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New Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Orissa HC seeks govt reply on delay in expanding NAT-PCR blood testing across state
CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has sought a detailed response from the state government after a contempt petition was filed by advocate Prabir Kumar Das over its alleged failure to implement nucleic acid testing polymerase chain reaction (NAT-PCR) blood testing facilities in all blood banks as promised. The division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice MS Raman on Thursday directed the commissioner-cum-secretary of the Health and Family Welfare department to file an affidavit within two weeks, outlining the steps taken to fulfil the commitment made in court in November 2023. The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 4. The directive comes in response to a contempt petition filed by Das on April 2, 2025. In his plea, Das contended that the state government had wilfully violated the high court's order dated November 30, 2023, which required the establishment of advanced NAT-PCR testing facilities in all 56 blood collection centres of the state by the end of March 2025. The court order had followed Das' earlier PIL that highlighted the risks associated with blood transfusions using traditional ELISA-based screening. He had argued that the NAT-PCR technology allows for early detection of infections such as HIV 1 and 2, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C, thus ensuring safer transfusions. In its affidavit filed in response to the PIL in November 2023, the Health department had stated that 47 per cent of the blood collected in Odisha was being tested using NAT-PCR technology at 11 centres. The government had assured the court that it would expand the facility to all 56 blood centres at an estimated cost of `200 crore by March 2025. However, Das, appearing in person, submitted that information obtained through RTI queries from the directorate of Blood Safety (March 3, 2025) and the Health department (March 17, 2025) confirmed that only the original 11 centres were equipped with NAT-PCR, and no progress had been made in the remaining 45 centres. Calling the inaction a 'deliberate and wilful violation' of the court's order, Das urged the bench to initiate proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act against the commissioner-cum-secretary. The court, while not initiating contempt proceedings, has directed the official to respond with a status update in two weeks.
Deccan Herald
03-07-2025
- Deccan Herald
Mysuru RTI activist requests sacking of Information Commissioner in letter to CM Siddaramaiah, Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot
The activist has been pursuing a case of a driver with the Health and Family Welfare department in Mysuru, who had allegedly submitted a fake SSLC markscard to join the government service as a Second Division Assistant (SDA).
Hindustan Times
14-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Cholera toll in Odisha's Jajpur rises to 5
Bhubaneswar/Jajpur, The cholera toll in Odisha's Jajpur district rose to five with one more person succumbing to the disease, an official said on Saturday. The Jajpur district administration has cancelled Raja festival holidays for government officials as fresh cases were reported from three different places. "In view of the cholera outbreak in different parts of the district, the holidays from June 14 to 16 are hereby cancelled. All offices in Jajpur district will remain open as usual and the services of employees will be utilised in case of exigency," the order issued by the district collector said. Chief District Medical Officer Prakash Chandra Bal said the cholera toll rose to five with one more fatality reported on Friday. Public Health Director Dr Nilakant Mishra said that of the 41 stool samples collected from patients, eight tested positive for cholera in Jajpur district. However, he said that the situation is under control due to widespread awareness, field-level prevention, and early detection and treatment. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, who reviewed the situation on Friday, directed the administrations of neighbouring districts to remain alert on the spread of the waterborne disease. He directed health authorities to step up measures to prevent and control the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, jaundice, malaria, and dengue after the onset of monsoon. Ahuja also directed officials to complete sanitation work within ten days and make all programmes for prevention, control, and management of water and vector-borne diseases more proactive and targeted. He also suggested the district administration to conduct house-to-house surveys to detect diseases, increase beds in government hospitals, ensure proper treatment and provide necessary medicines and saline. The chief secretary also directed the Health and Family Welfare department to use mobile health units to make people aware of the water-borne diseases. Officials said that over 750 people across the district have been affected by water-borne disease in the last four days. Among them, nearly 300 patients are currently undergoing treatment at different hospitals in the district while as many as 450 patients have been discharged from their respective hospitals after treatment. Stating that the situation is gradually improving, the CDMO said while over 450 patients have returned home after treatment in the last three days, around 20 new patients have been admitted on Friday. About 30 critically ill patients are under treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack from the district, he said.
New Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Three more Covid cases reported in Odisha, tally goes up to 15
BHUBANESWAR: Covid-19 tally in Odisha touched 15 on Monday with three more persons testing positive for the virus in the last 24 hours, informed officials of the Health and Family Welfare department. On Sunday, the state reported three Covid cases while a total of nine such cases were recorded in May. Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Khurda are among the places where the cases have been detected so far. However, director of public health Dr Nilakantha Mishra said unlike other states, there has been no major surge in Covid infections in Odisha so far. 'The state government has also not received any guideline from the Centre till now. However, the standard guidelines for preventive measures already exist,' he added. Though an 85-year-old Covid patient with comorbidities died recently, Dr Mishra said no other report of Covid death has been received so far. Health officials said, ahead of Rath Yatra, a meeting is likely to be conducted in Puri to review the preparedness of the Health department for the grand chariot festival.
NDTV
02-06-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Active Covid-19 Cases Cross 300-Mark In Karnataka, Authorities On Alert
Bengaluru: Karnataka's Health and Family Welfare Department has said in an official statement that the number of active Covid-19 cases crossed the 300-mark in the state. As the most of the schools reopened on Monday after summer vacations, the authorities are on high alert. The number of total active Covid-19 patients reached 311, with 87 persons testing positive for the infection in the last 24 hours, the Health and Family Welfare department said on Monday. As many as 504 persons were tested across the state. A total of 29 persons were discharged during the same period. The Covid-positivity rate stood at 17.2 per cent and case fatality rate is zero per cent. Among the total 311 patients, 297 are kept in home quarantine and 14 admitted to hospitals, three are in Intensive Care Units of the government and private hospitals. Amid the fear of Covid-19, the authorities are worried over the increasing number of the Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) and influenza cases. According to sources in the Health department, the total number of SARI and influenza cases have increased to 4,536 cases in the state since January this year. In the last week, 154 SARI cases have been reported in the state. The officials said that they are seeing a trend of steep rise in number of such cases. The government is arranging for Covid-19 tests for the patients affected with SARI and influenza. The doctors have warned people not to neglect the symptoms of fever, cough, fatigue, nose blockage, running nose, headache, breathing issues, and throat pain. The capital Bengaluru continues to be hotspot for Covid-19 as most active cases are reported from here. Meanwhile, State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the Gruha Arogya Yojana (Home Health Scheme) is being expanded across the state, with 14 non-communicable diseases included for screening under the programme. The Minister added that non-communicable diseases pose a significant threat to people's lives. While the private healthcare sector prioritises treatment, it is crucial to prevent non-communicable diseases proactively. He emphasised that the government should undertake this task, as others may not show interest. As a responsible government, the State Health Department is expanding the Gruha Arogya Yojana statewide to prevent non-communicable diseases, the Minister said. Minister Rao also added that the programme will screen individuals aged above 30 years in every household and ensure that appropriate medicines reach them. The project was implemented in Kolar district initially.
