER, Chandigarh, organized its 1st Interactive Session for the nursing students of NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh . The event was graced by esteemed guests including Professor Vivek Lal, Director, Prof. Naresh K Panda, Dean, Academics and Mr. Ummed Mathur, Registrar, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

The highly anticipated interactive session provided a unique opportunity for nursing students to engage with distinguished professionals in the field. Dr. Sukhpal Kaur, Principal, NINE, warmly welcomed the guests and provided a brief history and background of NINE. She highlighted that NINE was established in 1964 as a Department of PGI with assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO) under the Post Basic Education Project. In 2003, the College of Nursing was upgraded to the National Institute of Nursing Education. Dr. Sukhpal Kaur also emphasized the various nursing programs currently being offered by the institute, including B.Sc. Nursing, B.Sc. Nursing Post Basic, M.Sc. Nursing, Ph.D. Nursing, and a fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care Nursing. She further highlighted the importance of having highly qualified and dedicated faculty in preparing proficient nurses who can serve humanity. Dr. Sukhpal Kaur shared with pride that the alumni of NINE are now placed in reputed national and international organizations at various positions.

Professor Vivek Lal, in his address to the nursing students, congratulated them on choosing the noble profession of nursing and motivated them to give their head and heart in the service of mankind. He emphasized the purpose of the session and highlighted the importance of dedication and sheer hard work by nursing professionals in a healthcare system of national importance. He commended the upcoming nurses for their inherent compassion and commitment to the profession.

Dr. Naresh K Panda expressed his appreciation for the nursing faculty and students of NINE for their valuable contribution to patient care. He acknowledged the crucial role played by nurses in the healthcare system and highlighted the need for continuous learning and professional development in the field.

The interactive session provided a platform for the nursing students to interact with the esteemed guests and seek guidance on various aspects of their profession. They had the opportunity to raise their queries and concerns, which were addressed by the experts.

The session concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Sukhpal Kaur, who expressed her gratitude to the Director, Dean, Sub-Dean, and Registrar for gracing the event with their presence. She also thanked the nursing students for their active participation and urged them to make the most of the knowledge gained from the session.

The interactive session proved to be a valuable learning experience for the nursing students of NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh. It provided them with insights and guidance from experts in the field, motivating them to excel in their profession.

CHANDIGAH:

The Department of Hepatology at PGIMER, Chandigarh has garnered significant recognition at the prestigious National Endoscopy Conference, ENDOCON- 2024, organised by Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy of India (SGEI), held recently in New Delhi from 18- 21st April, 2024. 

Dr. Sahaj Rathi, a consultant from the department of Hepatology, PGIMER, Chandigarh. and his team clinched the top two positions in the highly competitive Endoscopy Masters Cup video award. Dr. Rathi presented the video which secured the top position. The second video was presented by Dr. Ganesh CP, a second-year senior resident, showcasing the department’s commitment to fostering talent and innovation at all levels.

Adding to the department’s accolades, Dr. Arpit Shastri, also a second year senior resident, showcased groundbreaking research on Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided obliteration of gastric varices, securing the top award in the Presidential Abstract session. This pioneering work led by Dr. Sahaj Rathi and Prof Ajay Duseja, underscores the department’s dedication to advancing patient care and change the paradigm of management of this complex disease.

Furthermore, the conference witnessed Dr. Sunil Taneja’s outstanding contribution to a brilliant town hall discussion on endohepatology, an evolving field which amalgamates endoscopy and hepatology. The department of Hepatology is leading from the front in this field, with numerous innovative techniques and publications in the recent past

In a momentous recognition of a lifetime of dedication and service, the former  head of the department of Hepatology, Prof. JB Dilawari, was bestowed with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy of India (SGEI) in the same conference. Prof Dilawari’s vision and unwavering commitment to the field laid the foundation of ERCP in India. He was first person in India to perform the endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) and removal of bile duct stone endoscopically way back in 1978 

Reflecting on this remarkable achievement, PGIMER expresses profound pride in the accomplishments of the Department of Hepatology. Driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence, the department continues to set new benchmarks in patient care, research, and academic prowess, solidifying its position as a leader in the field of hepatology.

