Latest news with #UPHCs
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Where patients are deprived of proper medical reports
1 2 Coimbatore: Jayshree, 25, a city resident who recently gave birth to a baby at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), now visits the urban primary health centre (UPHC) at Seeranaickenpalayam for routine check-up. She doesn't have a printed test report in her file, as she received only handwritten reports from both CMCH and the UPHC. And that's the drawback of govt healthcare centres, she says. "If we need a second opinion from private doctors, details provided by govt hospitals are insufficient. If test reports are negative, govt hospitals just mention it in writing and don't attach the report. In private labs, reports include average units and their meanings, enabling patients to have a basic understanding of their health condition. At CMCH, blank OP papers are issued. Hence, chances of them getting mixed up are high. To simply put it, your OP paper might end up with another patient." Surajraj, a patient waiting for blood reports at CMCH, said, "I'm here for the first time. Since I have a shoulder dislocation, I am advised to take certain tests. The report is being written in a small book, and the prescription is on a blank white paper." Despite the advancements in healthcare in the state, the primary health centres and the govt hospitals in the district are still following conventional handwritten formats. Patients visiting the govt hospitals, including CMCH, UPHCs and wellness centres, are required to bring notebooks for the doctors to write down prescriptions and other medical details. TOI visited several UPHCs, including Meenakshi Maternity Hospital and Seethalakshmi Maternity Hospital, and CMCH on Tuesday. All these healthcare centres provided only handwritten reports to the patients. Some patients at the primary health centres said the prescriptions were never returned with medicines. "Though they orally tell us the dosage and consumption timing, many elderly people tend to forget. If we get the prescription, it will help our family members help us take the medicines at the right time." The good news is that things might change in the near future. The state govt is all set to introduce printed prescriptions for patients under the 'Nalam Kakkum Stalin Scheme' from August 2. Under this flagship initiative, nearly 40 camps are planned every Saturday across the district, providing easy access to master check-ups and improved healthcare. Blood test results and other laboratory reports will be provided in printed format at these camps. This is to improve healthcare documentation and make medical records more organized and legible. The printed prescriptions will help eliminate the confusion now caused by handwritten notes, ensure credibility, maintain accountability and ensure better patient care through clear communication of medical instructions. Dr P Balusamy, deputy director, Public Health Services, Coimbatore, said, "At the camps under the 'Nalam Kakkum Stalin Scheme' printed prescriptions and reports will be generated on a pilot basis. These camps have initiated mobile number linking to inform patients when their reports are ready. The state is likely to expand this initiative across its healthcare centres in a phased manner."
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Kamaraj Nagar UPHC receives NQAS certification
The Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) at Kamaraj Nagar in Tiruchi has received the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). The UPHC achieved a score of 91.92% and fulfilled all certification requirements. The facility received accreditation for adhering to the highest standards in healthcare, especially in parameters such as preventive and curative services, diagnostic services, providing services as per local needs, maintenance and upkeep of equipment and infrastructure, maternal care, newborn and childcare, implementing strict hand hygiene for employees and waste management, etc. A national assessment team inspected the centre on June 20 and 21 for an assessment before certification being issued. The quality of infrastructure, including services offered to expectant mothers and newborns, treatment for communicable and non-communicable diseases, was assessed by the specialists. As a result, the UPHC has won a cash reward of ₹3 lakh. About 25% of the prize money will be given as incentives to the healthcare workers at the centre, and the balance will be used for patient welfare and the development of the UPHC. So far, the UPHCs in Subramaniyapuram, Gandhipuram, Ramalinga Nagar, Edamalaipatti Pudur, Periyamilaguparai, and Thennur have received NQAS certification. Kamaraj Nagar is the seventh UPHC to get certified. The NQAS teams are scheduled to assess the UPHCs in Woraiyur, MK Kottai and East Boulevard Road this month. The civic body aims to acquire certification for the remaining 11 health centres by this year.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Digital prescription facility launched at 48 urban PHCs
Lucknow: Reading the prescriptions of doctors will now become easier for patients as a digital prescription facility was launched at 48 Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) in the district on Friday. The system will ensure that details of medication are printed clearly and directly linked to each patient's Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID, securing their health records digitally. Chief medical officer Dr NB Singh said, "Out of 54 UPHCs in Lucknow, 48 have already started offering this facility. This will not only help patients easily understand the medicines prescribed to them but will also keep their records safe and accessible." He said that patients and even pharmacists often face difficulty in reading handwritten prescriptions. "Digital system eliminates this issue by providing printed prescriptions. Soon, the remaining 6 UPHCs will also implement this service," he said. Linking prescriptions with ABHA ID will help doctors view past medication records digitally in case a patient forgets or loses prescription slip.
