Latest news with #PMC
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
PMC's urban health centres win top honours in state-level competition
The Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) Late Pruthak Barate Hospital, Warje, has secured the first prize in the prestigious state-level Kayakalp Awards, said the officials in a statement released on Thursday. The award recognizes excellence in cleanliness and infection control practices in public healthcare facilities. The centre was awarded a cash prize of ₹2 lakh. The Late Baburao Shewale Hospital, another UPHC of PMC, emerged as the first runner-up and received a cash prize of ₹1.5 lakh. Additionally, 15 more UPHCs run by the civic body were granted incentive awards of ₹50,000 each for their commendable efforts under the Kayakalp initiative, said officials. The centres run by PMC were also recognized during the evaluation. Eleven UCHCs received a total reward of ₹11 lakh, with each facility receiving ₹1 lakh for their outstanding adherence to cleanliness and hygiene protocols. 'The recognition reflects PMC's sustained efforts toward providing cleaner, safer, and more efficient healthcare services to citizens,' said PMC in its official statement.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
State govt puts cap of Rs 600 again for dengue test
1 2 3 Pune: The state govt has again capped the price of ELISA test for dengue at Rs 600 while issuing fresh directives to all hospitals and laboratories amid a rise in vector-borne infections like dengue and chikungunya this monsoon. The rate has remained unchanged since 2016. In 2015, Delhi became the first state to cap the rate of dengue test at Rs 600, which was then followed by Maharashtra. Pune Municipal Corporation officials have urged patients to lodge a complaint in case any hospital or laboratory is found to be charging more than the capped amount. The state health department has been telling diagnostic labs and hospitals since 2016 to cap the cost during monsoon to make these tests affordable for patients. However, it is often seen that labs overcharge anywhere between Rs800 and Rs1,100 per test, which deters patients from undergoing a proper evaluation. Dr Sandeep Sangale, joint director, health services, Maharashtra, said, "Since 2016, the state has ordered all private hospitals and labs to conduct NS1 ELISA and MAC ELISA dengue tests within Rs 600 to ensure that there is no exploitation of patients by these labs or hospitals. We have also instructed the labs to make sure that under no circumstances do they use rapid diagnostic kits to test dengue samples and stick to ELISA tests only for confirming dengue. We have sent the circular to all directors under the health department and the concerned medical officers in civic bodies and zilla parishads as well." Confirming the same, Dr Nina Borade, chief health officer, PMC health department, said, "We have received the circular and issued a notification to all the private labs and hospitals registered with us to ensure that they do not charge more than Rs 600 for a dengue ELISA test. We also urge citizens to come forward if they find any lab or hospital charging more than the stipulated amount. During monsoon we see a surge in the number of cases and so the govt has capped the prices to make sure that everyone can afford these tests, which are important for determining the course of treatment. " Borade said that citizens can mail their complaints to health@ or contact the department on 020- 25501215 Meanwhile, Indian Medical Association (IMA) has stated that while most members do comply with the govt guidelines, there is disagreement among some regarding the capping. Dr Sanjay Patil, chairperson, Hospital Board of India, IMA Pune chapter, said, "The feasibility of any cost for any diagnostic test or procedure depends on the material used and the infrastructure involved. Every hospital or a diagnostic center has the freedom to decide the rate for the investigation but considering that dengue is prevalent in Pune and for the time being the govt has put these restrictions, so all private hospitals are following the govt guidelines. However there is some unrest among the hospitals on price capping which has remained the same since 2016." On Wednesday, TOI reported that an early monsoon had triggered a surge in vector-borne infections in the state as the number of cases has surpassed those reported in 2024 for the first six months. Pune also has seen a surge in the number of vector-borne infections. Altogether 169 suspected and eight confirmed dengue cases have been reported this year of which 62 suspected and two confirmed were reported in May and June (till 18). Also, eight chikungunya cases have been reported in Pune city this year. Pune: The state govt has again capped the price of ELISA test for dengue at Rs 600 while issuing fresh directives to all hospitals and laboratories amid a rise in vector-borne infections like dengue and chikungunya this monsoon. The rate has remained unchanged since 