Chandigarh:

The Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker, S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, expressed deep sorrow over the unfortunate demise of former Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Surjit Singh Minhas.

In a press communique issued here, Speaker Sandhwan said that S. Surjit Singh Minhas served as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Irrigation, and Power Departments of Punjab. He said that S. Minhas was elected Speaker of the Punjab Legislative Assembly on June 2, 1986. He was actively involved in various political movements and participated in numerous political, religious, and educational conferences.

S. Sandhwan added that S. Minhas will always be remembered with respect for the memorable services he rendered for the welfare of Punjab and its people.

The Speaker prayed to the almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and provide strength to the family.

Chandigarh:

 In an endeavor to preserve the sanctity of the electoral process, enforcement agencies in Punjab have conducted extensive operations, resulting in the confiscation of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and freebies valued at Rs 321.51 crore since the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the Lok Sabha elections on March 16, till date.

          Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C revealed that the seizures comprised cash totaling Rs. 6.89 crores, 22.8 lakh liters of liquor valued at Rs. 14.93 crores, drugs valued at Rs. 287.23 crores, precious metals amounting to Rs. 11.37 crores, and freebies valued at Rs. 1.09 crores, totaling Rs. 321.51 crores.

          He informed that 24 enforcement agencies are actively operating in the state. Among these, major seizures have been made by the Punjab Police amounting to Rs. 276.19 crores, followed by the Border Security Force at Rs. 22.85 crores, State Excise Department Rs. 7.21 crores, State Goods and Service Tax Department Rs. 5 crores, Customs Department Rs.4.37 crores, Income Tax Department Rs. 4.08 crores and Narcotics Control Bureau Rs. 1.76 crores.

          Among the districts Amritsar topped the list with total seizures made worth Rs. 60.3 crores, followed by Tarn Taran with Rs. 53.74 crores, Firozpur with Rs. 49.34 crores, and Fazilka with Rs. 41.71 crores.

          Other districts with significant seizures include Ludhiana Rs. 25.42 crores, Pathankot Rs. 21.4 crores, Jalandhar Rs. 17.34 crores, Sangrur Rs. 11 crores, Gurdaspur Rs. 10.38 crores, Kapurthala Rs. 6.02 crores, Hoshiarpur Rs. 4.89 crores, Bathinda Rs. 3.94 crores, and Shahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar Rs. 3.90 crores.

          Furthermore, Barnala recorded seizures worth Rs. 2.2 crores, Moga Rs. 2.05 crores, Patiala Rs. 1.47 crores, Rupnagar Rs. 1.33 crores, Sri Muktsar Sahib Rs. 1.26 crores, Mansa Rs. 1 crore, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar Rs. 81.8 lakhs, Malerkotla Rs. 70 Lakhs, Faridkot Rs. 67 Lakhs and Fatehgarh Sahib Rs. 59 Lakhs.

          The Chief Electoral Officer reiterated the commitment of entire staff to ensure the conduct of fair and peaceful elections in the state, in adherence to the directives of the Election Commission of India.Emphasizing the paramount importance of integrity and transparency in the electoral process, he underscored the tireless efforts of all personnel involved in upholding democratic principles. With unwavering dedication, they remain steadfast in their resolve to safeguard the sanctity of the democratic process and uphold the trust of the electorate.

Chandigarh:

 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, on Thursday has apprehended a Senior Assistant, Amandeep Singh, posted in the office of District Social Justice and Empowerment Officer, Ludhiana district red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above mentioned accused has been arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by Satish Kumar, a resident of village Kishanpura in Derabassi tehsil, SAS Nagar.

He further informed that the said complainant has approached the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of VB Ludhiana unit and alleged that the said employee had demanded Rs one lakh to favour his daughter regarding verification of her caste certificate. He further informed that the said accused has previously taken Rs 20,000 from him into his bank account through Yono App and demanding the remaining balance of bribe.

