Public Health Nutrition - From principles to practice

Edited by Mark Lawrence & Tony Worsley
1741751020    2008    PB     Allen & Unwin  512pp  Single Colour 7 x 9 "   Rs. 695.00

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Description: How can the nutritional health of populations be improved through action at local, national and global levels?

The work of public health nutritionists is to bring population-wide perspectives to the relationship between food and health. Systematically drawing on international research, in Public Health Nutrition leading international practitioners present both the theoretical underpinnings and applied nature of the field of public health nutrition. The book is peer reviewed and divided into four sections: • Principles - presents conceptual frameworks, solutions, responsibilities and outcome measures, philosophical and evidential dimensions, standards and dietary guidelines • Populations - explores groups for whom nutrition is especially relevant, providing analysis of the food and health relationship from physiological, social, cultural, political and economic perspectives • Priorities - examines key issues including vulnerable populations, obesity, indigenous nutrition, international nutrition, the nutritional transition, food system trends and sustainability • Practices - covers professional skills for public health practitioners including monitoring the food and nutrition situation of populations, physical activity, research skills, project management, professional practice, health promotion and communication, policy and politics.

Contents: Principles • Concepts and guiding principles • Knowledge • Reference standards and guidelines • Populations • Overview • Mothers and infants • Children and adolescents • Older adults •Priorities • Overview • Economically, geographically and socially disadvantaged communities • Indigenous communities • Obesity prevention • International nutrition • Global developments in the food system • Practices •  Overview • Monitoring the food and nutrition situation of populations • Physical activity •  Research skills •  Professional practice • Project Management •  Promotion and communication •  Policy and politics

About the editors: Mark Lawrence BSc (Hons), Grad Dip Nut & Diet, Grad Dip Epidem and Biostats, M.Sc, PhD is Associate Professor in Public Health Nutrition in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at Deakin University. He is a steering committee member for the New Nutrition Science project and a member of the drafting committee for the constitution of the World Public Health Nutrition Association. Tony Worsley BSc (Hons) PhD is Professor of Public Health Nutrition and Head of the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at Deakin University.

Target Audience:  Public Health Nutrition is an essential resource for public health practitioners, researchers and administrators, as well as students of nutrition, dietetics and public health wishing to obtain advanced and specialised competencies.

Principles of Occupational Health & Hygiene

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Edited by Cherilyn Tillman
174175058X     2008    PB     Allen & Unwin  496pp    Single Colour 7 x 9 "   Rs. 695.00

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Description: Today’s workplaces are full of materials and processes which are potentially hazardous to our health. Industry depends on a large range of naturally occurring and synthetic materials, many of which can adversely affect the health of the workers. Even some non-industrial workplaces can contain hazardous materials or cause exposure to physical or biological agents that can be harmful to health.

Principles of Occupational Health and Hygiene offers a systematic and comprehensive overview of occupational health hazards and hazardous environments encountered in a range of industries and organisational settings.

Leading industry professionals and educators explain how to identify key workplace hazards including chemical agents such as dusts, metals and gases; physical agents such as noise, radiation and extremes of heat and cold; and microbiological agents. They outline assessment procedures and processes for identifying exposure levels. They also explain how to evaluate risk and follow safety guidelines to control and manage these hazards effectively.

Chapters are heavily illustrated with detailed case studies, diagrams, flowcharts and photos. Practical guidelines are provided for managing each hazard type.

Contents:  The hazardous work environment: The hygiene • Occupational health, basic toxicology and epidemiology •  The concept  of the exposure standard • Control of workplace health hazards • Aerosols • Metals in the workplace •  Gases and vapours • Biological and biological-effect monitoring • Indoor air quality • Noise and vibration • Ionising and non-ionising radiation • Other physical agents • Biological hazards • Sources of information

About the editor: Cherilyn Tillman BSc, MAppSc, PhD is a Fellow of the AIOH and a Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH). She has over 30 years experience in occupational hygiene, in occupational health and safety, risk management and risk engineering. She is currently OHS Team Leader with the Victorian Employer’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Target Audience: An ideal resource for students of Occupational Health and Safety, and a professional reference for Occupational Hygienists, Safety Officers, and anyone working in an Occupational Health and Safety role.

Courses in Apollo

Apollo Hospitals offers aspiring medical professionals a variety of courses for careers in healthcare.



Courses offered include:



The DNB provided by the National Board of Examination (NBE), Government of India is an outstanding postgraduate medical degree programme that is today coveted by medical graduates all over the country . The NBE maintains a high and uniform standard of postgraduate and postdoctoral examinations in medical sciences for the award of the Diplomate of National Board (DNB). The DNB is equivalent to the MD/MS/DM/MCh of other Indian Universities as recognised by the Government of India and the Medical Council of India. With today's widespread commercialisation of postgraduate medical education, the NBE provides a better alternative for meritorious but less affluent medical graduates.



The National Board of Examinations approved Apollo Hospitals, Chennai for accreditation in 1984. Today 18 departments are recognised as post-graduate training centres by the Board.



The Apollo hospitals has been recognized by the NBE to train students in the following key medical specialities-



Broad Specialties:



Anaesthesia

Orthopaedics

Pathology

Radiology

General Medicine

General Surgery

Family Medicine



Super Specialties:



Nephrology

Neurology

Cardiology



Fellowship Programme



Critical Care Medicine



For further details contact:



Dr. Radha Rajagopalan, MBBS, AB (Ped)

Director Medical Education

Apollo Hospitals



e-mail: drradha@apollohospitals.com

Phone: +91-44-28296008/28293320

Fax: +91-44-28294429



Dr. T. Srinivas Reddy D.Ortho, MS

Medical Superintendent

Apollo Hospitals

Hyderabad

Phone: +91-40-2360 7777 extn. 5004

e-mail: drtamma@rediffmail.com



Fellowship in Emergency Medicine (Affiliated with the Royal College of General Practitioners, U.K.)



