The way ahead

When it comes to health insurance, the common apprehension among people is they should not be taken for a ride. Sixty one-year-old Praveen Damani from Bilaspur bought a policy from the Oriental Insurance Company Ltd in 2000 and got himself covered for Rs 3,50,000. In August, two months after getting the policy, he developed chest pain and was advised coronary angiography. The company rejected the claim of Rs 26,747 for the surgery saying the disease had pre-existed.

Me likes what me likes

Anaemic people might not get what they need from folic acid supplements

Doctors rush for village posting

Assam doubles salary the Assam government on September 16 recruited 768 doctors for rural postings. "This will ensure that every panchayat has at least one doctor," said health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after handing over appointment letters to the doctors in Guwahati.

News 360°- Briefs

deforestation Kenya evicts settlers Three decades after allotting land to the hunter-gatherer community of Ogiek in Mau forest, the Kenyan government has asked them to leave. The 2,500 Ogiek families have been asked to surrender their title deeds by October.

Doctors without degrees

Can practise Indian systems of medicine in Kerala a decision of the Kerala government to register practitioners of Indian systems of medicine even if they do not have academic qualification has sparked protests across the state. The order issued in June specified just one eligibility criterion--age. The practitioners in north Kerala should be at least 42 years old while those in central and south Kerala should be 21 years old with minimum five

Tough nut to crack

A vaccine for corrupt alliances

The last time the prime minister bent too far to keep the coalition going

Universal Immunization Programme

To keep six contagious diseases at bay The programme's mandate is to enhance vaccine production in the country, among others. Started in 1978, it is now part of India's National Rural Health Mission and involves vaccination against six contagious diseases: tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and measles. Tuberculosis: A bacterial disease; BCG vaccine administered at birth. The vaccine protects from meningitis and TB.

Ministry should give a fair price to private sector

cyrus s poonawalla, chairperson and managing director of Serum Institute of India Ltd, a private vaccine manufacturer, says the vaccine shortage is a mess the government created. Edited excerpts: On self-sufficiency: Except for polio vaccine, we can provide all vaccines required for the Universal Immunization Programme. Whatever orders were placed have been completed on time. On vaccine shortage:

Allegations against former health minister

Ramadoss compromised India's interests Health experts, politicians and even political allies questioned former health minister Anbumani Ramadoss' decision to delicense the public sector units. After a year of inaction to revive the units, S P Shukla, former special secretary, family welfare and a group of public health experts filed a petition in the Supreme Court in February 2009. The petition accused the then health minister of taking decisions that undermined the country's self sufficiency in vaccines for the Universal Immunization Programme.