health

Services Hospital MS Dr. Mudabbir says he will get the matter investigated and transparency would be ensured in the upcoming tenders.

Punjab health authorities have been alerted to alleged illegal tender awards amounting to billions of rupees at Lahore’s Services Hospital, according to sources on Friday.

The sources revealed that the issue pertains to tender awards totaling a substantial sum of Rs3.7 billion, which were purportedly unlawfully granted for the purpose of financial gain.

“It has been ongoing at Services Hospital for the past seven years,” stated the sources.

Saeed Anwar, as per the sources, brought this matter to attention by submitting a 26-page application to the Specialized Healthcare Department.

According to his complaint, Afzal Masih, the owner of a distribution company, allegedly colluded with certain individuals to secure tenders. The complaint outlined Masih’s significant role in these irregularities, noting that despite his previous position as a wire repairer for a private company associated with Services Hospital, he played a pivotal role in the tender process.

Specific instances highlighted in the complaint include the inclusion of a digital thoracic drain system worth Rs250 million in the 2017-18 tender. Moreover, allegations extend to the incorporation of 50 crash cart trolleys in the 2018-19 tender and 50 nebulizer machines in the 2019-20 tender, all allegedly at inflated costs compared to market rates.

Furthermore, anomalies such as the inclusion of a syringe pump and Lengroscope steel set in the surgical disposable tender for the year 2021-22 were brought to light in the complaint.

It was mentioned that Masih had connections and managed audits for all the aforementioned contracts.

In response, Saeed Anwar urged the relevant authorities to blacklist the implicated company and take strict action against Masih for his alleged involvement in fraudulent activities.

Services Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Mudabbir addressed the issue by stating that he acquired all tender records through WhatsApp and conducted a thorough review of the details. Despite his recent appointment, he assured that investigations into the matter would be promptly initiated. Dr. Mudabbir further guaranteed that forthcoming tenders would prioritize complete transparency.

In a legal battle that has captured global attention, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has made a surprising admission concerning its Covid-19 vaccine, which is marketed under various brand names such as Covishield and Vaxzevria.

In a pivotal moment during court proceedings, AstraZeneca has conceded that its Covid-19 vaccine can, in very rare instances, lead to severe side effects, including a condition known as Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS), characterized by blood clots and low platelet counts.

This admission comes amidst a class-action lawsuit filed by several families alleging serious injuries and deaths resulting from the vaccine.

The lawsuit, led by Jamie Scott, who suffered a permanent brain injury after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine in April 2021, highlights the devastating impact of these rare side effects and prompts legal action against the pharmaceutical company.

AstraZeneca’s acknowledgment of the potential risks associated with its vaccine marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle, illuminating the complexities and uncertainties surrounding vaccination efforts worldwide. However, the company remains resolute in defending against claims of widespread vaccine defects or overstated efficacy.

Despite its effectiveness in combating the Covid-19 pandemic, the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has faced regulatory scrutiny and safety concerns, leading to its discontinuation in the UK due to safety considerations.

As legal proceedings progress, affected individuals and their families seek fair compensation and recognition of vaccine-induced injuries. AstraZeneca’s admission could potentially result in substantial payouts if the company acknowledges vaccine-induced illness or death in specific cases.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Health Minister, Syed Qasim Ali Shah, officially commenced the polio eradication campaign by personally administering polio drops to a child at the Police Services Hospital Peshawar. In a briefing with journalists, he emphasized the inclusive approach of the campaign, involving pediatricians, religious figures, political leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure its success.

Preparations for the five-day Sub-National Immunization Days (SNIDs) campaign have been meticulously finalized in two phases, commencing on April 29. Over 4.42 million children under the age of five are slated to receive polio drops, underscoring a concerted effort to safeguard their health and combat the spread of the disease.

“During the first phase of this campaign, spanning from April 29 to May 3, polio drops will be administered to approximately 2.83 million children,” stated the official.

Global immunisation efforts have saved at least 154 million lives in the past 50 years, the World Health Organization said Wednesday, adding that most of those to benefit were infants

The World Health Organization announced on Wednesday that global immunization efforts have resulted in saving at least 154 million lives over the past 50 years. The majority of those saved were infants.

This translates to approximately six lives saved every minute, throughout each year of the past half-century, according to the UN health agency.

In a study published in The Lancet, WHO provided a thorough analysis of the impact of 14 vaccines administered as part of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), which commemorates its 50th anniversary next month.