The Apollo Hospitals' 24 hours emergency and trauma care is geared to treat all kinds of medical and surgical emergencies including poly-trauma with the most advanced equipments. The Royal College of General Physicians has recognised Apollo Hospitals, Chennai and Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad for fellowships in Emergency Medicine in 2002.



For information contact:



Co-ordinator

Dr. T. Srinivas Reddy M.B., D.Ortho., MS

Phone: +91-40-23554726

e-mail: drtamma@rediffmail.com



MRCS (UK) (Affiliated with the Royal College of General Surgeons, U.K.)



The Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, has identified Apollo hospitals as a training centre for Fellowship examinations in:



- General Surgery

- Orthopaedic Surgery

- Emergency



For information contact:



Co-ordinator

Dr. T. Srinivas Reddy M.B., D.Ortho., MS

Phone: +91-40-23554726

e-mail: drtamma@rediffmail.com

Condom ringtone rocks mobile users

By IANS, New Delhi, Aug 19 - Imagine the expression on the faces of those around you when your mobile suddenly starts buzzing with an unlikely ringtone: 'Condom, condom'.

The 'Condom a cappella' ringtone features in a new advertisement campaign launched earlier this year, as part of a two-year project of using the mass media to make condom use more acceptable.

The campaign has been produced by the BBC World Service Trust and funded by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The National AIDS Control Organisation - is also using the advertisement to support its condom promotion efforts.

The ringtone, which can be downloaded both via SMS or the website www.condomcondom.org, has gained quite some popularity since its launch - with over 60,000 downloads in the last 12 days.

'Ringtones have become such personal statements that a specially created condom ringtone seemed just the right vehicle to define its user as a sensible person,' Radharani Mitra, creative director of the BBC World Service Trust, said.

'We have always had a strong interactive, response-oriented element in this ongoing campaign. This downloadable ringtone provides yet another opportunity for our target audience to translate the message into an action point.

'The very act of downloading and using this ringtone would have a counter effect on the inhibitions and taboos that can be associated with condoms. And it adds an element of fun and comfort to it,' Mitra added.

The ringtone phase is in five languages - Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Marathi. It is the third instalment of the ongoing condom popularisation campaign.

Each phase has used the media in innovative and interactive ways to get people to talk about condoms and accept them as a sign of smart and responsible behaviour.

The campaign focuses on people who are sensible enough to appreciate and understand this. Not surprisingly, the tagline is: 'Jo Samjha Wohi Sikander -'.

'It is a remarkable initiative. I don't think there is anything wrong with the condom ringtone because condom signifies smart and responsible behaviour, a hallmark of any winner,' said a mobile user, Mohammad Mati, who has downloaded the ringtone and even suggested it to his friends.

According to an official of the BBC World Service Trust, 'The strategy is to show social support for condoms, as this has a positive effect on use, and position condoms as a product that men use to show they are responsible and care about themselves and their families. The objective is to connect with all age groups and across the socio-economic strata.'

Villagers say mysterious disease killing people

By IANS, Patna, Aug 22 - Villagers in Bihar's East Champaran district Friday claimed that eight people have died in the past 10 days of a disease that doctors have been unable to diagnose.

Residents of Akauna village near Motihari town, about 200 km from here, claimed that the men who died were part of a group of 18 labourers who had returned from Nagaland, where they worked in forests.

The labourers had been complaining of severe body ache, high fever and weakness since their return.

Jitendra Rai, a villager, said: 'Eight of the 18 who returned from Kohima died one by one in the last 10 days.'

Mobin Hashmi, the doctor who treated the men, said he had failed to diagnose the disease they were suffering from and failed to understand the cause of the deaths.

'It appears to be the result of some mysterious communicable disease,' Hashmi said.

'The government should take it seriously because the disease may spread fast and is likely to claim more lives if preventive measures are not initiated soon. The government should send a team of doctors to treat the others who are suspected to be infected,' he added.

Dharmdev Singh, the district civil surgeon, said he had no information about the deaths from the local administration.

Chandigarh to celebrate cycle day

By IANS, Chandigarh, Aug 21 - In an initiative to promote cycling in Chandigarh, the city administration in association with a tourism body will observe Saturday as 'Chandigarh Cycle Day'.

A cycle rally has been planned Saturday by Chandigarh's tourism department in collaboration with Society For Tourism And Entertainment Promotion -.

'More than 500 members from various organisations and institutions in Chandigarh and its surrounding towns will participate in the three-km cycle rally,' a spokesperson of Chandigarh tourism said here Thursday.

Representatives of various institutions like Chandigarh tourism, STEP, Chandigarh industrial and tourism development corporation limited -, Dell, Infosys, Yuvsatta -, British Library, Punjab University, State Bank of India, Punjab engineering college and Chandigarh choir are participating in the rally.

In the past too, Chandigarh tourism in collaboration with various organisations has conducted such rallies in the city to promote cycling.

'We have decided to observe every third Saturday of August as Chandigarh cycle rally day. The purpose of this will be to promote cycling culture as a healthy and pollution free activity,' said a senior official of the Chandigarh tourism department.

'Chandigarh, with its open roads and greenery, is well suited for cycling, and we are hopeful that tourists will enjoy this activity.' the official said.

25 in Tamil Nadu complain of blindness after cataract surgery

By IANS, Chennai, Aug 24 - Use of expired medicines and conduct of an eye camp by inexperienced surgeons at a private hospital led to at least 8 people losing their sight at Perambalur in central Tamil Nadu, official sources said Sunday after preliminary investigations.

The official revelation came after angry relatives of some 25 people, who complained of blindness after their cataract surgery at a private hospital, blocked traffic at Perambalur, the police said.

Two of the victims told reporters in Tiruchirappalli, 25 km from Perambalur, that they have lost their eyesight and doctors are attending to them now.

'I have turned completely blind and will commit suicide if I get a chance. Not only am I not able to see anything, the irritation in the eyes is killing me,' said M. Yashoda, a 73-year-old woman who underwent the surgery at the hospital.