The spokesperson informed that after a preliminary inquiry about this complaint the VB team of EOW lad a trap during which the said accused was caught red handed while accepting second instalment of bribe of Rs 20,000 in the presence of two official witnesses.

He added that in this regard a case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused at VB police station EOW Ludhiana unit. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress.

Chandigarh:

 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state, on Thursday has arrested Ripudaman Singh, posted as Patwari in revenue halqua Gumanpura circle in Amritsar.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above mentioned revenue official has been arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by Sukhdev Singh, a resident of village Gumanpura, Amritsar.

He further informed that the above said complainant has approached the VB and alleged that said the accused has demanded Rs 10,000 for registering mutation (Inteqal) of his land in revenue records. The spokesperson informed that after a preliminary inquiry the VB team laid a trap in which the above said accused was caught red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.

He added that in this regard a case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused at VB Police Station, Amritsar Range. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress, he said.

Chandigarh:

 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state on Thursday arrested constable Balraj Singh, posted as Reader of SHO NRI police station Ludhiana red handed while he was demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above mentioned police personnel has been arrested on the complaint of Advocate Arun Kumar Khurmi, a resident of Upkaar Nagar, Civil Lines Ludhiana.

He further added that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that her wife owns a land of 20 Kanal at village Udhowal, tehsil Samrala, in Ludhiana district where two persons had tried to take possession of this land forcibly and also stolen Popular trees standing on that land.

The complainant has lodged a police complaint in this regard which is pending before SHO NRIs Cell, Ludhiana. He further alleged that the police didn’t initiated any action so far on his complaint and Reader Balraj Singh attached with SHO NRIs cell has been demanding one lakh rupees to get the case registered. The complainant further added that the said accused has asked him to pay Rs 20000 as a bribe in advance and balance of Rs 80000 by next week.

The spokesperson informed that after verification of his statement a case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused at police station VB Range Ludhiana. Subsequently, a VB team laid a trap in which said constable Balraj Singh was arrested red handed while accepting a bribe money of Rs 20000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses outside the NRI Police Station Ludhiana and role of SHO NRIs Cell would also be examined during further investigation into this case. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow.

Chandigarh:

 In a bid to transform the solemn act of voting into a celebratory affair, the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana Anurag Agarwal has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative ahead of the Lok Sabha General Elections – 2024. Departing from conventional outreach methods, this time the Commission has decided to send out wedding-style invitations to voters across the state, turning polling day into a joyous occasion akin to a festive nuptial ceremony.  This unique approach aims not only to elevate civic participation but also to infuse a sense of enthusiasm and community spirit into the electoral process.

Divulging more details in this regard, Anurag Agarwal said that with the ambitious goal of achieving a remarkable 75 percent voter turnout, this pioneering initiative is set to redefine the way elections are perceived and experienced in Haryana. Voting is to be held in the sixth phase in the state on May 25 and notification for the elections will be issued on April 29. The  voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 25, he shared.

Voters are taking an oath of Chunav ka Parv Desh ka Garv

Anurag Agarwal said that to inspire voters to vote, oaths are being administered in every district, and citizens are enthusiastically participating in oath-taking ceremonies. Voters are taking an oath of Chunav ka Parv Desh ka Garv, stating, “We, the citizens of India, having abiding faith in democracy, hereby pledge to uphold the democratic traditions of our country and the dignity of free, fair and peaceful elections, and to vote in every election fearlessly and without being influenced by considerations of religion, race, caste, community, language or any inducement”.

The Chief Electoral Officer said that the Commission has developed several mobile apps to empower voters digitally. Among these, the Know Your Candidate (KYC) and Voter Helpline apps are prominent. Through the KYC app, voters can obtain information about the candidates in their Lok Sabha constituency. They can even view any criminal background of the candidates, if any. Similarly, voters can download the Voter Helpline app to obtain information about their polling booths, he said.

