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Weak monitoring system results in RISE OF FAKE SIDDHA DOCS

Mystery Over How Many Of Them Got Certificate To Practise

Pushpa Narayan | TNN

Chennai: Prabhu P (40), Sahaya Stalin (34), N Surender Singh (53) and K
Sarajudeen (36): These are Siddha doctors with 'certificates of
enlistment' issued by the Tamil Siddha Medical Council which gives them the
right to practise.

What is baffling is that though the law clearly states that such
certificates can be issued only to persons who were born before 1953,
neither the council, which issued the certificate, nor the commissionerate
of Indian Medicine know how persons much younger got these certificates.

Enlistment certificates are issued to those who are not academically
qualified, but inherited knowledge and skills from their forefathers.
According to the Board of Indian Medicine registrar Sai Prasad, "Such
certificates were issued only to people born before 1953 and none was issued
after 1998."

By this logic those who are below 57 years of age should not have
obtained a qualifying degree to practise.

"We don't know if their certificates are original," said Sai Prasad. "We
will have to go through the voluminous register to figure this out. There
are more than 7,000 Siddha practitioners, of whom more than 2,000 have
certificates of enlistment. The board has just two staff members for
registering Unani, Siddha and Ayurveda practitioners. We can't readily check
if these persons have faked the certificates," he said.

Commissioner of Indian Medicine Ramesh Kumar Khanna said his office did
not deal with registrations. "These things are left to the Board. We don't
maintain data," he said.

In July, after the police arrested more than 200 doctors, the
commissionerate approached the state health department as it found many of
the arrested doctors were qualified practitioners.

Following this,a government order permitting Indian medicine
practitioners to prescribe allopathic drugs was issued on July 19. Close on
the heels of this, the Madras HC also said Siddha, Unani and Ayurveda
doctors could practise surgery, gynaecology, ophthalmology, ENT and
anaesthesia.

The practitioners of traditional forms of medicines and the Central
Council for Indian Medicine (CCIM) have welcomed the judgment. But even
those like siddha practitioner V Stanley Jones, vice president of CCIM, are
cautious. "We should be careful about giving such powers. The state should
ensure there is no misuse by unqualified persons," he said.

Meanwhile, the Board had found a considerable number of certificates
sent to it for verification by NGOs, police and IMPCOPS to be fake. "We
reported a several fake certificates in the last three months," a senior
health department official said.

The department said it was aware of the problem. "We have clearly stated
that such people can't prescribe allopathic medicine or perform surgeries.
It's allowed only for those with academic training. We are working on the
guidelines to clear the air. The guidelines will define what traditional
practitioners can do," said health secretary VK Subburaj.

UNCLEAR ON NORMS

Enlistment certificates were to be issued only to those who had attained a
certain age by 1971 but much younger people have got them

Enlistment certificates are issued by the Council to those who are not
academically qualified but inherited knowledge and skills from forefathers.
There are more than 2000 doctors with these certificates in the state

A government order (no 2102) dated Nov 17, 1981 had said that such
certificates should be given only to persons who have attained the age of 18
as on Oct 1, 1971 and by then should have been a practitioner for at least
five years

A subsequent order (no 1172) dated Sept 2, 1993 to enlist practitioners
registered in 1982 nullified the earlier order. Officials in the state
health department say there was no relaxation of age. The certificates were
issued to eligible people who did not get them in 1982

Certificate of enlistment was last issued in 1999. In the past few
months, a number of fake certificates were reported. Many practitioners
enrolled with IMPCOPS are just in their 30s

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Doctors in a fix over endorsing food products
Arun Ram | TNN

Chennai: The Indian Medical Association (IMA), an organisation of 2 lakh
Indian doctors, is in a spot with the National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) serving notice on the health ministry on the IMA endorsing two food
products in violation of its own code of ethics. Under fire for endorsing
Tropicana fruit juice and Quaker oats under a Rs 2.25-crore, three-year
contract that ends next year, the IMA has decided not to endorse any product
in the future, but is finding it tough to wriggle out of existing contracts.

The NHRC notice, dated June 30, follows a complaint from Dr KV Babu, an
IMA central committee member, citing a study by the National Institute of
Nutrition, Hyderabad, which found that consumption of more than 200ml of
pre-prepared fruit juice daily could cause dwarfism and obesity in kids.

IMA became the first medical association in the world to endorse food
products in 2008. "It was a mistake and we have decided not to endorse any
product," MCI president Dr Samara Goparaju told TOI.

IMA did explore legal options of terminating the contracts, but it found
the settlement unaffordable. "The settlement amount would be too huge for us
to handle. We will never do such a thing again but for now, there seems to
be no way but to continue with the contracts," said MCI honorary-general
secretary Dr Dharam Prakash.

SEAL OF APPROVAL

IMA became the first medical association in the world to endorse food
products in 2008
It endorsed Tropicana fruit juice and Quaker oats under a Rs 2.25-crore,
3-year contract

NHRC served a notice to the health ministry on IMA's endorsement of food
products
IMA won't endorse products in future, but it can't wriggle out of current
commitments

IMA's endorsement contracts for food products end next yr

Chennai: Under fire for endorsing Tropicana fruit juice and Quaker oats
under a Rs 2.25-crore, three-year contract that ends next year, the IMA has
decided not to endorse any product in future, but is finding it tough to
wriggle out of its existing commitments.