'We are poor people with little political backing. The hospital expressed helplessness by claiming an error in the packing of the medicines used when I complained of blindness after the cataract operation,' said N. Ramaswamy, 61.

Of the 55 people operated upon July 29, 25 said they had lost their sight. A police complaint has been lodged by relatives of some victims.

The charges have been denied by the Joseph Eye Hospital, which conducted the surgeries.

'Only six people complained of total blindness, which we are attending to. Others suffering from irritation are also being attended to and are responding favourably,' hospital spokesperson S. Akhila said by telephone from Tiruchirappalli.

Situated some 275 km south of Chennai, Perambalur is a backward district with few industries and job opportunities.

Its land has turned barren due to absence of rains and drying up of the water table, leading to near total failure of agricultural vocations, officials said.

Kashmir faces shortage of life-saving drugs

By Sarwar Kashani, Srinagar, Aug 22 - Shakeel Ahmed Mir had to return disappointed from a chemist shop here as he couldn't get an insulin injection for his diabetic mother. This was the 12th pharmacist's shop from which he had returned empty-handed.

'I don't know what to do,' a distressed Mir said, as his mother was fast running out of the stock at home. He has now asked a friend in Delhi to send the drug.

Mir's predicament is shared by thousands of patients and their relatives in the Kashmir valley in the wake of shortage of life-saving drugs.

'We are currently facing shortage of many life-saving drugs, as supply is disrupted due to protests at many places on the - National Highway,' said Mohammed Saleem, a chemist in city centre Lal Chowk.

Jammu and Kashmir is battling with crises at many fronts for the last two and a half months, as protests and shutdowns have taken a toll on supply of essential commodities.

The trouble started after the government May 26 allocated 40 hectares of forest land in Kashmir to a Hindu temple trust. This triggered violent protests in the Muslim dominated valley as Kashmiri leaders, separatist as well as mainstream, alleged that the land was meant to tamper with the demography of Kashmir.

The government was forced to revoke the land transfer orders July 1 which invited counter agitation in Hindu-majority Jammu. At least 40 people have died, mostly in police and paramilitary firing, in the troubled state.

Some protesting Hindu groups blocked the national highway - the only motorable road link to the valley - disrupting supply of essential commodities including medicines.

Muslim protesters, backed mainly by separatist leaders, allege that the Jammu protesters had forced an 'economic blockade' on the valley, an allegation denied by the protesters in Jammu.

The supply was resumed to some extent last week though officials admit that it still wasn't normal.

'Around 750 trucks carrying essential commodities entered the valley Wednesday night,' an official spokesman told IANS.

The spokesman said before the trouble 1,200 to 1,500 truckloads of essential commodities used to unload in the Kashmir valley every day. 'Today it doesn't cross the 800 mark'.

General secretary of Kashmir Medical Representatives Association Sheikh Niyaz said: 'We have a shortage of about 90 percent of life-saving drugs in the valley because no medicines have come from Jammu.'

Nine out of 10 pharmacy depots in the state are in Jammu, Niyaz added. 'We have not received any fresh supplies, barring one truckload of generic drugs last week.

'Right now the pharmacies are just about managing by supplying each other but even that can last for not more than a week.'

According to doctors here, the most critical shortage was of anti-cancer drugs.

Medical Superintendent of SMHS hospital Waseem Qureshi said he had 'adequate quantity of life- saving drugs for 750 indoor patients in the hospital' but expressed worries 'over thousands of patients who need the drugs at home'.

One of the biggest medical stores in Srinagar, Sajjad Medicare, is also running out of medicines, especially life-saving drugs.

'We are facing shortage of about 40 life-saving drugs. The important items of leading companies that are the fastest running brands are out of stock,' shopowner Sajjad Ahmad told IANS.

'We are medical representatives and we receive the medicines first. We have not received any this month. How is the government claiming stocks are adequate?' asked Arshad Ahmed, who works as a medical representative of Menarin Raunaq Pharma.

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Doctors also at risk during surgery

By IANS, Washington, Aug 30 - Patients are not the only ones at risk during cardiac procedures; doctors also face health risks, especially radiation risk to their eyes.


The International Atomic Energy Agency - is helping to raise awareness of threats, through training in radiation protection related to medical uses of X-ray imaging systems.


The issue of protection from radiation for doctors is particularly acute in the case of lengthy angioplasty and other cardiac interventions performed under X-ray fluoroscopic guidance.


Fluoroscopy provides X-ray images of a patient that physicians can view on a display screen or monitor in real time.


The procedure can cause extensive radiation exposure to cardiologists, possibly leading to cataract, alongside other longer term health risks.


The IAEA is helping the medical community address this problem through a major international initiative aimed at training cardiologists and other medical professionals in radiation protection.


The study is being led by a team of experts, including Eliseo Vano, radiology department of the Complutense University of Madrid; Norman Kleiman, Columbia University, New York; local ophthalmologists from Bogota and Raul Ramirez of the IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation.


The initiative is part of an international action plan on the radiological protection of patients spearheaded by the IAEA.


'In the meeting of Latin American cardiologists, we will offer participants the possibility to have their eyes tested for early changes of radiation effect that may lead to cataract in future years,' said Eliseo Vano.


'This will allow us to assess retrospectively what radiation dose these cardiologists received, and then correlate the data with changes in their lens,' Vano added.


IAEA's Madan Rehani, a radiation safety specialist, said 'we started training courses for cardiologists in 2004 and so far cardiologists from more than 50 countries have been trained in radiation protection'.


This September, the IAEA is organising a study to test the eyes of interventional cardiologists participating in a regional medical conference, organised by the Latin American Society of Interventional Cardiologists - in Bogota, Colombia.

Web-enabled system to help remote monitoring of asthma

By IANS, Bangalore, Aug 26 - An inexpensive web-enabled device for monitoring lung function in asthma patients and other disorders is being developed by researchers and co-workers here.