Information about the queue at the polling center will be available through the Voter In Queue app

Anurag Agarwal said that to increase the voting percentage in urban areas, for the first time, the Voter In Queue mobile app has been developed for 30 assembly constituencies. Through this app, the voter will be connected with the BLO and the BLO will provide information to the voter about how many people are in line to vote at that time. Voters can come to vote according to their convenience as the crowd diminishes. He said that in previous elections, it was observed that sometimes voters, seeing the crowd at the polling center, would return without casting their vote, so this time the decision has been made to increase the voting percentage.

April 26 is the last day to register for voting

The Chief Electoral Officer said that the deadline for registration of new voters in the state is April 26, 2024, so if any eligible citizen has not yet obtained their voter card, they should get it immediately. He informed that so far, the number of registered voters in the state is 1,99,81,982. Among these, there are 1,06,04,276 male voters and 93,77,244 female voters. Additionally, there are 462 transgender voters registered.

Chandigarh:

The Haryana Chief Secretary, Sh. T.V.S.N. Prasad has directed all concerned departments to formulate schemes to make adequate arrangements for the women working at construction sites and brick kilns, especially their small children, labourers, and those working under MNREGA, in view of the upcoming heat wave.  

The arrangements should be made while focusing on ensuring maximum relief for these vulnerable sections of society, said Sh. Prasad while chairing a comprehensive review meeting held here today with the Additional Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries from all relevant departments, to discuss essential preparations for the impending heat wave. Notably, during the session, a representative from the Meteorological Department highlighted the likelihood of above-average temperatures in Haryana from May to June.

The Chief Secretary directed the Labor Department to  formulate a plan specifically addressing the needs of labourers who work outdoors for extended periods. The plan should ensure maximum relief for these labourers, with a specific emphasis on including arrangements for their children.

The Chief Secretary assured the department that budgetary constraints won’t hinder relief efforts. Funds from the Haryana Workers Welfare Board are readily available. The plan should include establishing dharamshalas, community centers, and crèches (childcare centers) to provide these labourers and their children with shelters from the heat. Public places should be well-equipped with adequate drinking water facilities.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal said that the department plans to set up ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) corners at public locations with high foot traffic, such as bus terminals and railway stations, to ensure people have access to fluids for rehydration. Hospitals will have ample stocks of medication to treat and prevent heatstroke.  He informed that additional funds have been allocated to all civil surgeons, granting them the flexibility to address heatwave-related emergencies as needed. Hospitals will designate beds in cooler areas to provide relief for those suffering from the heat, shared.

Giving details of measures to prevent and manage heat-related forest fires by the Haryana Forests and Environment Departments, Additional Chief Secretary, Sh. Anand Mohan Sharan, said the department has prioritised fire prevention by repairing the fire fighting systems in Morni and Kalesar, two potentially vulnerable areas. To ensure a prompt response, the department has designated two nodal officers specifically tasked with monitoring potential fire outbreaks.

Additional Chief Secretary, Energy and Public Health Department, Sh. A.K Singh said that the department is taking steps to provide sufficient availability of both power and water during the hot summer months. Alongside ensuring adequate supply, the department is also running a statewide energy conservation campaign.

Meanwhile, Commissioner and Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Sh. Pankaj Agarwal, said that the department has taken steps to ensure sufficient water reserves in water houses.

Commissioner and Secretary, Urban Local Bodies Department, Sh. Vikas Gupta said that the department has formulated plans to safeguard urban workers and their children from the harsh heat wave. The measures like creating shaded rest areas or establishing childcare facilities for working parents and water facilities at public places have been included in this plan. To ensure the optimum use of water during the summer, the department has imposed a complete ban on the wastage of water in terms of washing with fresh water in cities. This aims to conserve this vital resource for essential need, he said.

Commissioner and Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, Smt. Amneet P. Kumar said that people will be made aware of heat protection through 26 Anganwadi workers. Commissioner and Secretary, Development and Panchayats Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal, said the department has directed a change in working hours for MGNREGA workers (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). This will likely involve shifting work hours to cooler parts of the day.