Latest news with #PankajKumarSingh
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Delhi Health Minister Singh asks govt hospitals to set up critical care blocks under PM-ABHIM scheme
Delhi's Health Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh on Wednesday directed the government hospitals to immediately set up critical care blocks under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) scheme. The Central government-funded scheme is aimed at strengthening the infrastructure of healthcare institutions at all levels. He asked department officials to conduct on-site inspections and identify available spaces within hospitals to set up these dedicated blocks. Minister Singh instructed the officials to expedite the installation of dialysis machines in government hospitals so that patients don't have to shuttle between hospitals for treatment. He said that the number of dialysis machines should be increased to over 300 across all hospitals. To prepare for the monsoon season, the minister directed the authorities to prioritize procuring emergency medicines and complete all necessary procedures within the stipulated timeframe. Dr Singh also instructed officials to ensure that Brain Health Clinics, on the lines of the one operational at Indira Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka, are established in all districts of Delhi. These clinics will provide comprehensive care and treatment for patients suffering from mental health issues. 'The Brain Health Clinic at Dwarka is receiving an encouraging response from the public. In line with this, we will be setting up similar clinics across all districts to ensure timely mental healthcare for every individual,' said Dr Singh. The Health Minister directed all government hospitals to mandatorily complete the registration process under the Hospital Information Management System (HIMS) as per the standard guidelines. He announced that Model Health Labs will be established to offer all essential diagnostic tests related to general health. At present, 61 private and 25 government hospitals – a total of 86 hospitals – have been empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Delhi.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
‘Expedite emergency med procurement for monsoon'
New Delhi: Health minister Pankaj Kumar Singh on Wednesday issued directives for expediting the procurement of emergency medicine for the ensuing monsoon season. He instructed the health department to adhere to all requisite procedures within the specified timeline. The instructions were issued during a high-level review meeting with Delhi Health Department officials at the Secretariat. Dr Singh stressed the importance of maintaining adequate medicine supplies and implementation of Critical Care Blocks across all govt hospitals in Delhi. TNN
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Medicines, path tests, yoga! all for free: Ayushman Arogya Mandirs debut in Delhi with upgraded facilities and broader services
NEW DELHI: The newly established Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) in Delhi present a new face of urban healthcare. Bright colours, modern furniture, well-stocked medicine shelves, advanced laboratories and spotless washrooms now greet the ailing, marking a substantial upgrade from their previous incarnations as polyclinics, dispensaries and the Aam Aadmi Party govt's mohalla clinic. On Tuesday, chief minister Rekha Gupta will inaugurate an AAM at Tis Hazari, one of the 33 to be launched on the day. Six centres will be opened by the state ministers in their constituencies, while BJP MPs and other political figures will inaugurate the rest. AAMs aim to deliver preventive, promotive and curative health services. The inauguration schedule on Tuesday includes health minister Pankaj Kumar Singh at Old Barat Ghar, Vikas Nagar, PWD minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma at Babar Road, environment minister Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa at DGD Chowkhandi, home and education minister Ashish Sood at Janakpuri, social welfare minister Ravinder Singh (Indraj) at Bawana, and culture minister Kapil Mishra at Khajoori Khas. A preliminary visit to some AAMs reveals an impressive transformation. Fresh paint, updated furniture, new signage, and improved patient seating arrangements enhance the ambience. Cooling solutions like fans and coolers address the summer heat, and upgraded drinking water and sanitation facilities reflect the govt's commitment to hygiene and comfort. Officials confirmed that these centres adhere to the Indian Public Health Standards, 2022, which stipulate requirements for infrastructure, staffing, medical supplies, diagnostic tools and essential health services. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Step Into Designer 3 BHKs at Sunteck City – Starts ₹3.85 Cr* Sunteck City Learn More Undo "We hope these improvements are maintained beyond the inauguration," remarked a Rohini resident, observing the upgraded Sector 18 AAM. Manoj and Shikha Gupta lauded the cleanliness, paintwork, and service navigation signage but voiced concern at the reduced operating hours — now from 8am to 12:30pm, two hours shorter than before. Healthcare staff explained that the shortened hours were only for the period of renovations and there were plans to extend them once the centres were fully operational. At the Tis Hazari AAM, officials highlighted services such as cervical cancer screening, maternal care and childhood vaccinations under the national immunisation programme for children aged 0 to 16 years. The centre will dispense 105 essential medicines. Operating hours at this facility will be 9.30am to 3.30pm. Moreover, the centre offers 14 in-house lab tests — among them haemoglobin, blood sugar, malaria, dengue and typhoid card tests — alongside 79 outsourced tests like liver function test, kidney function test, lipid profile, thalassemia and thyroid screenings, all free of charge. Additionally, bi-weekly yoga sessions on Monday and Thursday will promote holistic well-being. Kishan Lal, a 42-year-old shop worker near the Shalimar Bagh AAM, acknowledged the aesthetic improvements but remained cautious about the sustained quality of medical services. "I hope the new govt maintains these standards," he said. Distinct from the former mohalla clinics, AAMs are equipped with emergency oxygen facilities and private spaces for breastfeeding mothers. They will also facilitate the issue of Ayushman cards for citizens aged 70 and above. Healthcare personnel at these facilities comprise a physician, nursing staff, pharmaceutical specialist, auxiliary nursing midwives, laboratory technician, tuberculosis management specialist (DOTS), computer data operator and a multi-purpose support worker. The previous mohalla clinics, launched in Oct 2015 by the CM Arvind Kejriwal, primarily catered to common ailments, offering accessible, free healthcare and medicines.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Medicines, Path Tests, Yoga! All For Free At Revamped Centres
New Delhi: The newly established Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) in Delhi present a new face of urban healthcare. Bright colours, modern furniture, well-stocked medicine shelves, advanced laboratories and spotless washrooms now greet the ailing, marking a substantial upgrade from their previous incarnations as polyclinics, dispensaries and the Aam Aadmi Party govt's mohalla clinic. On Tuesday, chief minister Rekha Gupta will inaugurate an AAM at Tis Hazari, one of the 33 to be launched on the day. Six centres will be opened by the state ministers in their constituencies, while BJP MPs and other political figures will inaugurate the rest. AAMs aim to deliver preventive, promotive and curative health services. The inauguration schedule on Tuesday includes health minister Pankaj Kumar Singh at Old Barat Ghar, Vikas Nagar, PWD minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma at Babar Road, environment minister Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa at DGD Chowkhandi, home and education minister Ashish Sood at Janakpuri, social welfare minister Ravinder Singh (Indraj) at Bawana, and culture minister Kapil Mishra at Khajoori Khas. A preliminary visit to some AAMs reveals an impressive transformation. Fresh paint, updated furniture, new signage, and improved patient seating arrangements enhance the ambience. Cooling solutions like fans and coolers address the summer heat, and upgraded drinking water and sanitation facilities reflect the govt's commitment to hygiene and comfort. Officials confirmed that these centres adhere to the Indian Public Health Standards, 2022, which stipulate requirements for infrastructure, staffing, medical supplies, diagnostic tools and essential health services. "We hope these improvements are maintained beyond the inauguration," remarked a Rohini resident, observing the upgraded Sector 18 AAM. Manoj and Shikha Gupta lauded the cleanliness, paintwork, and service navigation signage but voiced concern at the reduced operating hours — now from 8am to 12:30pm, two hours shorter than before. Healthcare staff explained that the shortened hours were only for the period of renovations and there were plans to extend them once the centres were fully operational. At the Tis Hazari AAM, officials highlighted services such as cervical cancer screening, maternal care and childhood vaccinations under the national immunisation programme for children aged 0 to 16 years. The centre will dispense 105 essential medicines. Operating hours at this facility will be 9.30am to 3.30pm. Moreover, the centre offers 14 in-house lab tests — among them haemoglobin, blood sugar, malaria, dengue and typhoid card tests — alongside 79 outsourced tests like liver function test, kidney function test, lipid profile, thalassemia and thyroid screenings, all free of charge. Additionally, bi-weekly yoga sessions on Monday and Thursday will promote holistic well-being. Kishan Lal, a 42-year-old shop worker near the Shalimar Bagh AAM, acknowledged the aesthetic improvements but remained cautious about the sustained quality of medical services. "I hope the new govt maintains these standards," he said. Distinct from the former mohalla clinics, AAMs are equipped with emergency oxygen facilities and private spaces for breastfeeding mothers. They will also facilitate the issue of Ayushman cards for citizens aged 70 and above. Healthcare personnel at these facilities comprise a physician, nursing staff, pharmaceutical specialist, auxiliary nursing midwives, laboratory technician, tuberculosis management specialist (DOTS), computer data operator and a multi-purpose support worker. The previous mohalla clinics, launched in Oct 2015 by the CM Arvind Kejriwal, primarily catered to common ailments, offering accessible, free healthcare and medicines.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Just 10% of target met, govt. plans sex determination inspection reboot