The device would allow physicians to track patients remotely and promptly initiate medical attention in an emergency, the researchers said.

Texas Instruments researcher N.C.S. Ramachandran, an expert in high-speed and low-power digital design, is working on the project with professor of electrical engineering Vivek Agarwal of the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai.

They are jointly developing an inexpensive and easy to operate spirometer that can be quickly hooked up to the Internet through built-in web and data encryption software. Their findings have been published in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology.

Spirometers measures lung capacity and response of breathing during therapy. However, their use is limited in the developing world and in remote regions because of the prohibitive cost of the instrument and a lack of healthcare workers trained in their use.

The team has developed the device as a low-cost, portable spirometer built around a pressure sensor for detecting airflow. The sensor is fabricated using technology similar to that of manufacturing computer chips and is based on a microelectromechanical system -.

The MEMS spirometer can measures the flow and volume of air moving in and out of the patient's lungs. Mass production of the MEMS sensor can slash costs.

Simply monitoring cough and wheezing in asthma sufferers does not always provide an accurate assessment of the severity of their symptoms.

Breathing tests carried out using a spirometer, on the other hand, are much more accurate and can provide a clear indication of whether or not medication is being effective.

Babies' deaths in AIIMS clinical trials open Pandora's box

By Killugudi Jayaraman, [RxPG] Bangalore, Aug 22 - The death of 49 babies in clinical trials at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences - in New Delhi may have opened a Pandora's box as two of the trial drugs have never been tried on patients below 18 years, an expert said.

How many of the children died because of the trial drugs will be known only when an enquiry committee submits its report this month, but doctors have already raised questions of ethics.

In reply to a Right to Information - query, the AIIMS said that 49 babies had died during clinical trials over the past two-and-a-half years.

The AIIMS paediatrics department conducted 42 sets of trials on 4,142 babies - 2,728 of them below the age of one - since Jan 1, 2006.

Two of the trial drugs - olmesartan and valsartan, meant for reducing blood pressure - have never been tried on patients below the age of 18 years, said Chandra M. Gulhati, editor of the Monthly Index of Medical Specialties and a keen obserger of the clinical trials in India.

'The sponsors are trying to determine their efficacy and safety on children and adolescents' by conducting the trials in India at AIIMS, he said.

Gulhati asked: 'Is hypertension in this age group - a problem in India? If yes, what is the incidence and prevalence? If it is not a major problem, why conduct a trial in India and put children at risk without any benefit?'

According to the US Food and Drugs Administration, the 'pharmacokinetics' - of valsartan has not been investigated in patients below 18 years of age.

Studies on another trial drug - rituximab for treating a type of cancer - have so far been done only on adult patients.

Gulhati said the phase III clinical trials are normally conducted as pre-approval requirement for marketing a new drug.

'If the company has not applied for marketing approval to use the drug on children, why were phase III trials permitted?'

Both olmesartan and valsartan are 'off-patent' in India and are being marketed by local companies, said Gulhati.

'Why should foreign companies conduct phase III studies in India when they have not applied for marketing?

'Even if the trials establish the safety and efficacy of these molecules in children, the sponsors would not commercially benefit because of lack of patent,' said Gulhati.

'It is obvious that these trials are being conducted to extend patent period in Western countries with no consequence or benefit for India using Indian children as guinea pigs.'

Over 4,000 drug trial cases pertained to just one department in AIIMS - pediatrics.

'I shudder to think what this number would be in all the departments combined,' said a senior scientist in the Indian Council of Medical Research -.

Although ICMR has established a registry for voluntary reporting of all clinical trials done in India, a search of the registry - does not show the AIIMS babies' trials.

However, AIIMS authorities had said the deaths were not due to medicines used in the clinical trials but because of the diseases that the children were suffering from.

'We want to clarify that none of the deaths was due to the medication or interventions used in clinical trials,' V.K. Paul, head of the paediatrics department, had said.

'Clinical research is the mandate of the AIIMS clinicians. Novel therapies are examined keeping in mind the utmost safety for all patients,' he added.

Bihar doctor arrested for treating Maoist leader

By IANS, Patna, Aug 25 - A doctor and his three assistants have been arrested in Bihar's Aurangabad district after they were found treating a Maoist leader, police said Monday.

R.S. Gupta, a noted surgeon, and his three assistants were Sunday held on charges of providing shelter and treatment to Maoist leader Binay Kumar Prajapati in Aurangabad, considered a Maoist stronghold.

Superintendent of Police - Ganesh Kumar said Gupta was arrested following a raid on his nursing home in Aurangabad town, 140 km from here, for providing treatment to Prajapati. Another Maoist, Lav Kumar, was also arrested during the raid.

Kumar said they had 'adequate evidence against Gupta of his links with Maoists' who operate in the district and neighbouring areas.

Police suspect that Prajapati was seriously injured in an exchange of fire between the police and Maoists at Raniganj in Gaya district Friday. The encounter took place after the guerrillas attacked a police team, killing six officials.

Gupta has been the government doctor in the Aurangabad district jail for the last four years. Around 300 rebels, including top Maoist leaders, have been in the prison during this period.

'Police will look into Gupta's links with Maoists in view of the fact that he was posted in the jail,' a police official said.

Kumar said that a detailed report on Gupta's links with the Maoists would be sent to the state government.

Basic & Advanced Data Analysis using SPSS

Greetings from Sambodhi Research & Communications!

I write to share with you the details of a training programme being organised by us.

The programme titled 'Basic & Advanced Data Analysis using SPSS' is to be held at New Delhi from 14-17 October 2008. The training is aimed at informing and capacitating practitioners and researchers to the use of SPSS for informed decision-making. This is going to be our ninth offering of this module.

Sambodhi's previous programmes in this series have been subscribed by leading agencies and projects that include UNDP, UNICEF, CRS, Worldvision, Wateraid, Winrock, Actionaid, PHFI, PSI, CARE, BBC WST, HLF PPT, MPRLP etc.