"While those of food products end next year, a contract with Aquaguard
water purifier is valid till 2013," added MCI honorary-general secretary Dr
Dharam Prakash.

Besides the food products, IMA has endorsement contracts with health and
hygiene products, including Dettol, Lizol (sanitizers), Aquaguard (water
purifier) and Pampers (napkins). As per the contract, manufacturers of these
products can display the IMA logo on their packs - often done next to claims
of health benefits - and in some cases carry the text "recommended by the
Indian Medical Association".

The Medical Council of India (MCI) is likely to take up the issue next
month. "We will discuss the matter in the first meeting of the reconstituted
code of ethics committee in August. We will work towards cleansing the whole
system and preventing such mistakes," MCI board of governance member P
Prasannarajan said.

IMA's plight is reminiscent of a similar situation faced by the American
Medical Association (AMA) in 1988 when it was caught in the vortex of a
controversy following a contract with medical equipment manufacturer Sunbeam
Corporation. Withdrawing from the deal, AMA had to settle a
breach-ofcontract suit by paying $9.9 million (Rs 45 crore).

While such a settlement would cost IMA dearly, the decision not to
endorse any product would significantly reduce its revenue. Of IMA's revenue
of Rs 1.94 crore in 2009-2010, Rs 1 crore came from endorsements.

While the IMA code of ethics had banned doctors from endorsing products,
it was silent on whether a doctor's organisation could do that. However, an
amendment to the code of ethics in December 2009 brought the organisation
also under the ambit of the ban.
arun.ram-3RXDuZf0oFW41k5uCYKmRQ@public.gmane.org

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CWG officials mint money at home, in UK

Quality certificates turn out to be fake
Pradeep Thakur | TNN

New Delhi: In an astounding disclosure that could blow the lid off a big
scandal involving the Commonwealth Games, top sources in the Central
Vigilance Commission (CVC) told TOI that every quality certificate
scrutinised by a CVC team in 16 Games projects had turned out to be forged
or suspect.

"It's a very disturbing discovery," said an official. "Fake certificates
were being issued to pass sub-standard work and material. We have not yet
been able to gauge the financial implication, but it is certain to have led
to very big gains for vendors and contractors."

Following this discovery, the CBI director had a meeting with chief
vigilance commissioner Pratyush Sinha last week. Besides the cases being
referred to it by the CVC, the CBI team is going through numerous complaints
it received from different channels.

The CVC has so far scrutinized just 16 Games-related stadia upgradation
and civil works projects, which include construction of roads, pavements,
road grade separators and street lighting. These projects are cumulatively
worth Rs 2,477.22 crore.

In the course of its scrutiny, the CVC team zeroed in on the role of the
third party quality assurance agency, appointed by civic agencies to monitor
the quality of work and materials.

CASH TRAIL LEADS TO LONDON
THE DISCREPANCY: OC states that it transferred £2,47,469 (about Rs 1.68cr)
for video equipment purchased. AM Films says it provided services of ''car
hire, makeshift toilets, barriers and electricity''

THE MYSTERY: Visit to premises of AM Films UK Ltd in London shows that the
company on location is AM Vehicles Hire Ltd. The director, Ashish Patel, had
resigned on July 14, 2010 THE CHARGE: British Revenue & Customs Dept has
written to Indian High Commission, saying there was no written contract
between CWG and AM Films, no tendering procedure was followed, and no
paperwork regarding the contract was done

THE RESPONSE: ''The OC firmly refutes allegations of financial
irregularities''
Lalit Bhanot | OC SECY-GEN CM'S OFFICE PLAYS DOWN CVC REPORT Chief
minister Sheila Dikshit called a press conference and refused to comment on
CVC's damning findings
Late at night, the CM's office issued a brief note saying that these were
"routine" inspections by CVC's chief technical examiner

It said these reports are sent to different agencies for remedial action.
The reports were the first step and not CVC's final report. The stench of
corruption coming from reports was brushed aside

Source:
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UNDER THE TABLE

Officials plant snakes, extort money

For Years, Forest Men Used The Method To Fleece Tourists In TN
Radha Venkatesan | TNN

Coimbatore: It was an "Operation Snake" by forest officials that targeted
unsuspecting tourists with an intention of extorting money and the police
smelled a rat. And now a forest official behind the slithery racket has
landed in jail and an assistant conservator of forests is absconding.

Over the last few years, two senior forest officials in western Tamil
Nadu have been stealthily stashing Red Sand Boa, an endangered species of
snake, in the cars of tourists coming to Pollachi and Udumalpet near
Coimbatore. They would then "trap" the tourists with the snakes and threaten
them into paying up huge sums for letting them go. Smuggling and possession
of the snake is an offence under the Wildlife Protection Act.

