Latest news with #TNGDA
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
‘Awareness of PCPNDT Act key to reducing female foeticide'
Madurai: Health department staff including gynaecologists and radiologists are often not well-versed with the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act due to which they face various legal issues, said Dr J Rajamoorthy, Director of Medical and Rural Health Services (DMS). He was speaking at a special meeting and training workshop for health department staff of Madurai and five other southern districts here on Wednesday. "It also leads to female foeticide . In some districts like Dharmapuri and Salem, the sex ratio is such that there are much fewer girls than boys. Steps taken because of this act have greatly helped reduce female foeticide in recent times," he added. He said awareness among public and health staff about the Act is key to reducing female foeticide and improving sex ratio at birth. Experts highlighted the legal provisions and their importance in preventing prevalence of quackery as well. The workshop was part of an initiative announced in the assembly by the health minister Ma Subramanian to create awareness and educate health department staff on PCPNDT Act and bring down female foeticide. On the discreet or symbolic methods being used by scan centres to reveal the sex of unborn foetus, the DMS said practising doctors can face punishments in case of violations even if the patient was willing. Dr K Senthil, state president, TNGDA, elaborated on Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act as well. Dr R Selvaraj, JDHS, Madurai, Dr L Arul Sundaresh Kumar, dean, Madurai Medical College, and officials and staff from Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Sivanganga, and Virudhunagar districts were present. A handbook on PCPNDT Act was released and distributed to all participants.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
TNGDA seeks action against Madurai health official for unprofessional conduct
Madurai: The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) has demanded strict action against Dr P Kumaragurubaran, deputy director of health services (DDHS), Madurai, following allegations of workplace harassment and unprofessional conduct during official meetings. According to TNGDA, several medical officers recently lodged complaints accusing the DDHS of using abusive language during video conference meetings. A formal complaint was filed with the director of public health on May 17, and an inquiry was conducted on May 24 by the joint director of health services. Around 25 doctors reportedly appeared for the inquiry and submitted their statements. The controversy escalated on Sunday when a video allegedly showing Dr Kumaragurubaran using inappropriate language and gestures during an online meeting was anonymously shared on social media, where it quickly went viral. TNGDA condemned his behaviour, calling it unacceptable and unprofessional. TNGDA state president Dr K Senthil told TOI that doctors had also complained about extended video meetings held beyond official working hours, with claims that women staff were made to stay back late unnecessarily. "If the DDHS needed to take disciplinary action, it should have been done through proper channels," he said. As a mark of protest, TNGDA announced that its members will boycott communication with Dr Kumaragurubaran until action is taken. "Doctors have been instructed to block him on WhatsApp and respond only to official circulars. Leave applications will be routed directly through the district health office via email. Patient care will not be affected," Dr Senthil clarified, warning that the association will escalate its protest if the issue is not addressed. MSID:: 121417958 413 |
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
DPH doctors to boycott communication, orders from DD of Health services of Madurai
The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA), in their general body meeting held here on Monday, has unanimously decided to boycott any form of communication and refusal to comply with the orders of Deputy Director (DD) of Health Services, Madurai. As the doctors of Primary Health Centre, Urban Primary Health Centre, Community Health Centre, and others flagged the issue of ill-treatment by the DD of Madurai and registered a complaint with the Department of Public Health (DPH), and an inquiry was initiated by the department based on the complaints. K. Senthil, president of TNGDA, said that following the complaint, Senthil Kumar, Joint Director of Communicable Diseases in the DPH, was directed to conduct an inquiry into the matter. 'He also held an inquiry on May 24, 2025. While doctors informed him about their grievances and the ill-treatment faced by them at the hands of DD, the matter has been taken to the government,' he added. 'He could not sense the seriousness of the issue when it was represented to him earlier by the doctors,' Dr. Senthil added. 'Only when the videos of him spewing bad comments and using unparliamentary words, were published on media and social media platforms, did I understand the grievance of doctors,' he noted. Till a satisfactory disciplinary action was initiated against the DD of Madurai, the doctors decided to boycott all forms of communication with him. 'It was decided that doctors would not attend any meetings conducted by him, exit from all official what's app groups, blocking his contact number on mobile phones, complying with orders only when issued through circulars from the district administration, doctors would apply their casual leave, compensatory leave, privileged leave, weekly off, holidays through Block/Zonal Medical Officers (BMO), BMOs would communicate their leaves to District Health Office through mails,' Dr. Senthil said. It was also ensured the public that the health service given to them would not be affected at any cost, he added.