Flyer for the programme containing more details is attached.

Please share this with professionals in your and partner organisations who may be interested in this training programme. We shall be happy to answer any queries that you may have in this regard.



Warm regards


Aparupa Negi
Sambodhi Research and Communications
O2 - IIIrd Floor, Lajpat Nagar
New Delhi -110024
Phone :+91-11-40560734/ 65492502
www.sambodhi.co.in

2008 WORLD STEM CELL SUMMIT

Taking place September 22-23, 2008
In Madison, Wisconsin USA

Dear Colleague, On September 22 and 23, 2008, the epicenter of the burgeoning international stem cell revolution will be at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Presented by the Genetics Policy Institute and hosted by the University of Wisconsin Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Center and the WiCell Research Institute, the World Stem Cell Summit is the flagship event, bringing together the founding visionary researchers, clinicians, business pathfinders, key policy-makers, regulators, advocates, experts in law and ethics to present compelling presentations, share information, and together chart the future of regenerative medicine.

Topics and speakers include:

THE RESEARCH, COLLABORATIONS AND CELL BANKING

How Stem Cell Research is Transforming Healthcare Stem cell visionaries Alan Trounson, John Gearhart, Lawrence Goldstein and John Wagner discuss how stem cell research is transforming healthcare and will impact all of our lives and the lives of future generations. Timothy Kamp moderates. Keynote Presentation by James Thomson: Reprogramming- A New Vision for Creating Patient Specific Cells iPS Cells: How They Change Everything and Nothing A lively panel discussion examining the astounding potential and policy implications surrounding induced pluripotent stem cells. Why iPS research does not eclipse human embryonic stem cell research and nuclear transfer. Speakers include Clive Svendsen, Hideyuki Okano and Amy Comstock Rick. International Perspectives: Collaboration Opportunities and the Importance of Stem Cell Banking An international panel of experts examines the many opportunities for international collaborations and the enormous growth in stem cell banking. Speakers include Stephen Minger, Marilyn Robertson, Glyn Stacey, Derek Hei and Douglas Sipp (moderator). Stem Cell Nations- Research Progress and Economic Development States, regions and countries are all funding stem cell research as a tool for economic development. Panelists include key leaders- California's Bob Klein, Christopher Mason, Linda Powers with Tom Still (moderator). Stem Cell Advances Through Bioengineering A global panel including Raphael Gorodetsky, David Schaffer, Gordona Vunjak-Novakovic and Kyriacos Athaasiou moderated by Brenda Ogle, reveals how bioengineering is transforming the face of stem cell research.

DISEASE SPECIFIC PANELS-SCIENCE, FOUNDATION, INDUSTRY AND ADVOCACY PERSPECTIVES

Spinal Cord Injury and Multiple Sclerosis Ian Duncan, Hans Kierstead, Wise Young, Timothy Coetzee, Sabrina Cohen and Su Chun Zhang (moderator) Cancer Luis Parada, Carolyn Aldige, Caroline Alexander Diabetes Ed Baetge, Henrik Semb, Alberto Hayek, Adrianne Wong and Jon Odorico (moderator) Parkinson's/ALS/ Neurological Disorders Lucie Bruijn, Mark Noble, Richard Garr, Stephen Byer and Clive Svendsen (moderator) Cardiovascular Disease Andreas Zeiher, Robert D. Simari, David Amrani and Timothy Kamp (moderator) Blindness and Diseases of the Eye Sally Temple, Peter Francis, Paul Williamson, Steven Rose, Gordon Gund, David Walsh and David Gamm (moderator)

SPECIAL EVENT – LAB ON THE LAKE Taking place Sept. 21, 2008, at Pyle Center, University of Wisconsin/Madison, Lab On The Lake is a celebration of stem cell research and a window into the life-saving future of regenerative medicine. This full-day public event is designed to inform, educate, stimulate and entertain students, teachers, patients, families, and citizens of all ages and interests.

With more than 120 sponsors and supporting organizations, the 2008 World Stem Cell Summit is an educational event not to be missed.

eGPX (E-governance Programme for Executives) at T.A.Pai Management Institute

eGPX (E-governance Programme for Executives) at T.A.Pai Management Institute, Manipal, Karnataka (2009) has been introduced from January 2009 (TAPMI 2008). This is one-year full-time residential diploma programme launched in co-operation with National Institute of Smart Government (NISG), Hyderabad, Department of Information Technology (DIT), New Delhi and information technology (IT) industry to meet the personnel requirements for implementation of India's National eGovernance Plan (NeGP). NISG estimates shortage of 2,000 trained personnel in e-governance per year. Check for details:

http://www.tapmi.org/egpxwebsite/egpx1.html

Doctors’ forum for better salary

http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/09/stories/2008010957750300.htm

Pay us on a par with Central Government institutions, says association

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“Already doctors are overburdened as they work for 54 hours to 70 hours a week”

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MADURAI: The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association has urged the State Government to pay salaries on a par with doctors working in Central Government institutions.
According to its secretary K. Senthil, doctors working in State Government institutions were paid less when compared to their counterparts in States such as Karnataka also. For an entry level medical professional designated as tutor, the gross pay had been around Rs.16,000 in Tamil Nadu whereas in Mysore Medical College it was more than Rs.30,000. The gap widened even further in the case of higher grades such as Assistant Professor, Reader and Professor. Tamil Nadu, with a total of 23 medical colleges including private institutions, stood next to Maharashtra and Karnataka had the highest number of medical colleges.
Around 2,800 MBBS students graduated each year from the State which was more than 10 per cent of the national index, he said.
Comparing the pay structure for Government and aided arts and science college teachers, who were paid as per University Grants Commission scales, with that of doctors’ pay, he said it was pathetically low.
“Though the pay for entry level doctors in the institutions is the same, once they get promotions the pay rise is steep in case of arts and science college teachers while doctors’ salary sees only a marginal increase,” Dr. Senthil said.
“All because of us” If the State was able to consolidate its top position in all health programmes and was popular for its effective health delivery system it was all because of the hard working medical professionals.
“Already doctors are overburdened as they work in Government hospitals and primary health centres for 54 hours to 70 hours a week.”
It might be surprising to note that Director of Physical Education was the highest paid member in a medical college, as he or she was paid as per UGC scale, Dr. Senthil said.
The association had appealed to the Chief Minister to constitute a special committee to correct these anomalies, he said.