2016. In 2015, Delhi became the first state to cap the rate of dengue test at Rs 600, which was then followed by Maharashtra. Pune Municipal Corporation officials have urged patients to lodge a complaint in case any hospital or laboratory is found to be charging more than the capped amount. The state health department has been telling diagnostic labs and hospitals since 2016 to cap the cost during monsoon to make these tests affordable for patients. However, it is often seen that labs overcharge anywhere between Rs800 and Rs1,100 per test, which deters patients from undergoing a proper evaluation. Dr Sandeep Sangale, joint director, health services, Maharashtra, said, "Since 2016, the state has ordered all private hospitals and labs to conduct NS1 ELISA and MAC ELISA dengue tests within Rs 600 to ensure that there is no exploitation of patients by these labs or hospitals. We have also instructed the labs to make sure that under no circumstances do they use rapid diagnostic kits to test dengue samples and stick to ELISA tests only for confirming dengue. We have sent the circular to all directors under the health department and the concerned medical officers in civic bodies and zilla parishads as well." Confirming the same, Dr Nina Borade, chief health officer, PMC health department, said, "We have received the circular and issued a notification to all the private labs and hospitals registered with us to ensure that they do not charge more than Rs 600 for a dengue ELISA test. We also urge citizens to come forward if they find any lab or hospital charging more than the stipulated amount. During monsoon we see a surge in the number of cases and so the govt has capped the prices to make sure that everyone can afford these tests, which are important for determining the course of treatment. " Borade said that citizens can mail their complaints to health@ or contact the department on 020- 25501215 Meanwhile, Indian Medical Association (IMA) has stated that while most members do comply with the govt guidelines, there is disagreement among some regarding the capping. Dr Sanjay Patil, chairperson, Hospital Board of India, IMA Pune chapter, said, "The feasibility of any cost for any diagnostic test or procedure depends on the material used and the infrastructure involved. Every hospital or a diagnostic center has the freedom to decide the rate for the investigation but considering that dengue is prevalent in Pune and for the time being the govt has put these restrictions, so all private hospitals are following the govt guidelines. However there is some unrest among the hospitals on price capping which has remained the same since 2016." On Wednesday, TOI reported that an early monsoon had triggered a surge in vector-borne infections in the state as the number of cases has surpassed those reported in 2024 for the first six months. Pune also has seen a surge in the number of vector-borne infections. Altogether 169 suspected and eight confirmed dengue cases have been reported this year of which 62 suspected and two confirmed were reported in May and June (till 18). Also, eight chikungunya cases have been reported in Pune city this year.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Building Pune: PMC plans Rs 115 crore flyover-grade separator project to ease access to airport, Nagar Road
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is planning to construct a flyover and grade separator at the busy Bindu Madhav Balasaheb Thackeray Chowk on Deccan College Road in Yerawada to remove bottlenecks and improve connectivity from the city to the airport and Nagar Road. 'The traffic on Deccan College Road has increased. Sangamwadi Road and Deccan College Road intersect at Bindu Madhav Balasaheb Thackeray Chowk in Yerawada, further adding to the chaos,' said Yuvraj Deshmukh, Chief Engineer, PMC. Pune city is mainly connected to the airport through Bund Garden and Sangamwadi bridges, both of which meet the Deccan College Road in Yerawada. The proposed flyover-cum-grade separator project is expected to ease the traffic situation on Deccan College Road and smoothen traffic flow from the city to the airport and Nagar Road, Deshmukh added. The PMC has floated a tender for the project, which is estimated to cost Rs 115.73 crore. 'It will be a four-lane, two-way flyover from Bund Garden to Khadki and Alandi Road, along with a three-lane one-way grade separator from Sangamwadi to Bund Garden and Ambedkar Chowk on the way to Pune airport,' Saurabh Chaudhari, project in-charge, PMC, explained. He said the project will be completed in 30 months from the day work begins. 'Once the project is done, it will ease connectivity to Ahmednagar as more flyovers are being constructed on Nagar Road. It will also enable faster connectivity to Pune airport from the city with no traffic jam or waiting at the junction,' Chaudhari added. The four-lane flyover will be 530 m long and 15.6 m wide, with an approach of 200 m on the Khadki side and 170 m on the Bund Garden side. The unidirectional grade separator for traffic moving from Sangamwadi to Ambedkar Chowk and Bund Garden will be 740 m long, including a covered stretch of 140m, an open stretch of 600m and a carriage width of 9m on the Sangamwadi side and 7.5 m wide each on Ambedkar Chowk and Bund Garden sides. Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Health dept directs PMC to test water samples as precautionary measure to prevent communicable diseases
