The county of Northumberland Page Design Hubin north England – known for quality and integrated healthcare – has signed a memorandum of understanding to share expertise as part of the Indo-UK Health Programme linked to the Narendra Modi government’s Smart City project. The Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Northumberland County Council signed the MoU with Indo-UK Healthcare Pvt Ltd (IUHP), announced here on Tuesday.
The area is reputed to provide some of the best and fully integrated services in Britain’s National Health Service. The model creates a seamless experience for patients by integrating acute hospitals (including emergency services), community services, and care delivered at home. “This is an important milestone in our vision to transform the health of millions of Indian citizens. Northumbria provides outstanding high-quality integrated health and social care for its residents,” Ajay Rajan Gupta of IUHP said.
“This is exactly the experience we need to take forward our own plans. We want to take the very best that the NHS has to offer across to India, and there is no doubt Northumbria is the best at what it does.” The Indo-UK Institute of Health program is considered one of the world’s largest healthcare initiatives. It aims to transform the provision of quality healthcare and medical education services across India. The program will deliver a staged rollout linked to the Smart City project across 100 cities and involve 11 Indo-UK Institutes of Health Media cities and 89 Indo-UK Clinics.
Daljit Lally of the Northumberland County Council said: “India has one of the largest populations in the world, so the pressures on its healthcare system are enormous. Whilst our primary goal is to share how we have developed such a pioneering approach to delivering integrated care in Northumberland, I do not doubt that we will also learn a great deal which will benefit the NHS.”
GURGAON: After Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) Association doctors at government hospitals threatened to go on indefinite mass leave from October 27, workers under the National Health Mission (NHM) have also called an indefinite strike from October 25.
It’s yet another challenge for a government Page Design Prothat is gearing up to launch a year of celebrations to mark Haryana’s golden jubilee.
Although NHM employees are hired after going through a proper interview procedure like in permanent doctors, they do not get permanent status, according to NHM workers. “We want the government to initiate the process to make all NHM employees permanent. We want salaries on a par with those of the permanent employees,” the statement said.
Dr. Atul Gijwani, a general secretary of NHM Haryana, told TOI, “It is the gross injustice. We have been working for the last 18 years dedicatedly in the health department. Still, we are not entitled to equal pay and many benefits that permanent employees get in the department,” Gidwani said.
There are 12,000 NHM workers in Haryana, of which 650 are in Gurgaon. NHM workers serve at all levels, right from doctors to Class IV workers. The NHM program was started in Haryana in 2005 under National Rural Health Mission. Chief medical officer Pushpa Bishnoi remained unavailable for comment.
Obese people risk getting diagnosed with Page Design Shop heart disease, diabetes, inflammation, and other disorders if they are discriminated against in society, finds a study conducted by an Indian-origin researcher.
The study suggested that those who experienced weight discrimination over a 10-year period had twice the risk of high allostatic load — the cumulative dysfunction of bodily systems from chronic stress.
“It is a pretty big effect. Even if we accounted for health effects attributed to being overweight, these people still experience double the risk of an allostatic load because of weight discrimination,” said Maya Vadiveloo, Assistant Professor at the University of Rhode Island in the US.
According to the researchers, the findings, published in the August issue of Annals of Behavioral Medicine, expose flaws in society’s weight control approach. “Our paper highlights the importance of including sensitivity and understanding when working with individuals with obesity, and when developing public health campaigns,” Vadiveloo said.
People who experience weight discrimination often shun social interaction and skip doctor visits, the study reveals.
“There is so much shame around food and weight. We need to work together as a nation on improving public health and clinical support for individuals with obesity and targeting environmental risk factors,” the researcher said.
Odisha’s Institute of Medical Sciences and Planet reporter SUM Hospital mishap appears like a shrill alarm. The country’s comatose health system is in desperate need of a lifeline. The hospital accident should not be considered another negligence in India’s long history of medical tragedies. Hospitals cannot be graveyards.
Is Right to Health the answer to all our ills? Will medical disasters end once every citizen enjoys healthcare as a fundamental right?