"Government doctors' pay structure low"

http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/11/stories/2006111104880200.htm

Demand for pay as in Central institutions

MADURAI : The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors' Association (TNGDA) will put an end to private practice, if the doctors are on a par with the Central Government-run medical institutions, according to its State president K. Prakasam.

He told journalists here recently that while the association was against those who were guilty of dereliction of duty, it had to be accepted that the existing pay structure of government doctors was low when compared to their workload.

"What we are asking is that we should be paid on a par with those working in Central institutions like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research," Dr. Prakasam said.

Appointment of deans

The association sought the intervention of the Chief Minister in appointment of Deans to medical colleges. At present, there were seven vacant Dean posts in the State, including Madurai.

Dr. Prakasam said that the association was not against the decision of the High Court that appointment of Deans should be made according to Medical Council of India (MCI) norms. But the same norms should be adopted for filling all teaching posts.

"What the association seeks is re-designation of the existing staff as per the MCI norms. We are not asking for either change of pay-scale or pattern of duty," said Dr. Prakasam.

He said that this issue would be discussed at the association's executive committee meeting in Dharmapuri on November 26 and appropriate course of action chalked out.

The association had also requested that forensic and community medicine courses be introduced in big colleges immediately. He said that only 14 teaching faculty in forensic medicine were available in the State against the requirement of 140. Only three postgraduate seats in forensic medicine and four in community medicine were available.

"Even if the courses are introduced immediately in more colleges, it will take another five years to break even," he said.

TN Employees Association urges Govt to hold talks

http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20080816/1028794.html

The Tamil Nadu Government Employees' Association today urged the State Government to hold talks with employees' unions and associations and remove the anamolies, before issuing orders on pay-hike based on the recommendations of the sixth pay commission.
Welcoming Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's announcement that the Government would soon issue orders on pay hike, on the lines of the Centre, Association General Secretary R Muthusundaram, said the State Government should consult the representatives of the employees before issuing orders.
In a statement here, Mr Muthusundaram said unlike the Centre, which had unilaterally announced the pay-hike, the State Government should consult the employees and give effect on the pay-hike to their fullest satisfaction.

Statutory Rules regarding Recognition of Associations

GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

  PUBLIC (SERVICES-1) DEPARTMENT

G.O.NO.229, 22^nd JANUARY 1974

Service Associations – Recognition by Government – Statutory Rules regarding Recognition of Associations – Issued.

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READ- the following papers:-
(1)   G.O.Ms.No.1835, Public (Services), dated 21^st November 1960
(2)   Govt.Memo No.36114/76-2, P.&.A.R.(Per.K), dated the
       February 1977
(3)   G.O.Ms.No.583, P.&.A.R.(Per.K), dated 15^th May 1979.
(4)   G.O.Ms.No.351, P.&.A.R.(Per.K) dated 4^th April 1981.
(5)   G.O.Ms.No.1118, P.&.A.R. (Per.K), dated 9^th November 1981.

Order-No.229, Public (Services-I), dated 22^nd January 1974.

         In supersession of the orders issued in the Government Order read above, the Government of Tamil Nadu hereby issue the rules annexed to this order regarding the Recognition of Associations of Government Employees. 

(By order of the Governor)

                                                                          P. SABANAYAGAM
                               CHIEF SECRETARY TO  GOVERNMENT

To

All the Heads of Departments (including Collectors, and District Judges And District Magistrates(Judicial)
  “   all Departments of Secretariat (all Sections)
  “    all Recognised Service Associations.
  “    all the Director of Stationery and Printing, Madras, for publication
              of the Annexure in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.

ANNEXURE

RULES REGARDING THE RECOGNITION BY THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL  NADU OF ASSOCIATIONS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES OTHER THAN     ASSOCIATIONS OF INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES.

   In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Tamil Nadu hereby makes the following rules:-

  1.  (1) These rules may be called the Tamil Nadu Government Servants’ Recognition of Service Associations Rules, 1974.
     (3)These rules shall come into force on the 22^nd January 1974.
     2.      In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires-
  (a) ‘Government Servant’ means the State Government;
  (a)   ‘Government Servant’ means any person-
(i)    to whom the Tamil Nadu Government Servants’ Conduct Rule1973
apply ; or
(ii) who belongs to the Tamil Nadu cadre of the All-India services:

 (c ) ‘Service Association’ includes a Federation or a Confederation of Service Associations.

 3.Service  Associations already recognized – A Service Association which has been recognised by the Government before the commencement of these rules and in respect of which the recognition is subsisting at such commencement, shall be deemed to have been recognised by the Government under these rules and shall continue to be so recognised until the recognition is withdrawn under rule 6.

