Straight from the Heart: IMA-HBI Initiative

Straight from the Heart: IMA-HBI Initiative

Thank you to Team HBI led by Dr RV Asokan for the wonderful work being done and for winning the Best Wing Award for the year 2017.

Here are some of my views about IMA HBI to be implemented by 28th December and put in the HBI agenda book.

Thanks for initiating over 768 pre-entry level NABH accreditation certification process, launching a HBI portal, bringing out 12 HBI e-Connect newsletters and a practical guide on hospital start-ups, conducting GST and insurance summits, digital Team HBI and aiming for 10,000 affiliated memberships.  

Hospital Board of India may consider re-naming itself as ‘IMA Clinical Establishment” Board of India. This will give it a better branding and broader scope in working.

As per the last CWC resolution, all state IMA branches having nursing home wings have already become part of HBI and the same should be implemented as early as possible

HBI adopted medical emblem.

NABH will not be able to cope up with numbers required by IRDA regarding pre-accreditation entry level certification of clinical establishments. Today, NABH requires a
3-month period of self-certification prior to application. This period may be certified by IMA. 

IMA certified clinical establishments means they are ready for entry level NABH certification. IRDA is being approached so that IMA certified establishments may be recognized by them for insurance purposes.

Medical tourism ministry has allowed IMA to run Mumbai airport facilitation centre. The same is to be coordinated by IMA HBI.

IMA HBI should tie up with IMA Insurance web page and IMA SBI card policy

Why NABH IMA white paper should be promoted to all?

IMA HBI should adopt IMA Aao Gaon Chale wing

HBI issues

• Can technicians sign lab reports?

• CEA Karnataka issue to be put in full page advt in one of the national dailies.

• IMA HBI costing department to come out with its recommendation (part 1 by the 2^nd week of December). The aim of IMAHBI costing department should also be how to reduce the cost. The IMA sanctioned budget of six lakh to be used by IMA HBI for this purpose.

• IMAHBI to implement one price, one drug, one company policy

• IMAHBI Transgender Policy: to have toilets for disable people to be used as toilets for transgenders

IMAHBI to come out with minimal requirement for ICU facility in small health care establishments in view of the Supreme Court judgment.

Small health care organizations should be promoted as they are the only cost-effective setups.

HBI to have a separate agenda book this year in central council. 

A World Liver Day Initiative

A World Liver Day Initiative Excess alcohol bad for the liver • On World Liver Day, IMA warns that excess alcohol is responsible for fatty liver disease in a majority of people • Lifestyle changes key to a healthy liver New Delhi, 19th April 2017: Recent WHO (World Health Organization) statistics indicate that every year, about 2 lakh people die of liver ailments around the world. As per data, fatty liver disease is the third most common cause of chronic liver disease and affects 1 in 6 individuals. Just like the brain and heart, the liver is also a crucial organ that needs to be taken care of, more so if you are a heavy drinker. It has been found that about 25,000 lives can be saved by a liver transplant. However, data shows that at present, only 1,800 liver transplants happen every year globally. As in every year, 19th April is being celebrated as the World Liver Day this year as well. The liver has a very important role in the body’s digestive system. Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, "Anything that we eat or drink, including medication, must pass through the liver. It is the second-largest organ in the body and helps filter chemicals like drugs and alcohol from the blood; regulates hormones and blood sugar levels; stores energy from the nutrients and makes blood proteins, bile and several enzymes that the body needs. Keeping the liver healthy therefore is all about a healthy lifestyle. The basic thing about taking care of the liver is to avoid what’s bad rather than eat or drink something that nourishes this organ. Alcohol does more damage to the liver cells than one can imagine. It leads to swelling or scarring, later turning into cirrhosis, and can prove fatal to life." Alcoholic cirrhosis is the most common cause of cirrhosis, accounting for 40% of liver deaths from cirrhosis. The liver helps to remove alcohol from the blood through oxidation. However, once too much alcohol has been ingested for the liver to process in a well-timed manner, the toxic substance begins to turn into 'fatty liver'. This then is the early stage of alcoholic liver disease and can be seen in about 90% of people who drink more than two ounces (60 ml) of alcohol per day. Continuing to drink similar quantities of alcohol can lead to liver fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis. Dr K K Aggarwal adds, "Fatty liver is reversible with timely medical intervention. However, it is also important to bring about certain lifestyle changes. If ignored, this condition can cause irreversible damage with liver transplant as the only end option. Therefore, it is important to avoid intake of alcohol, eat healthy, and get regular exercise. Timely hepatitis vaccines should also be considered to avoid any sort of complications to the liver." It is important to take care of the following points to keep the liver healthy. • Eat a healthy balanced diet and exercise regularly. • Eat out of all food groups, for instance, grains, protein, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and fats. Eat fibrous food such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, rice, and cereals. • Avoid consuming alcohol, smoking, and drugs. They can permanently damage the liver cells. • Always make sure to consult your doctor before starting a new medication. Taking incorrect combinations of medicines can lead to liver damage. • Chemicals like aerosols and cleaning products can injure liver cells and therefore it is better to avoid extensive contact with these. • Keep a check on your weight as obesity can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