In its draft National Health Policy 2015, the NDA government has proposed a “National Health Rights Act, which will ensure health as a fundamental right, whose denial will be justifiable.” Undoubtedly, the merits of such legislation cannot be denied. Countries like Brazil and Thailand got more teeth to implement universal healthcare due to such laws. We also have the success stories offered by our own Right to Education Act (2010) that have contributed substantially to the increasing literacy rates and making education more accessible and inclusive.
But the road to legislation still appears very long and may not address all the health system’s challenges. The SUM Hospital tragedy has once again put the spotlight on the government’s commitment to healthcare.
According to the World Health Organisation, India accounts for 21 percent of the world’s global burden of diseases. It witnesses the highest number of maternal, newborn, and child deaths in the world. Nearly 36 percent of Indians suffer from depression in a nation that has 0.47 psychologists per million people. For an Indian, the probability of dying, between ages 30 and 70, from four major non-communicable diseases (cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes) is close to 26 percent. One World Bank report (2010) even argues that we lose close to six percent of our GDP every year due to premature deaths and preventable illnesses.
The SUM Hospital fire has exposed the fragile health system of our country. Initial investigations have revealed that this super specialty hospital did not have a fire clearance certificate even though it has been operational for almost a decade. Its website claims that it provides “global standard health care services,” yet the 750-bed hospital did not have a functional sprinkler system to fight the fire. Its staff, too, was untrained to handle an emergency of that scale and magnitude.
Many hospitals across the country (several private and some government) lack functional sprinkler systems. For decades, we have been struggling with overcrowded, understaffed, poorly maintained, and appallingly unhygienic government hospitals. Twin-sharing of beds is today an accepted norm in many government hospitals.
Since the early 1990s, the private sector has been touted as the only alternative to India’s healthcare crisis. But in the absence of a clear regulatory mechanism, private hospitals’ performance has been both terrible and terrifying. In 2011, nearly 90 people died in a huge fire in AMRI Hospital, a Kolkata private hospital. In June 2016, an inter-state kidney racket was busted in Apollo Hospital, New Delhi. In September 2016, a private hospital and two orthopedics were asked to pay Rs 25 lakh to a patient who had suffered 40 percent disability due to medical negligence.
A healthcare system is not just about accessing hospital care. It is also about identifying strategies to reach certain, definite health goals. These strategies may involve multiple services/activities ranging from prevention of diseases (immunization campaigns), insecticide spraying against vector-borne diseases, printing horrific pictures on cigarette packets to deter smokers, ensuring safe abortions, and keeping a drug check pricing, and even distributing condoms. A health system has multiple stakeholders – policymakers, medical practitioners, health volunteers, industrialists, researchers, nurses, midwives, alternative medicine practitioners, and most importantly, patients.
In recent years, successive governments have demonstrated their inability to grasp the health sector’s key challenges – making healthcare universal, of better quality, and thereby reducing inequality.
Since 2000, there is a growing concern about the government’s dwindling commitment to providing basic healthcare to its citizens. Take India’s expenditure on health. It is just four percent of GDP, and public expenditure is only 1.2 percent of GDP. This implies that the private sector meets between 60-70 percent of the population’s medical needs.
The proposed National Health Policy has made no radical shift in its budgetary allocations. The current government has proposed 2.5 percent of the GDP (WHO recommends 5 percent for a better health system) as a “realistic” figure to achieve health goals. This implies that even after 70 years of independence, tribal regions are likely to be neglected, and basic immunization services will continue to be inadequate for urban and rural poor.
In its much-debated World Health Report 2000: Health Systems, Improving Performances, WHO ranked India as 112 out of 191 countries in health systems. France and Italy topped the list. A host of smaller countries – Ecuador, Syria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh – fared better than India.
WHO has not conducted another such study, but experts state that the ranking would not be dramatically different today as successive governments have failed in protecting citizens against the financial costs of illnesses. Indians today struggle with huge “out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures” that do not even guarantee quality care. Even the National Health Policy 2015 admits that this expenditure is “catastrophic,” draining family incomes and neutralizing income increases.