 4. Conditions for recognition of Service Associations – No Service Association shall be recognised by the Government after the commencement of these rules, unless such Service Association satisfies the following conditions, namely:-               

(a)An application for recognition of the Service Association shall be made with the following particulars:-

(i)     Title of the Association;
(ii)  Headquarters of the Association;
(iii)The number of members of the Association; and
( iv) The names of branches, if any.
(b) The object of the Service Association shall be to promote the common       
     Service interests of its members;                                                                                  

(c ) No person, who is not a Government servant shall be connected with the affairs of the Service Association;                                                                                 
(d)The Service Association shall not be formed on the basis of any caste, tribe or religious denomination or of any group within or section of such caste, tribe or religious denomination.                                                                                                
(e)The executive functions of the Service Association shall be vested in one or more of the members appointed for the purpose;                                                         

  (f) The funds of the Service Association shall consist exclusively of subscriptions from members and grants, if any, made by the Government and these funds shall be applied only for the furtherance of the objective of Service Associations.                                                                                                                 

  (g) The Association seeking recognition should have been in existence for a minimum period of one year before it applies for recognition.                                      

  (h) The Association shall have atleast a minimum of 30 per cent of the total number of employees eligible to become members of the Association as its members;                                                                                                                      

5.Conditions subject to which recognition is granted – Every Service Association recognised  or deemed to have been recognised under these rules shall comply with the following conditions, namely:-                                                              

   (a)All representations by the Service Association shall be submitted through the proper channel, and shall, as a normal practice, be addressed to the Head of the Department Office;                                                                                                         

 (b) A list of members and office bearers, an up-to-date copy of the Rules and an audited statement of accounts of the Service Association shall be furnished to the Government annually through proper channel after the general annual meeting so as to reach the Government before the 1^st day of July each year.  All Service Associations, whose annual turnover is of the order of Rs.10,000 (Rupees Ten thousand) and above shall have their accounts duly audited by a qualified registered Auditor.                                                                                                                           
 (c ) Any amendment of the substantial character in the rules of the Service Association shall be made only with the previous approval of the Government and any other amendment of minor charter shall be sent through the proper channel to the Government;                                                                                                            

(d)The Service Association shall not do any act or assist in the doing of any act which, if done by a Government Servant, would contravene any of the provisions of rules 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 and 18 of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1973;                                                                                                                    

       (e)The Service Association shall not address any communication to a foreign authority except through the Government which shall have the right to withhold it;             

                                                                                      
 (f) Communications   addressed    by   the   Service    Association  or    by   any
    office-bearer on its behalf to the Government or a Government authority shall not contain any
    disrespectful or improper language;                                                                                                    

(g) The Service Association shall not, without the previous sanction of the Government permit its proceedings to be open to the Press;                                       

(h) The Service Association shall not use a strike or the threat of a strike against the Government as a means of achieving any of the purposes of the Association; and

(i)The Service Association shall have the following rule incorporated among its rules, namely:-                                                                                                               

  (j)There shall not be any change in the recognition of an Association for a period of  three years, unless there be withdrawal of recognition under rule 6.             

(k)The Association shall not adopt a “go-slow” or “work to rule” policy or advice its members to apply for mass casual leave.                                                                

  (l) Any demonstration shall be peaceful and outside the office premises and not during office-hours.                                                                                                         

  (m) The Association shall not encourage any unfair labour practice like damage to Government property, interference with normal work and insubordination.              

(n) The Association can send representation only on common service matter of its members first, direct to the Head of Department concerned, then to the Secretariat to Government of the respective Department concerned and then to the Government. In respect of individual case, the affected individual can find remedies by following the statutory rules in existence;                                                                 

  (o) Strike shall be deemed to include any demonstrative fast usually called “hunger strike” with the object of compelling something to be done by the Superior Officers.  The Service Associations shall not, therefore, indulge in hunger strike with the object to achieve some of their demands.                                                                

 “6. The Government may, if they are of opinion that a Service Association recognized or deemed to have been recognized under these rules has failed to comply with any of the conditions set out in Rule 4 or Rule 5 or for good and sufficient reasons to be recorded in writing, deserves to be derecognised, withdraw the recognition accorded to such Service Associations, provided that the recognition shall not be withdrawn unless such Service Association has been given an opportunity of making its representations.”                                                                   

 7. The Government may dispense with or relax the requirements of any of these rules to such extent and subject to such conditions as they may deem fit in regard to any Service Association or class of Service Associations.                                           

8. If any question arises as to the interpretation of any of the provisions of these rules, it shall be referred to the Government whose decision thereon shall be final.  

Doctors in Tamil Nadu to observe one-day fast

http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=438020&sid=REG

Tiruchirappalli, April 21: Doctors working in government hospital and medical colleges in Tamil Nadu will observe a one-day fast here tomorrow to press their charter of demands.

Dr S Selvapandian, President of the Tamil Nadu government Doctors Assocation, said to the reporters here that their demands include implementation of time-bound promotions, and revision of Payscales.

The fast would be staged infront of district headquarters and medical colleges in the state.

Doctors demand pay increase

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/22/stories/2008042259730600.htm

TIRUCHI: The Tiruchi branch of the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association (TNGDA) has urged the State Government to introduce an upward revision in pay scales of doctors attached to Government hospitals.
There was a wide disparity between the pay structures for Government doctors in neighbouring states and Tamil Nadu, Association Tiruchi branch president S. Selvapandian told the media here on Monday.
The pay scale for government doctors in states including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala was almost two to three times higher than that of Tamil Nadu government doctors.
Time-bound promotions, as practised in other states, must be implemented for the doctors and promotion period must be fixed at five years. Department of Medical Education of Tamil Nadu does not provide hike in salary even after promotion which, Dr. Selvapandian said, was a violation of Indian Medical Council recommendations.
He complained that government doctors worked for over seventy hours a week owing to increasing vacancies in the hospitals. During the State-wide hunger strike, the doctors would also demand cutting down of working time to 40 hours a week. Long pending vacancies in the cadre of Deputy Directors of Tuberculosis, Family Welfare and Leprosy were not filled and these positions were yet to be created in newly formed districts.
Insisting on the implementation of voluntary retirement services for the doctors, Dr. Selvapandian said the TNGDA considered it as ‘human rights violation to overload doctors with work without giving them prospect to retire when they wish.’
He said that the members of the Association would go on a hunger strike in support of their demand on Tuesday. He, however, added that the functioning of the hospitals would not be affected, as only a section of doctors would take part in the stir. “The patients will not be affected at any cost,” he added.
Similar stir would be launched all over the State in which doctors of district headquarters hospitals and government medical college hospitals would participate.

