The MD theses, finally, are over. Focused research questions, great introductions, meticulous methods, well-laid out results and structured discussions. But what the theses won’t have this year is their most readable section – acknowledgements. The section, guides loved to leaf through in the close confines of their office. The section that boosted their self-esteem. The …
Written by
SP Kalantri
CAT has nine lives
Every few years, our CAT scan machine drops dead- only to purr again. Bought about 10 years back, the machine has scanned about 20,000 heads, chests and bellies. At times, for some inexplicable reasons, the CAT stands still- a CATastrophic event in the hospital. And as engineers-flown from Bangalore- lay their hands on the CAT …
No more medical representatives in Sevagram
Smart ties, black bags and glib tongues. It has been more than a month since we saw this combination in our hospital. Few weeks back, we decided to say no to medical representatives on campus. We took this measure to counter the growing perception that interaction between doctors and medical sales representatives was harming our …
Pile of Papers
Medical case records carry a story. They describe the journey of patients from the admission to the discharge. They tell us, chronologically, why were the patients admitted, how were they diagnosed, why doctors couldn’t fix their problems, how were they managed, what complications did they develop, what made them stay long and finally how did …
Cricket Watch from the East Stand
Paisa Vasool! The fate of the second one-day match between India and Australia was almost decided even before Australian openers took guard. 350+ was too good a total for a very ordinary Australian batting line-up. This is a match Ponting would quickly like to forget: his bowlers gave away over 100 runs in the last …
Getting doctors to the villages: Will compulsion work?
Despite more than a half century of proclamations on primary healthcare, most rural facilities in India continue to lack enough providers, equipment and infrastructure to offer effective and efficient care. In the latest effort to address this inequitable distribution the union health and family welfare minister announced a plan requiring doctors to practise in rural …
Letter from Berkeley
Dear Friends, It was the best of times; it was not the worst of times. My Berkeley stint is fast approaching an end. On May 24, I will touch Sevagram! A year at Berkeley – educating, entertaining, exciting and at times exasperating- would come to an end! Last fall, I came to the University of …
When is enough enough?
How do medical students learn to make impossible decisions every day? They can share their problems with their colleagues and seniors, and learn decision-making skills which will carry over into their practice once they graduate. At the MGIMS, a group of residents and interns has started informal discussions of case study scenarios. The idea is …
Dr Sushila Nayar
Dr Sushila Nayar, former Union Health Minister, Director of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram and an eminent Gandhian, passed away peacefully in Sevagram. Born in Kunjah (District Gujarat), Pakistan, she was brought up in a rural middle class family. Soon after her graduation from Lady Hardinge Medical Col- lege, her …
Medical ethics beats drug company lures
The Academy of Medical Sciences, Nagpur organised a workshop on medical ethics on September 8 and 9, at the Udyog bhavan, Nagpur. Fed up with several ‘me too workshops’, the Academy wanted to do something different this year. Several doctors felt that medical ethics was a topic worth discussing in today’s times. However, some members …