At least 13.7 per Presso Graphycent of India’s general population has various mental disorders; 10.6 percent of them require immediate interventions. While nearly 10 percent of the population has common mental disorders, 1.9 percent of the population suffers from severe mental disorders. These are some of the findings of a National Mental Health Survey held recently and conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS).
That is not all. The prevalence of mental morbidity is very high in urban centers, where there is a higher prevalence of schizophrenia, mood disorders, and neurotic or stress-related disorders. This disturbing scenario could be due to fast-paced lifestyles, experiencing stress, complexities of living, a breakdown of support systems, and economic instability challenges. In 2014, concerned over the growing problem of mental health in India, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had appointed NIMHANS to study mental health status in the country.
After a pilot feasibility study in Kolar district, Karnataka using a sample size of 3,190 individuals, the team which comprised senior professors from NIMHANS, G. Gururaj, Mathew Varghese, Vivek Benegal, and Girish N., began the survey in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Manipur Extra Update.
The study covered all important aspects of mental illness, including substance abuse, alcohol use disorder, tobacco use disorder, severe mental illness, depression, anxiety, phobia, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among others — had a sample size of 34,802 individuals. Primary data collection was done through computer-generated random selection by a team of researchers and local teams of co-investigators and field workers in the 12 States.
While the overall current prevalence estimate of mental disorders was 10.6 percent in the total surveyed population, significant variations in overall morbidity ranged from 5.8 percent in Assam to 14.1 percent in Manipur. Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat reported prevalence rates of less than 10 percent. In eight of the 12 States, the prevalence varied between 10.7 percent and 14.1 percent.
Treatment gaps and impact
A major concern in the findings, which were recently submitted to the Union Health Ministry, is that despite three out of four persons experiencing severe mental disorders, there are huge gaps in treatment.
Apart from epilepsy, the treatment gap for all mental health disorders is more than 60 percent. In fact, mental disorders’ economic burden is so huge that affected families spend nearly Rs.1,000-Rs.1,500 a month mainly for treatment and access care.
Due to the stigma associated with mental disorders, nearly 80 percent of those with mental disorders had not received any treatment despite being ill for over 12 months, the study says. Poor implementation of schemes under the National Mental Health Programme is largely responsible for this.
Dr. Gururaj says that there is also a paucity of mental health specialists, pointing out that mental disorders are a low priority in the public health agenda. The health information system itself does not prioritize mental health.
Recommending that mental health financing needs to be streamlined, he says that there is a need to constitute a national commission on mental health comprising professionals from mental health, public health, social sciences, and the judiciary to oversee, facilitate support, and monitor and review mental health policies.
Common mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and substance use are as high as 10 percent of the total population. Almost 1 in 20 suffer from depression; it is higher in females in 40-49 years. 22.4 percent of the population above 18 years suffers from substance use disorder
The highest was contributed by tobacco and alcohol use disorder. Nearly 1.9 percent of the population is affected by severe mental disorders. These are detected more among males in urban areas. While the prevalence of mental illness is higher among males (13.9 percent) as compared to females (7.5 percent), certain specific mental illnesses like mood disorders (depression, neurotic disorders, phobic anxiety disorders, etc.) are more in females. Neurosis. Stress-related illnesses are also seen to be more in women. Prevalence in teenagers aged between 13 and 17 years is 7.3 percent.
Many people take their life for granted when it comes to their health. They stay out late, party heartily, don’t exercise, and often eat unhealthy foods. In the short term, it will not leave any long-lasting health concerns. However, if they become something of the norm, they can take a toll on the body and cause serious health issues in the future. Thankfully, you can make positive changes in your life and avoid paying the price of poor health later.
Good Night’s Rest
People often underestimate the importance of getting a good’s night rest. You go to work early and stay up late at night. However, your body works behind the scenes when you sleep, repairing itself. When you lack the proper amount, you can’t function to your full capacity. You often walk around in a fog, lose focus, and can become forgetful. This can affect every aspect of your life, including your job, relationships, and well-being. For example, an ordinary weekend ride on your motorcycle can turn disastrous if you don’t see that another driver runs a red light. Now, you become the victim and have serious injuries because you weren’t at 100 percent. The good news is that the accident wasn’t your fault, and there are law practices like Pines Salomon that specialize in personal injury cases. To find out more, click here.