Veterinary doctors to boycott duties from tomorrow

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/31/stories/2008083151550300.htm

Allege neglect of their long-pending demands by government

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Veterinary doctors are demanding equal pay along with civil assistant surgeons
No difference in the services of veterinary and medical doctors: Central pay panel

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ANANTAPUR: Veterinary doctors under the aegis of Andhra Pradesh Veterinary Assistant Surgeons’ Service Association have decided to boycott duties from September 1 protesting the continued neglect of their long-pending demands by the State Government. Protest in different forms like dharnas, relay fasts have failed to move the government so far, the association leaders said.
Talking to newspersons here on Saturday, State general secretary of the association Ramachandra Reddy, district president A.V. Rathna Kumar, district general secretary M.V. Subbarayudu and others said that veterinary doctors working in the State had been demanding equal pay along with civil assistant surgeons for long and staged a series of protests from August 1 to 25 in support of their demands.
Contention Even the Fifth Central Pay Commission had recommended that the veterinary doctors be paid salaries on par with general duty medical doctors.
The Central Government, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra and West Bengal State Government are already implementing the recommendation, they mentioned.
The Central Pay Commission had also observed that there was no difference in the services of veterinary doctors and medical doctors and the former were also pursuing education on the lines of the latter and enrolling them as members in the Veterinary Council of India on the lines of Medical Council of India registration.
Besides, they are also acting as witnesses in courts in matters of veterinary medicine as their medical counterparts.
In tune with the demands of the veterinary doctors, the 1993 Pay Revision Commission had given better pay scale to veterinary doctors than agriculture officials and engineering officials.
Similarly, the veterinary doctors were also given better pay scale in the 1999 PRC.
Demand overlooked However, in the 2005 PRC, the demand for pay scale on par with the medical doctors was overlooked.
Several representations were given to the Rangachari Commission (pay anomalies) and to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy by the association, but to no avail.
Poor pay scales to the veterinary doctors is keeping the veterinary graduates away from government service and as a result 550 out of 2,023 posts in the State are vacant.
The association leaders criticised the government neglect of veterinary doctors, though they had been serving the rural people and helping the growth of rural economy.

PCMS doctors to get time-scale promotions

http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19980601/15251314.html

PATIALA, May 31: The PCMS doctors, engineers, civil and police service officers have been given three time-scale promotions after 4, 9 and 14 years of regular service by the Punjab government while implementing the recommendations of the 4th Punjab pay commission headed by Justice S.S. Sandhawalia.

Stating this, Dr M.S. Randhawa, Dr D.S. Gill and Dr Manjit Singh, patron, president and general secretary of PCMS association respectively, in a joint statement here today, said that as per the notification issued by Punjab Finance department on May 19, PCMS doctors have been given the initial scale of Rs 7,880-13,500 with a start of Rs 8,000, a scale of Rs 10,025-15,100 after four years, Rs 12,000-15,500 after nine years and 14,300-18,150 after 14 years of regular service.


In another notification issued by Principal Secretary Health, Rajesh Chhabra on the advice of the Finance Department, doctors have been given given non-practising allowance at the rate of 25 per cent of basic pay which will be treated as pay for the purpose of grant of dearness allowance, TA/DA, as well as for calculations of retirement benefits.While hailing the decision, the PCMS association said that with this, the Punjab government has undone the "injustice" being done to Punjab doctors for the past 10 years.


PCMS doctors had remained on strike for 95 days in 1989 to seek parity in time-scale promotions and allowances with central government doctors.

Docs ask govt to rectify disparity in promotion

From http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Docs-ask-govt-to-rectify-disparity-in-promotion/277406/

Express news service : Posted online: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 11:04:11

Varanasi, February 26 Doctors belonging to the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Medical and Health Services (UPPMHS) on Tuesday demanded the state do away with the alleged disparity among general and specialist doctors when it comes to being promoted to the level of joint director. It has given the state government a month’s time to do the needful.

On February 11, the state had ordered the promotion of doctors to the joint director level. But during implementation of the order, general doctors benefited the most, said Dr A K Singh, vice-president of Provincial Medical Services Association in Varanasi.

“During the course of promotion to the joint director level, while general doctors were promoted till serial number 9,066, specialist doctors were promoted only to serial number 4,946 of the list,” he added. “Such a disparity meant general doctors, who joined services in 1993, have been promoted to joint director level. But specialised doctors, who joined services way back in 1981, did not benefit from the process.”

Varanasi branch Secretary Arvind Singh said, “While the doctors of state health services were divided into general and specialised cadres in 2004, their promotion to the joint director level has been done according to the old list, where there was only one group of doctors.”

He added, “We demand the state government promote the specialised doctors who have not been included in the process. All such specialised doctors are writing to Chief Minister Mayawati, principal secretary (medical and health) and director (health).”

A meeting of the executive body of the State Association has been called in Lucknow on March 16, where our future course of action will be decided if the government does not accept our demand. We are even mulling to move court,” he said.

Singh also underscored the need for filling over 4,000 vacancies for doctors in state health services. “No recruitment has been made through State Public Service Commission despite the Allahabad High Court directing the government twice in the past. The government, instead, has appointed 2,000 doctors on contractual basis who draw Rs 18,000 monthly, but work only six hours a day,” he said.

He also drew the state’s attention towards the paucity of medicines in state government hospitals. “WHO has drawn a list of 186 medicines, including 40 life saving drugs, which should be available in hospitals. But hospitals and health centres in the state do not even have half of these medicines.”

Final Results and Marks of the Special TNPSC Conducted on 30-12-2007 have been released by TNPSC.

You can check your result here at Marks obtained by the candidates in the written examination and at the Oral test (Special Qualifying Examination) for regularising of temporary services in the post of Assistant Surgeon in the Tamil Nadu Medical Service, 2007 (Date of Examination:30.12.2007 - Date(s) of Oral Test: from 03.06.2008 to 18.06.2008)