S eve r a l tourists are said to have quietly paid the money fearing
harassment. But the lid was blown off the snake scam recently when a group
of real estate agents from Wayanad in Kerala arrived in Pollachi to look up
some property. Police said Abubakker, Sundaram and Mohandas came to
Sirumagai on July 26 and met a real estate broker, KS Jose, at Sirumugai for
buying land in Pollachi. Jose is said to have taken them around Pollachi in
a car. When the car reached Sultanpet, G Sivakumar, a lecturer in the forest
college at Vaigai Dam, who was in uniform and assistant conservator of
forests R Nedunchezian arrived on the scene. They stopped the car for a
"routine inspection" and found a snake in the trunk of the vehicle.
Sivakumar then allegedly asked the real estate agents to part with Rs 5 lakh
or face imprisonment.

The three agents were then taken to Kurichikottai in Udumalpet and kept
in safe custody in a bungalow. The next day, they were shifted to a lodge in
Pollachi where the harassed agents paid Rs 50,000. Meanwhile, Abubakker
called his relative, who is a police officer in Chennai, and informed him
about their plight. Immediately, the Pollachi police descended on the lodge
and "freed" the three agents. During inquiry, the police found that the
forest officials Sivakumar and Nedunchezian were setting up "fake traps"
with the help of their associates Jose, R Yogaraj and D Sriram Kumaran.
According to the police, Jose, Yogaraj and Sriram Kumaran used to "plant'
snakes in vehicles and inform the forest officials.

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Who will foot my hospital bills, asks reader

Ayub Khan

Iam a resident of Kammanahalli near Kacharkanahalli. As citizens of
Bangalore, we pay property taxes, water and sanitary charges and health and
education cess regularly.

I was hospitalised at Lakeside Hospital on June 28 since I tested
positive for dengue fever. I was discharged on July 3 and the hospital bill
came up to Rs 28,000. It didn't end there. Posthospitalisation expenses were
also high and I continue to have joint
pain, nausea, sleepiness, dizziness and
overall weakness.

WILL GO TO WHO

Who, then, will foot my hospital bills? We want to lodge a complaint against
BBMP through an advocate and we may approach organisations like WHO.

As you know, this disease is spread through mosquitos and there are many
cases in Bangalore as a result of which hospitals are full of
dengue-positive patients. Doctors clearly say that the disease is due to
mosquitoes and due to poor sanitation and health control measures.

BBMP TO BLAME

The disease would not have spread if BBMP had taken precautionary measures
like fogging and fumigation, malaria screening programmes and preventive
health care schemes.

We residents have hardly seen any such measures in our area near
Nilgiris (Kammanahalli). We hope BBMP will make efforts to resolve this
issue. Also, where should we submit our claims for medical expenditure at
the BBMP?

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2010/08/02/stories/2010080259870200.htm

This toy train is yet to get the green signal

It is in Dr. Rajkumar Children's Park at Hanumanthnagar

'People have given up the hope of seeing the train chugging along'

The facility can be repaired only after the BBMP budget is presented:
councillor

Bangalore: Though the Dr. Rajkumar Children's Park at Hanumanthnagar is one
of the few parks in the city that can boast a toy train, children in the
locality are unable to take a joyride on it even three years after it was
inaugurated.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which developed the park, is
yet to give the green signal to the train.

Children disappointed

The result: a group of disappointed children.

Kishan V., a class seven student, said, "Every evening I come with the hope
of riding on the train. But I don't think I will happen anytime soon."

M. Vijaya Lakshmi, a local resident, said people have given up the hope of
seeing the train chugging along.

Another resident, K. Krishnappa, complained that the track had broken and
needed immediate repairs. At some places, weeds have grown covering the
track.

"We have requested BBMP authorities many times to start the facility, but
our appeals have gone in vain. Though many politicians have visited the
park, none has taken up the issue," he said.

The residents claim that the train has been used several times in movies.
"Even 15 days ago, the train was functioning when there was a film shooting.
Once the shooting ended, the 'signal suddenly changed to red'," a security
guard in the park said.

However, BBMP authorities have denied this.

The park was thrown open to public on November 1, 2007 by the then MLA K.
Chandrashekar, who is now Councillor for Hanumanthnagar ward.

The toy train was started to help children go around the park and catch a
glimpse of the statues of prominent personalities installed in the park.

Mr. Chandrashekar said he fulfilled his duty by starting the train but
maintaining it was not his responsibility.

He said that the facility could be repaired only after the BBMP budget was
presented.

"It has been nearly four months since I was elected Councillor. I will look
into the issue and direct officials to take action after the budget," he
said.

Cost

According to a source in the BBMP, the park was developed at a cost of over
Rs. 10 crore.

The toy train was set up at a cost of Rs. 1.75 crore.

The BBMP invited tenders five times since November 2007 for maintaining the
facility, but it met with no response.

Finally, in January this year, the tender was awarded to Trans India. They
have to maintain the toy train facility for five years at a cost of Rs. 1
lakh a year.

Photo link: http://www.hindu.com/2010/08/02/images/2010080259870201.jpg

Dear Amitabhji
so beautifully written and all that is written is the stark truth- i am using it in IP
I wish we had met. Partha told me you are here sometime on saturday morning - i should have called you up myself.
pl do inform me next time when you come
cheers and warm rgds
vinita