“Vaccines are among the most powerful inventions in history, making once-feared diseases preventable,” stated WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“Thanks to vaccines, smallpox has been eradicated, polio is on the brink, and with the more recent development of vaccines against diseases like malaria and cervical cancer, we are pushing back the frontiers of disease,” he added.

“With continued research, investment, and collaboration, we can save millions more lives today and in the next 50 years.”

The study revealed that infants accounted for 101 million of the lives saved through immunization over the course of five decades.

“Immunization was the single greatest contribution of any health intervention to ensuring babies not only see their first birthdays but continue leading healthy lives into adulthood,” emphasized WHO.

Over 50 years, vaccines against 14 diseases—diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, measles, meningitis A, pertussis, invasive pneumococcal disease, polio, rotavirus, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis, and yellow fever—directly contributed to reducing infant deaths by 40 percent, the study found.

For Africa, the reduction in infant deaths was even more significant, surpassing 50 percent, as per the study’s findings.

The vaccine against measles—a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that primarily affects children—had the most profound impact. This vaccine alone accounted for 60 percent of the lives saved due to immunization, according to the study.

Furthermore, the polio vaccine has enabled more than 20 million individuals to walk today who would have otherwise been paralyzed.

The study also highlighted that when a vaccine saves a child’s life, that individual goes on to live an average of 66 years in full health—resulting in a total of 10.2 billion full health years gained over the five decades.

“These gains in childhood survival highlight the importance of protecting immunization progress,” emphasized WHO, underscoring the urgency of accelerating efforts to reach the 67 million children who missed at least one vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The administration of the hospital says that all the babies including four brothers and two sisters are good in health.

A woman named Mrs. Waheed, residing in the Hazara Colony area, gave birth to sextuplets at a local hospital in Rawalpindi, as confirmed by doctors on Friday. The delivery took place at the District Headquarters Hospital, where Mrs. Waheed was blessed with four boys and two girls.

The medical team attending to the mother and babies reported that all six infants are in good health. They have been transferred from the labor room to the nursery for further care.

The hospital administration has assured that they will offer maximum support and facilities to both the mother and her newborns.

Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon on Thursday reviewed arrangements for a seven-day anti-polio campaign in the federal capital

On Thursday, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon, conducted a comprehensive review of preparations for a seven-day anti-polio campaign in the Federal capital.

According to ICT’s Spokesman, Dr. Abdullah Tabassum, the campaign is scheduled to commence on April 29 with the objective of ensuring that every child under the age of five receives the administered anti-polio drops.

To strengthen the campaign, the deputy commissioner presided over a high-level meeting attended by Additional Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, and representatives from the Health Department.

During the meeting, a ground-level strategy was formulated, with the DC instructing healthcare workers and polio teams to conduct a thorough door-to-door campaign. Additionally, polio teams were tasked with covering public places and bus stands to ensure that no child goes unvaccinated.

Memon issued clear directives emphasizing the mandatory immunization of every child under the age of five, highlighting the importance of administering dual doses of polio drops as a critical step towards achieving a polio-free Pakistan.

Emphasizing parental responsibility, he underscored the significance of collective action in advancing the nation’s goal of eradicating polio.

The meeting concluded with a firm commitment from all stakeholders to combat polio effectively.

World Hemophilia Day a global healthcare event is commemorated on April 17 every year to increase awareness about hemophilia and similar bleeding disorders. The day aims to disseminate knowledge about the condition and recognize the efforts of volunteers supporting the hemophilia community

World Hemophilia Day, observed annually on April 17th, serves as a global healthcare event dedicated to raising awareness about hemophilia and similar bleeding disorders. The primary objective of this day is to educate people about the condition and acknowledge the efforts of volunteers who support the hemophilia community.

Hemophilia is a rare blood disorder characterized by insufficient blood clotting due to a deficiency in clotting factors, leading to prolonged bleeding. While there is no cure for hemophilia, treatments are available to help manage the condition.

This year, the theme of World Hemophilia Day is “Equitable Access for All: Recognizing All Bleeding Disorders.” This theme emphasizes the importance of ensuring that individuals affected by inherited bleeding disorders, regardless of their specific condition, gender, age, or location, have equal access to appropriate treatment and care.

In commemoration of this day, Zamurrad Khan, the Pattern Chief of Pakistan Sweet Homes, highlighted the significant contribution of Sweet Homes volunteers in rescuing approximately 20,000 children from life-threatening situations caused by hemophilia through blood donations.

