Side effects of harmful radiation from mobile phones and towers

In a reply to the Question raised by Shri Bhupinder Singh  (QUESTION NO  915) in Rajya sabha regarding ‘Side effects of harmful radiation from mobile phones and towers’, The Minister of State in The Ministry Of Health And family welfare Shri .Shripad Yesso Naik answered the following on 03-3-2015 in Rajyasabha.

“The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that in number of studies it has been reported that exposure to radiation from mobile phones causes adverse health effects. But there is no conclusive data available so far on this issue, however the growing body of scientific evidences indicates some bio-effects and possible adverse health effects of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) which merit further investigations. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) (2011) after reviewing the studies published from year 2000 to 31st May 2011 classified the radio frequency electromagnetic radiations/field emitted from wireless phone under group 2 B-carcinogen category. Due to this fact number of countries have developed health based precautionary guidelines for exposure of EMF from cell phone towers including India.

ICMR has further informed that there is no scientific confirmed evidence that use of mobile phones causes mental and physical diseases. There is no proven scientific evidence yet to suggest that electromagnetic radiations emitted from mobile phone may lead to cancer, tumour, mental imbalance, dementia, headache and even it can damage DNA of a person.

ICMR is conducting a multi-disciplinary cohort study in Delhi & National Capital Region (NCR) to find out adverse effects of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR), if any, emitted from cell phone on adult Indian population. Under this study specific absorption rate, power density, wave length and frequency of RFR emitted from various types of cell phones used by the enrolled subjects as well as from cell phone towers installed at various places in Delhi are measured. The physical characteristics of RFR emitted from various cell phones will be correlated with the clinical & laboratory findings to examine whether use of cell phone is associated with reproductive dysfunctions, male infertility, neurological disorders (cognitive behavior, sleep related disorders, depression etc.), cardiovascular disorders, Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) disorders and promote cancer if any, in Human Volunteers.

In addition to the above, the ICMR has also funded few studies on limited basis in India to address this issue.

Source: Rajyasabha

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New Health Insurance Scheme for Government Employees under Consideration

New Health Insurance Scheme for Government Employees under Consideration

There is a proposal for introduction of a health insurance scheme for the central government employees and pensioners on pan-India basis, with special focus on pensioners living in non-CGHS areas. The proposal is to make this scheme voluntary cum contributory for serving employees & pensioners.  However, it is proposed to be made compulsory for the new entrants in Government service.

The salient features of the proposed Health Insurance Scheme are as under;

• ·                     Optional for serving Central Government employees and pensioners including future           pensioners,
• ·                     Compulsory for new recruits,
• ·                     Covers all the members of family as per CGHS norms,
• ·                     Sum insured – Rs. 5 lakh per year on a family floater basis,
• ·                     Corporate buffer of Rs 25 Crore to take care of cases exceeding Rs. 5 lakh,
• ·                     All pre existing diseases covered from the day one,
• ·                     Pre and post hospitalisation benefits available,
• ·                     Domiciliary Hospitalisation benefit,
• ·                     Maternity benefit upto two living children,
• ·                     OPD not covered however OPD consultations will be free,
• ·                     Payment of FMA for meeting OPD needs,
• ·                     Cashless treatment facility,
• ·                     Govt. to subsidise significantly the payment of premium,
• ·                     Employees / pensioners to contribute 20 to 30 percent of the premium,
• ·                     Identification of beneficiaries through a Smart Card.

The proposed scheme will be an alternative to the CGHS and it will provide an option to the serving employees and pensioners to choose a scheme as per his/her convenience.

The Scheme will have special focus on the pensioners living in non-CGHS areas who are getting Fixed Medical Allowance at the rate of Rs.300/- only per month to take care of their medical needs and have been demanding extension of CGHS or CS (MA) Rules to cover their OPD and Inpatient medical needs which is not feasible due to resource constraints.  The Health Insurance Scheme seems to be a viable alternative.  It will have additional implications, due to coverage of pensioners living in non-CGHS areas and not covered under any Government Scheme.

 The proposal for inclusion of the Health Insurance Scheme for the Central Government employees and pensioners in the 12th Plan has been moved by the Ministry for consideration of the Steering Committee on Health in the Planning Commission. On receipt of approval of Planning Commission, the proposal would be placed before the Expenditure Finance Committee and finally before the Cabinet for approval of the scheme. No strict time frame can be given in this regard.

This information was given by the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in reply to a Starred question in Lok Sabha today

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Incentives for Doctors in Government Hospitals

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

24-April-2012

Incentives for Doctors in Government Hospitals

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has taken following steps to check the migration of reputed doctors from Government hospitals:-

(i) the age of superannuation of Teaching Specialists has been enhanced from 62 to 65 years;

(ii) the age of superannuation of non-teaching and Public Health Specialists of CHS has been enhanced from 60 to 62 years;

(iii) The Dynamic Assured Career Progression Scheme (DACP) has been extended upto Senior Administrative Grade(SAG) posts. The CHS officer’s promotion upto Senior Administrative grade(SAG) level are made on a time bound basis without any linkage to vacancies;

(iv) The 6th Pay Commission has brought about an overall improvement in remuneration of doctors;

(v) the period of study leave for CHS doctors has been enhanced from 2 to 3 years for post graduation.

These measures have been taken during the last 3-4 years and are beginning to yield result towards retaining the doctors/specialists in Government hospitals/institutions.

The above information was laid in the Rajya Sabha today by the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad

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Introduction of Annual Medical Examination for the Group ‘A’ officers of Central Civil Services of age 40 years and above

No. 21011/1/2009-Estt (A)- Part

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

(Department of Personnel and Training)

North Block, New Delhi,1st February, 2012

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- Introduction of Annual Medical Examination for the Group ‘A’ officers of Central Civil Services of age 40 years and above.

The undersigned is directed to say that a scheme of Annual Medical Check-up is already operating in respect of All India Service officers. This Department had taken up the issue of covering Group A’ officers of Central Civil Services/posts for Annual Medical Check-up in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure). It has now been decided that Group ‘A’ officers of Central Civil Services/Posts of and above the age of 40 years will be covered by the Annual Medical Check- up scheme. The following package rates for the above purpose have been approved:-

(i) Annual Medical Examination of Men officers- Rs. 2000/-

(Rupees Two Thousand only)

(ii) Annual Medical Examination of Women officers- Rs, 2200/-

(Rupees Two Thousand and Two Hundred only)

2. The regime of medical tests for the above purpose will be as given in the ANNEXURE-I.

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Poor budgetary allocation plagues Maha Health services

        Maharashtra Health Department has come out with a report painting a sorrow picture of their infrastructure and services, and has attributed it to inadequate budgetary allocations by the state government for last six years.

      Contrary to the Centre's guidelines to increase budgetary allocation by 10 per cent annually for Health sector, the state Government has been allotting only two per cent of its total budget to the Department since 2004, the report said.

    In a presentation to the state cabinet last week, the Department submitted a report which mentioned that since 2004, the budgetary provision varies between 1.94 per cent and 2.57 per cent, which is holding it back from performing to the fullest.

    The Health Department has received only Rs 182 crore to set up health care centres and complete ongoing constructions against its demand for a whopping Rs 1,000 crore. 

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