The public health department has asked Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to start testing drinking water samples from its high-risk areas to prevent communicable disease outbreaks during the monsoon. The orders were given by health minister Prakash Abitkar during the meeting held on June 12. Following this, the civic health department on June 16 wrote to its civic water supply department requesting to send drinking water samples from high-risk areas for testing. During the meeting, Abitdar emphasised the importance of early testing of water quality, especially in vulnerable zones, to ensure that citizens receive safe drinking water. Besides, reports indicating whether the water is potable or non-potable should be immediately shared with the health department. As per civic officials, the directions have been issued in the wake of the recent outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in the city. PMC had reported 141 confirmed cases and nine suspected deaths linked to the outbreak, which was officially declared over on April 2 this year. However, sporadic GBS cases still have been reported in the city, similar to past trends, said the officials. Furthermore, the health minister has also directed that officials and staff responsible for water purification should undergo refresher training to ensure that all systems and safety procedures are in place and followed effectively. Dr Nina Borade, health chief of PMC, said that, post the GBS outbreak was declared over, the city has still reported sporadic cases. Such cases are known to be reported throughout the year. 'We have also started to collect the details regarding the GBS cases reported in the city after the outbreak was declared over,' she said. A senior official from the PMC water department, on anonymity, said, 'The letter has been received and the work to collect water samples from the high-risk area has been started. The report regarding the same will be sent to the health department. However, PMC regularly conducts testing of drinking water sources.'
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Labs, private hospitals told to conduct Covid-19 testing per govt. protocols if prescribed by doctors
On the back of a slight surge in Covid-19 RTPCR-positive cases reported across the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Wednesday issued orders to all private hospitals and laboratories to strictly adhere to the central government's guidelines on Covid-19 testing. The PMC health department issued a letter raising concerns over an alleged rise in unnecessary Covid screening carried out by private doctors and labs in the city. According to civic officials, this unjustified testing is leading to panic among the public besides adding to treatment costs. 'RTPCR tests are being conducted without doctors' prescriptions, which violates testing protocols issued by the state health department. As per current government guidelines, RTPCR testing is mandatory only for all SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) and 5% ILI (Influenza-like Illness) cases. Healthcare providers advise testing only after a proper medical assessment and in accordance with the protocols,' read the letter issued by the PMC, a copy of which has been seen by Hindustan Times. Dr Nina Borade, PMC health chief said, 'We have attached the official government advisory with the letter and asked all private hospitals and laboratories to strictly implement instructions to ensure targeted and appropriate Covid-19 testing, avoid unnecessary panic, and make efficient use of healthcare resources.' Dr Borade informed that a meeting was held with private laboratories on Tuesday during which the latter were told to strictly follow government guidelines during testing. 'The labs have been asked to carry out testing only as per government protocols and if prescribed by doctors,' she said. Civic officials said that during the review meeting, it was found that Covid RTPCR tests are being carried out in many cases even when it is not necessary as per government protocols like those with mild symptoms such as cold, cough and fever; those returning from travel; employees resuming duty after extended leave; preoperative patients; and those requesting testing without valid medical advice. Meanwhile, genome sequencing reports from B J Medical College have confirmed the presence of the XFG variant in the city. Health officials clarified that this new variant appears to be mild in nature however they emphasised the need to closely monitor patients with comorbidities and those showing SARI symptoms.
