Kakinada GGH gets an upgrade with medical equipment, facilities
The medical equipment and infrastructure facilities are funded under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the ONGC, University of Biofuels Private Limited, Gemini Edible Oil company, all operating from Kakinada.
The facilities include preventive oncology shed, nuero out-patient shed, and blood collection shed. GGH superintendent Dr. Lavanya Kumari, Rangaraya Medical College principal Dr. A. Vishnu Vardhan and representatives of the respective companies were present.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Vishram Sadan to be built at Kurnool GGH
A new facility for the attendants of the patients admitted to the Government General Hospital, Kurnool, will be built soon. The building, 'Vishram Sadan', will be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹14.15 crore and the entire cost is being borne by Secunderabad-based Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCI). Minister for Health Satya Kumar Yadav has given approval for the construction of the Sadan after a detailed examination of the project, an official statement said. The 'Vishram Sadan' will have 150 beds for the attendants of in-patients and will have an office, recreation facilities, generator, solar rooftop, a pumphouse and overhead water tank. The PGCI will hand over the building to the GGH after its completion and the district collector will select an NGO for maintaining the building by charging a minimal fare from those who want to use the facility. Presently, the attendants of in-patients are taking shelter at three sheds in the GGH premises which are lacking basic facilities, security and sanitation. Minister Satya Kumar thanked the PGCI for coming forward to construct the Vishram Sadan under corporate social responsibility (CSR). Mr. Satya Kumar asked officials to prepare guidelines for operating the Sadan, the criteria for giving beds to the attendants, the fare to be collected and others. The Kurnool GGH has 1,700 beds for in-patients of which 150 have been allocated for cancer patients. An average of 90 % beds are filled with patients on a day, GGH Superintendent K. Venkateswarlu said and added the new facility will provide the much needed relief to the attendants.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Why access to stem cell transplants is out of reach for many thalassemia patients in India
India carries the world's most significant burden of thalassemia, with an estimated 150,000 patients and 12,000 new cases every year. While medical science continues to advance and success rates after hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) have increased globally as a potential cure for thalassemia, far too many Indian families still lack access to this life-saving treatment. The barriers are not just medical, but they are deeply rooted in systemic inequities, beginning with the first step—Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA). Thalassemia HLAs are proteins on the surface of cells that play a crucial role in the body's immune system. They act like identification tags, allowing the immune system to distinguish between the body's cells and foreign invaders, such as bacteria or viruses. Managing thalassemia requires lifelong care that puts patient and their family into an immense financial hardship. Patients undergo regular blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy. India is the thalassemia capital of the world, with a thalassemia burden of around 150,000 patients and an incidence of approximately 12,000 every year. The recurring cost of ongoing optimal patient management varies between ₹100,000 and ₹120,000 per year. This is not affordable for most Indian families, as the estimated per capita Net National Income (NNI) of India is ₹126,000 ($ 1732). The permanent curative treatment option of HSCT is not well known in India. However, current experience worldwide indicates that more than 90% of patients now survive HSCT, and disease-free survival rates are around 80%. A significant challenge to accessing blood stem cell transplant is the associated costs, as most of the payment for HSCT is out of pocket. The Indian government is supporting ongoing patient needs through a national-level blood safety policy and the institutionalisation of state-level blood availability for patients' monthly blood transfusions and iron chelation medicines. It is also encouraging the public and private sectors to support transplant costs for poor patients as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Some states have state-level schemes to help patients with thalassemia and HSCT expenses. Thus, eligible poor patients opting for an HSCT can avail themselves of funding support from Government schemes, CSR funds, and other donations. However, these funds do not cover the costs of high-resolution HLA typing, which is the initial step in the medical assessment for an HSCT. Several global and national non-profit organisations—working towards giving patients suffering from thalassemia a second chance at life—have launched initiatives to address this gap. The initiatives include free or subsidised high-re HLA typing for families from low-income backgrounds. Such programmes are designed to enable transplant centres, NGOs, and hospitals to work in close collaboration across India. Through these initiatives, tools such as awareness drives and campaigns have also been conducted in urban and semi-urban areas to educate families about the potential cure and facilitate early intervention. These efforts have led to thousands of families receiving free HLA typing, and in numerous--instances, access to donor searches through worldwide stem cell registries when no familial match was found. We have also adopted collaborative models that not only assist Indian patients but also extend support to neighbouring countries, such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, demonstrating the regional need for cross-border medical cooperation. Despite this advancement, large-scale systemic difficulties persist. Transplants are resource-intensive procedures that necessitate robust infrastructure, a diverse donor registry pool, donor availability, and post-transplant care. All of which demand significant public health investment. Without the wide-ranging inclusion of diagnostic tools, such as high-res HLA typing and blood stem cell transplants, in government-funded healthcare plans, treatment remains a luxury for the few rather than a right for all. The cost of a match should not be borne only by the patient or their family. It must be viewed as a shared responsibility across sectors, including government, healthcare institutions, civil society, and corporate partners alike. Only then can equitable access to curative options and care become a grounded reality for every child born with thalassemia, regardless of their socio-economic background. This article is authored by Dr Nitin Agarwal, MD, Transfusion Medicine, HOD-Donor Request Management, DKMS Foundation India.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
ONGC to fund cancer infrastructure in three hospitals
Kakinada: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has agreed to provide financial support for the installation of advanced radiation machines for cancer treatment at government hospitals in Kakinada, Guntur, and Kadapa districts. The initiative, costing Rs 48 crore, will be funded under ONGC's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. The decision was taken following a meeting between Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri and a delegation comprising Dr P Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, and Rajya Sabha MP Sana Satish Babu. During the meeting held in New Delhi on Thursday, the leaders sought central assistance in strengthening the fight against cancer in Andhra Pradesh. Speaking to 'The Hans India', MP Satish Babu said that the proposal involved the procurement of three state-of-the-art radiation therapy machines, each worth approximately Rs 16 crore. Minister Puri responded positively and initiated discussions with ONGC officials, leading to the company's commitment to provide the equipment. He also said that these machines will play a crucial role in the early detection and effective radiation treatment of cancer. The equipment will soon be installed at the respective government hospitals, significantly enhancing oncology infrastructure and care in the region.
