Hints at capping of rates being charged

Jammu:  Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Raghav Langer Wednesday convened a meeting of Health and Medical Education Department regarding rationalization of Covid cases management in designated private health care institutions.

The meeting was attended by CEO Shrine Board, Ramesh Kumar; Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Anshul Garg; CEO Ayushman Bharat, Sagar Doifode; MD NHM, Yasin Choudhary; Deputy Commissioner Reasi, Principal Government Medical College Jammu, Director Health, besides Director ASCOMS, Jammu and management of  Narayana Hospital and other concerned officers.

Keeping in view the surge in Covid-19 cases in recent times and to keep all possible facilities in place for treatment of Covid-19 positive cases; the Div Com directed the ASCOMS and Narayana Hospitals to increase their bed capacity for Covid-19 cases with all necessary facilities like ICU, Ventilators etc. The Div Com also directed both the institutions to share regular details of bed occupancy with MD NHM and Director Health Services.

The Divisional Commissioner asked both the private institutions to provide details of the tariff being charged by them for management of covid positive cases under various packages. It was discussed during the meeting that in order to rationalize the expenditure being incurred by patients; many States/ UTs have ordered for a capping on the rates being charged by private hospitals under the provisions of Disaster Management Act. The CEO Ayushman Bharat, J&K apprised the Div Com that at present there is a huge gap between the reimbursement under covid management package of Ayushman Bharat and rates being actually charged by the private institutions; thereby leading to excessive out of pocket expenditure by the poor patients.

It is noteworthy that in order to prevent charging of exorbitant rates; many states have put a ceiling on the rates being charged by private covid health care institutions for isolation beds, O2 supported high dependency unit, ICU with / without ventilators etc. with inclusions/ exclusions defined clearly. The Div Com also obtained comments of both private health care institutions for requisitioning certain no. of covid beds in their facilities for usage strictly based on referral by the Government.

“As the Covid-19 positive cases are increasing there may be more demand of Covid-19 hospitization in near future so there is a need to enhance critical care capacity for treatment of Covid-19 cases”, The Div Com said.

The Div Com also directed Deputy Commissioner, Jammu and MD NHM and other concerned officers to hold a meeting with private nursing home associations in this regard and make a comprehensive plan for successful management of Covid-19 positive cases; based on the level of facilities available in some suitable private institutions for Covid management.

Earlier, the Divisional Commissioner and IGP, Jammu Mukesh Singh, also convened a meeting with Presidents of Market Associations of Jammu and asked them to comply with the Government orders and strictly follow Standard Operation Procedures to successfully combating Covid-19 spread.

The meeting was attended by SSP Jammu, Chandan Kohli; Additional Commissioner Jammu, ADC Jammu besides President Chamber of Commerce, Presidents of Raghunath Bazar Association, President Residency Market, Apsra Market, Ware House Market Association and other representatives of market associations.

The Divisional Commissioner urged associations to comply with government orders and follow all preventive measures which are necessary to contain the spread of the virus. He also asked them to avoid gatherings in the markets.

Threadbare discussions were held on various preventive measures and the association members gave their valuable suggestions for containing further spread of virus.

Srinagar: Traffic was on Wednesday restored to dozens of far-flung and remote areas, including border towns of Machil and Gurez, after remaining closed for four days due to fresh snowfall in north Kashmir.

However, the border town of Keran remained cutoff from its tehsil and district headquarter in Kupwara for the second successive day due to a massive landslide on Tuesday following incessant rain.

“Vehicles were playing normally on Kupwara-Machil road after it was put through for traffic after remaining closed for four successive days due to about a foot of fresh snowfall,” an official of Police Control Room (PCR), Kupwara told UNI over the phone.

He said traffic was allowed on the Kupwara-Machil road after getting a green signal from officials deployed at various places on the road following clearance of over a foot of fresh snowfall on Saturday. “Traffic was also plying normally on Kupwara-Karnah road, which remained unaffected due to the wet weather”.

He said Traffic on Kupwara-Keran road was again suspended on Tuesday morning after a landslide due to incessant rain.

“Border Road Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the road, has pressed into service sophisticated machines to clear the landslide and put through the road for traffic,” he added.

An official of Police Control Room (PCR) from Bandipora said traffic was resumed to the border town of Gurez and adjoining areas after remaining suspended since Saturday due to accumulation of snow.

“Razdan pass and adjoining areas on Bandipora-Gurez road had received about 7 to 8 inches of fresh snowfall on Saturday,” he said, adding the snow was cleared on the road and traffic was on Wednesday morning allowed to ply from Bandipora to Gurez.

Leh: Amid the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, the Union Territory of Ladakh is witnessing a regular spike in positive cases forcing authorities to order the closure of educational institutions besides reducing the gathering and transport seating capacity to 50 per cent to contain the spread.

Comprising two districts Leh and Kargil, in Ladakh Leh is the most affected with the infection positivity rate, and several cases have been registered against the violators.

Top health officials said there is a huge surge of COVID-19 cases in Ladakh with Leh district most affected having a total of 1730 active positive cases while only 82 in Kargil.

He said that last week the UT reported a total of 944 cases in just six days with 12 containment zones in leh besides a death.

The official said that in past ten days a total of 1791 positive cases have been reported in Ladakh of which the majority belong to Leh and two deaths from the same district.

“Ladakh reported a total of 847 cases in just four days between Saturday to Wednesday besides two deaths of which 813 positive cases are from Leh alone”, the official said.

He said several measures have been taken to contain the spread of infection across the region and negative RTPCR has been made mandatory for all those coming to Ladakh not older than 96 hours.

The official said that around 16 FIRs have been registered against the COVID-19 protocol violators by police in Leh and teams have been constituted to ensure there are no violations in public places and the required behavior is maintained.

Special Enforcement Squads (SESs) a day back recovered around 16, 000 rupees as fine from the Covid-19 violators in Leh, he said. (KNO)

Jammu: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan Wednesday released Kanwal Peshins Short film on Fire Services “Savdhaan, Be Careful” here.

Speaking on the occasion, Khan said that this short film will be an eye opener for many careless people and shall give a clear message to them on fire safety.

The Advisor in his speech appreciated the role of Fill-UP productions team for such a great effort and wished them good luck for future projects.

Speaking on the occasion, Aditya Tickoo, Producer FiII-UP productions gave a brief about the film and said that we have been able to conceive a film “Savdhaan, be careful” with the support of Kanwal Peshin who is working as officer in Fire and emergency services department. He added that the script and concept was prepared by him and he has many praiseworthy scripts and concepts to his name like Mata Alakhishwari, Navrch, Harratri, Nandsarkaar, Shastri ji and Visthapit Kab Tak.

Er. Kiran Wattal noted social worker and Convener Vishaw Kashmiri Samaj in his speech said that this film has been released to make people, school children, staff and general masses aware about Fire hazards and role of Fire services, as it has been assessed that human carelessness is the main cause behind fire incidents.

He also appreciated Advisor Khan for constant support and encouragement of KP youth and community.

The film has been conceived, edited and directed by Pradeep Pandita who is a noted film maker and social activist in Jammu and has many credits to his name.

“SAVDHAAN, BE CAREFUL” is a story of a nomad family residing in a temporary shed in a forest which catches fire accidently by the cigarette bud thrown by the owner carelessly and his family pays the price besides role of fire services has also been highlighted.