Physical Fitness
When you exercise, you build strong muscles, and the fat slowly fades away, leaving behind a lean physique. Physical fitness also reduces stress, improves cardio health, and thwarts illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer. Getting in regular amounts of exercise at least 3 to 4 times each week will give you mental clarity and make you feel energized and happier. If you prefer not to join a gym, there are other ways to remain fit. A brisk walk or a morning jog can provide the same results, swim or go for a bike ride.
Nutritional Diet
Your body needs essential vitamins, minerals, proteins, and healthy fats to sustain overall health. Unfortunately, many people don’t eat right. As a result, obesity is on the rise. Living in an age where everything is instantaneous may prove convenient, but convenience is not always in your best interest. This applies to eating fast or processed foods due to time constraints. The answer is simple; make the best use of your time. If you run all week and have little time to cook, prepare healthy meals ahead of time over the weekend. Your daily diet should include nutritional foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats or fish, whole grains, nuts, and healthy fats such as Omega-3s.
Hydration
More than half of your body consists of water. So it only makes sense to drink plenty of water to keep it functioning properly. While doctors often give different amounts as the requirement on an individual basis, eight oz. Bottles of water are average each day. Water is a cleanser, an energizer, a pain killer, and provides instant hydration. If you feel a little off, try drinking a glass of pure water.
Do Without
There aren’t many people who live life without picking up a bad habit. However, when comparing twirling your hair versus smoking a pack of cigarettes, there’s no comparison regarding your health. Curling your hair will cause it to break and have split ends, nothing a haircut can’t fix. Unfortunately, smoking a pack of cigarettes daily can lead to serious health issues later in life. If you smoke and want to quit, see your doctor about the options available. And, if you fail initially, keep trying; it’s well worth the efforts for the future of your health.
Assisting elderly patients with healthcare decision-making is a complex, difficult process. The wishes of the older adult must be considered with the input of their loved ones and a host of other significant factors like quality of life, the limits of technology, and the possible expenditure required to maintain a certain health level.
The assistance of an experienced, competent, and compassionate healthcare professional is essential for helping older adults to explore all of the different medical options and potential healthcare paths they could take. While experience is one of the best teachers, there are several steps you can take now to improve your ability to communicate with elderly patients and assist them with their decision-making process.
Help the older adult to be in control.
If an older person is in control of the decision-making process, they will feel more positive and empowered, and it will help make the entire process much easier. If an older adult feels like their family members and medical practitioners are speaking over their head and making decisions about their health without their input or consent, they will likely feel that they have lost their dignity, power, and place in the world. By helping to make them feel included and empowered, the process of making important decisions will be better for everyone involved.
One of the best ways to include the patient in decisions is to take the time to explain exactly what the situation is and what their options are. It is important that the patient has time to consider the situation, reflect on their options, and discuss the possibilities with their loved ones and friends.
As a medical practitioner, you will likely first want to speak with the patient’s family members and ensure that they understand the situation and have all of the facts they need. The family members should also be informed of all of the different treatment options available for the patient. However, it is important that the patient is not spoken over or disregarded during the decision-making process and instead should be included so that they have the opportunity to ask questions, discuss, and agree with the final decisions.
Gain the experience and training you need
The holistic AGPCNP program at Wilkes University provides training in how to handle just such conversations with patients and how to explore various healthcare plans. It trains students in cutting-edge medical treatments while also teaching them how to best care for and communicate with the patients under their care.
Regardless of your role, helping older patients make difficult decisions for their healthcare will be difficult and challenging. These decisions are incredibly complex and hard for the patient and their loved ones to make. Without the appropriate training and experience in the field, it can be challenging to speak with the patient, explore all available options, and help guide them towards the best treatment plan.