The Delhi government is planning to increase inspections at clinics and diagnostic centres to curb sex determination tests after meeting just 10% of the target. Only 715 inspections out of the planned 7,096 were conducted between April 2024 and March 2025 across 1,774 medical facilities in the city that are registered under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, according to the Health Department's annual report. To address this gap, the department will urge district authorities to prioritise inspections under the Act and form additional teams to conduct them, officials said. The Act mandates quarterly inspection of every clinic, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for those conducting sex determination tests. Though Delhi fell short of its annual target, it was still an improvement from the previous year, when just 455 inspections took place across 1,737 facilities such as diagnostic centres, speciality clinics, maternity and ultrasound centres, and IVF clinics and hospitals. Action against violators In March, Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh had launched a web portal to enhance action against violators of the Act. He said Delhi being the Capital must lead by example in eliminating sex determination practices. The Act applies to medical practitioners (geneticists, gynaecologists, paediatricians, sonologists, radiologists, and imaging specialists) and owners of facilities (genetic counselling centres, genetic clinics, and laboratories), imposing penalties for violations. While ultrasound machines can be used to detect genetic abnormalities and other disorders, using them for sex determination is prohibited under the Act. In 2024-2025, authorities took action against violators, issuing 70 show-cause notices, suspending 13 clinics, cancelling 53 registrations, and sealing 22 ultrasound machines. According to the district annual report, inspections remained low across districts, with the percentage of targets met ranging from 5.69% in North West district to 15.88% in West district. Under the Act, the Central government has to appoint one or more Appropriate Authorities for implementing its provisions. According to a 2014 gazette notification, Delhi's Deputy Commissioners and District Magistrates were designated as Appropriate Authorities in their respective districts. Despite attempts via e-mails and calls, The Hindu received no response from authorities across 11 districts on the low rate of inspection. Impact on sex ratio Delhi's sex ratio at birth improved from 896 in 2014 to 922 in 2023, according to the Civil Registration System data. However, despite the overall improvement over the decade, the ratio has been declining steadily since 2020, from 933 that year to 932 in 2021, 929 in 2022, and 922 in 2023. Dr. Neelam Singh, a gynaecologist and member of the National Inspection and Monitoring Committee, constituted under the PCPNDT Act, stressed the importance of quarterly inspections. 'Every clinic is to be checked quarterly and a report is to be made,' she said. She noted that increased inspections in States such as Haryana, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra have led to improved sex ratios, suggesting that stricter enforcement can deter sex determination practices. Doctors at Delhi clinics report that despite the Act being in place for 30 years, they still receive requests to determine the sex of a child, although such requests have decreased over time. A gynaecologist on condition of anonymity said about 10% of couples still request sex determination, but are counselled on its illegality. She said some couples opt to travel to countries like Thailand or the UAE, where sex determination is allowed and gender disclosure is standard practice. 'Ramp up efforts' 'Of late, district authorities are saying they are preoccupied with other tasks,' a Health Department official said, adding that the department will urge them to form more inspection teams and prioritise inspections to improve the sex ratio. The official explained that inspections also include monitoring advertisements for sex determination, random checks of Form F (a mandatory record to track ultrasound scans, where patients and doctors declare no sex determination is done), and noting inconsistencies like missing records. Inspections may also include decoy operations, the official said.