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Free cancer screening camps evoke poor response in Tiruchi; health officials blame it on ignorance, social stigma
Despite the growing need for cancer awareness and early detection, free cancer screening camps set up at the health centres in Tiruchi have evoked a lukewarm response from residents. Aimed at screening people aged over 18 for oral cancer and women aged over 30 for breast cancer and cervical cancer and providing appropriate treatment for recovery, the camps are yet to pick up pace despite being launched on May 12. According to M. Vijay Chandran, City Health Officer, several factors contribute to the low turnout. 'Lack of awareness about preventive cancer screening and its benefits is a major deterrent. Many people are hesitant to get screened for fear of diagnosis and social stigma associated with cancer.' The screening camps are set up in all 18 urban primary health centres and 36 health and wellness centres in the city. Each centre has a doctor, four staff nurses, six urban health nurses, and woman health volunteers. Training sessions were conducted for the doctors and medical staff. Urban health nurses and woman health volunteers are engaged in a door-to-door awareness campaign to sensitise people and invite them to the screening camp. With the data recorded in the Family Registration, which contains complete details of the persons in the family, their age, and other information, they reach out to the people and hand over invite cards. They are asked to bring the filled-in cards at the time of screening. As of June 21, about 14,125 invites were given, of them, 6,270 people have been screened at the centres. Among the screened, 111 were referred to hospitals for diagnosing, but only seven had gone in for a follow-up. 'Biopsy for cervical cancer was done for seven patients and there are no confirmed cases of cancer. A follow-up to check if the patients had visited the referred facility for screening is planned,' said Dr. Chandran. Steps have been taken to intensify the awareness campaign and enrol the people under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. The team has been instructed to screen patients enrolled at the UPHCs, beneficiaries of the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme, and Corporation officials and workers. Special cancer screening counters have been set up at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital for a hassle-free treatment experience.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Monitoring officer reviews key civic projects in Agasteeswaram taluk
Kanniyakumari District Monitoring Officer Hanish Chabbra inspected the ongoing development works at Agasteeswaram taluk on Thursday. He conducted the inspection in the presence of Kanniyakumari Collector R. Alagumeena, Nagercoil Corporation Commissioner Nishant Krishna and other officials from the district administration. The Monitoring Officer reviewed various sites, including Urban Primary Health centres (UPHCs), corporation's dump yard, coastal hamlets and other development works of the Nagercoil Municipal Corporation. During his visit to the UPHC in Krishnancoil area, he inquired about the availability of doctors and essential medicines at the centre. The department officials were asked about tests for non communicable disease, including high blood pressure and diabetes, under the scheme 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam'. He also visited Valampuraivilai dump yard, located in the heart of a residential area, an issue of critical concern for the city. Everyday tonnes of wastes from households, hotels and markets under the Corporation limits are being dumped at the site. He directed the Corporation officials to give precedence to public health with bio mining and other waste processing activities at the yard, particularly due to close proximity of residential areas, hospitals and markets. He also instructed the Corporation officials to expedite installation of suction systems at the Underground Drainage System facilities at the Pattasalianvilai. He also inspected the construction of 500 metre sea wall along the coastal road of Pottal-Puthanthurai-Pallamthurai at a cost of ₹2.81 crore and the construction of an overhead tank at Thengamputhoor being developed under the AMRUT scheme at a cost of ₹64.68 crore. The tank with a capacity of around 3 lakh litres will benefit 11,049 households in the area that were added recently to the Nagercoil Municipal Corporation limits.