IMA Antimicrobial Resistance Initiative

IMA Antimicrobial Resistance Initiative Spurious use of antibiotics has lead to the emergence of pathogens resistant to multiple antimicrobial drugs. New Delhi, March 25, 2017: Use of antibiotics needs to be carefully monitored to curb unnecessary prescription, as we are currently witnessing rising antimicrobial resistance on a global scale. Antibiotics work by targeting specific mechanisms within the microorganisms essential for growth and survival, however, bacteria have certain defense systems that gradually evade these effects, and become resistant. Spurious use of antibiotics can speed up this defense system much faster than we can counteract them. Hence, it is necessary that awareness be raised about global antibiotic resistance and encourage best practices of usage amongst doctors and patients. Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President, Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement said, “It is important to understand when the doctor or the patient at fault is when antibiotic usage is concerned. From the physician’s side, over prescription needs to be controlled. Sometimes, these drugs are given as a preventive measure rather than a cure. Moreover, in the interest of being careful, physicians deem it best to prescribe a low dose antibiotic even when the said drug is not clinically required. From the patient’s side, self medication is worrisome. Several of clinically precious antibiotics are available over the counter, and are often taken without a guided instruction about dosage and proper regimen.” “Antibiotic resistance is a global concern. No new class of antibiotics have been discovered or invented during last three decades. We stand at the edge of an imminent ‘post-antibiotic’ era where resistant bacteria can render precious lifesaving drugs obsolete. Medical science is heavily dependent on antibiotics, from treating simple tetanus wounds to complex surgical procedures. If this overusage continues, even simple infections will have the potential to be fatal. It is important that both medical and patient community become more aware about the judicious and just use of these precious drugs”, add Dr K K Aggarwal. Following are some key points: • Refrain from prescribing antibiotics when no bacterial infection exists. • Wrong dose and unnecessarily long treatment schedules can give pathogens multiple chances to develop resistance. • Use National Treatment Guidelines for use of Antibiotics for judicious usage of antimicrobial agents. • No need to use antibiotics in simple cough and colds, mild diarrhea. • Do not indicate strong antibiotics, when a less strong would be as effective. • Patients should not stop antibiotics as soon as their symptoms start improving. Strengthen Infection prevention and control by adopting hand hygiene and hand shake free culture.

IMA Safe Syringe Initiative

IMA Safe Syringe Initiative 1. Say No to injections. 2. IV to Oral Early Switch 3. Use Syringes which can not be reused and do not lead to accidental needle stick injury. 4. 16 Billion injections per year world over 90% (curative care), 5% (Immunization) 5. 40% reused injections (21 Million New HIV, 2 Million new HCV & 2.6 lac new HIV cases) 6. 3 Million Needle stick injuries (37% of all new HBV, 39% new HCV & 5.5% of all new HIV cases 7. 56% of patients receive one injection 8. Injection per person per year 1.7 – 11.3 9. Sterile hypodemic syringe for single use Auto disposable syringe for fixed dose Immunization- Sterile hypodemic syringe for single use with a reuse prevention feature Sterile hypodemic syringe with a sharp injury protection feature (SIPs)