Khan emphasized the invaluable role of youth in serving the nation, acknowledging those who selflessly contribute to saving lives through blood donations. Hemophilia, being a hereditary bleeding disorder, results in prolonged bleeding after injuries or surgeries due to deficient or low levels of clotting factor proteins essential for controlling bleeding.

This day serves as a platform to support the global bleeding disorders community and advocate for access to care and treatment for affected individuals worldwide, regardless of their demographic characteristics. While there is currently no cure for hemophilia, efforts to manage the condition are crucial in ensuring the well-being of those affected by it.

Khuda Bakhsh, a farmer from Selro village here has asked the management of the Guinness Book of World Record to register has family as the largest Dextrocardia family in the world with heart at their right side

Khuda Bakhsh, a farmer from Selro village, has made a unique request to the Guinness Book of World Records. He seeks to register his family as the largest Dextrocardia family globally, with six members exhibiting this rare condition. Dextrocardia is a congenital abnormality where the heart points towards the right side of the chest instead of the left, affecting less than 1 percent of the population.

The family, residing in Selra village of Qambar Shahdadkot district in Sindh province, includes Khuda Bakhsh’s 53-year-old wife Ghulam Nasa, 60-year-old sister-in-law Faza, two sons named Irfan and Kamran, one-year-old daughter Sufita, and a 6-month-old grandson named Muhammad Hashar.

Despite this unique condition, Khuda Bakhsh emphasizes that all members of the family lead normal and healthy lives with their hearts on the right side. He believes his family to be the largest Dextrocardian family globally and hopes the Guinness Book of World Records will recognize them accordingly.

Local cardiologist Dr. Ameer Bux has expressed surprise at the occurrence of right-sided hearts in six individuals from the same family, emphasizing the rarity of such a phenomenon.

PTI President and former Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, was once again transferred to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Thursday after his health deteriorated.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) had also taken up a petition filed by Elahi’s wife, seeking her husband’s transfer to the medical facility. However, the Adiala jail authorities informed the court that he had already been shifted, leading to the petition being subsequently disposed of.

Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri presided over the plea against Elahi’s transfer from the hospital to Adiala jail despite a court order. The judge was informed that the PTI leader was transferred again to PIMS on Wednesday due to his worsening health condition.

Earlier, Elahi suffered a fall in prison, resulting in four broken ribs, according to his medical report.

K-P seeks access for Elahi’s medical tests

Chaudhry Pervez Elahi reportedly suffered an injury to his forehead during the fall, with visible marks noted on the left side of his head. Additionally, injuries near his left eye and on his left arm were observed, while swelling was noted on the right side of his chest. Furthermore, Elahi’s left knee was found to be injured.

The PTI leader underwent thorough medical examinations conducted by doctors from PIMS Islamabad and Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi, including specialists in general surgery, cardiology, and orthopaedics.

The doctors recommended Elahi to observe a two-week rest to facilitate his recovery.

Elahi had also experienced cardiac issues in December last year. After undergoing an initial examination at the jail hospital, he was relocated to the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has termed a healthy population the backbone of a prosperous society.

“It is imperative for every individual to grasp the significance of health. One’s health is not merely a personal matter but has ripple effects on the entire family,” she emphasized in her World Health Day message.

“We are committed to ensuring that every citizen has equal access to healthcare facilities,” she added.

“Furthermore, there is a pressing need to raise awareness about healthy lifestyles alongside providing treatment facilities,” she stressed, advising people to maintain a nutritious diet.

She highlighted that the Punjab government is allocating resources worth billions of rupees for the enhancement of public health facilities.

In addition, she announced the launch of an air ambulance service and the establishment of Punjab’s first public-sector Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital in Lahore.

She further mentioned that a Nawaz Sharif Cardiology Hospital is under construction in Sargodha.

Moreover, the supply of free medicines in government hospitals has commenced, and plans are underway to initiate their free delivery to patients’ doorsteps soon.

The upgradation of 2,500 basic health units (BHUs) and 300 rural health centers (RHCs) has been initiated, along with plans to establish 32 field hospitals to provide healthcare facilities in remote areas.

Additionally, a program has been launched to establish 200 “clinics on wheels” to provide treatment facilities to slum dwellers in the province.

She pledged to achieve the goal of establishing three medical cities in South, Central, and North Punjab.

Furthermore, in response to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s directive, the government has allocated Rs6.8 million for the treatment of 2-year-old Muhammad Moaz from Sialkot, who is suffering from a genetic disease. Provincial Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique visited the child’s home to oversee the situation.

His treatment is under way in the Children Hospital.