India is a safe medical tourism destination , blogs Tanu Sethi

Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare refute that hospitals in India are not safe for treatment including medical tourism

Over the decades, it is known that plasmids are present in gram negative bacteria, they can be transmitted among bacteria and they may also encode for resistance for many drugs. However, this is a phenomenon which occurs in nature – in the environment, may be intestines of humans and animals universally.

Their might be billions of such happenings at any moment. It should have been highlighted that getting infection by such drug resistant bacteria is a matter of chance, is a global phenomenon and is preventable by sound infection prevention strategies which are followed in any good hospital.

A national resistance alert was issued in July 2009 in UK hospitals, and similar alert has been sounded now also. It may be noted that similar plasmids have been reported from Israel, USA, Greece and even in this report from environment of Scotland.

While such organisms may be circulating more commonly in the world due to international travel but to link this with the safety of surgery hospitals in India and citing isolated examples to show that due to presence of such organism in Indian environment, India is not a safe place to visit is wrong.

A lot of sensation has been created by a report in Lancet, online published on 11th August, 2010 by Karthikeyan K. Kumaraswamy et al about Emergence of a new antibiotic resistance mechanism in India, Pakistan, and the UK. It has an interpretation which links its spread possibly from India.

This publication reports the presence of a plasmid associated with drug resistance to several antibiotics including third generation cephalosporins in gram-negative bacteria. While the title and the contents broadly describe the antibiotics resistance profile of gram negative bacteria and its mechanism due to New Delhi metallo-b lactamase (NDM-1) gene in the plasmid, the conclusions are loaded with inference that these resistance genes/organism possibly originated in India and it may not be safe for the UK patients to opt for surgery in India. Concluding sentence presents a frightening picture which is not supported by any scientific data.

It also needs to be highlighted that several of the authors have declared conflict of interest in the publication. The study was funded by European Union & 2 pharmaceutical company namely Wellcome Trust & Wyeth who produce antibiotics for treatment of such cases. DGHS in consultation with Secretary DHR & DGICMR strongly refute the naming of this enzyme as New Delhi metallo beta lactamase & also refute that hospitals in India are not safe for treatment including medical tourism.

No proposal under consideration to open up India’s legal sector to foreign law companies

No proposal under consideration to open up India’s legal sector to foreign law companies

M Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law and Justice, while addressing the Lok Sabha on Thursday in a written reply said that there is no proposal under consideration of the Government of India to open up India’s legal sector to foreign law companies. However, the issue of allowing foreign law firms to establish their officers to give legal advice and assistance on foreign law is being discussed with all the stake holders including the Bar Council of India.

193 Gram Nyayalayas to be set up in 09-10: Moily

193 Gram Nyayalayas to be set up in 09-10: Moily

M Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law and Justice, while addressing the Lok Sabha on Thursday in a written reply said one hundred and ninety three Gram Nyayalayas across the country are likely to be set up in the year 2009-10 in the States to which the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 applies.

The Central Government would bear the non-recurring cost of establishment of Gram Nyayalayas subject to a ceiling of Rs.18.00 lakhs per Gram Nyayalaya. The Central Government would also bear 50% of Rs.6.40 lakhs per annum as recurring cost of one Gram Nyayalaya for the first three years.

Courtesy: Miistry of law and justice release

UPSC announces result for CDS Exam ( I ) -2009

UPSC announces result for CDS Exam ( I ) -2009

The UPSC has announced the results of the Combined Defence Services Examination (I)-2009 held by the Services Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence for admission to the 128th Course of Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala and Air Force Academy, Hyderabad (Pre-Flying) Training Course i.e. 187th F(P) Course.

H K Dua and A S Ganguly nominated to Rajya Sabha

H K Dua and A S Ganguly nominated to Rajya Sabha

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (a) of clause (1) of article 80 of the Constitution of India, read with clause (3) of that article, the President nominated to the Council of States H K Dua and Ashok Sekhar Ganguly to fill the vacancies caused due to the retirement of nominated members.

Courtesy: Ministry of home affairs release

Kendriya Hindi Samiti reconstituted

Kendriya Hindi Samiti reconstituted

The 41 Member Kendriya Hindi Samiti has been reconstituted, which has Prime Minister as its Chairman and the Union Home Minister as Deputy Chairman. The Union Ministers of Human Resource Development, Information & Broadcasting, Communication & IT, Railways, External Affairs and Minister of State for Official Languages in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions are among the Members.

Chief Ministers of Bihar, Rajasthan, Kerala, Punjab, Assam and Odisha are also among the Members besides several eminent personalities. Secretary, Department of Official Languages will be member Secretary.

Home Minister administers National Integration Pledge

Home Minister administers National Integration Pledge

The Home Minister, P Chidambaram administered the National Integration Pledge to the officers and staff of the Ministry of Home Affairs in connection with the Quami Ekta Week on Thursday. The Week is observed every year from the 19th to 25th November to foster the spirit of patriotism, communal harmony and national integration. Several programmes would be part of activities with a specific theme for each of the seven days. Meetings, symposia, seminars, special literary functions, cultural functions and other programmes form part of activities to highlight the theme. National Integration, Welfare of Minorities, Linguistic Harmony, Weaker Section, Cultural Unity and Conservation are the themes for the Week and activities related to a specific theme would be under focus on each day.

Courtesy: Ministry of home affairs release