The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — On World Hepatitis Day, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) expressed pressing concern over the surge in hepatitis cases which has reached epidemic proportions in Kashmir.

“Drug abuse and unhygienic dental practices are responsible for the hepatitis epidemic in the valley,” said DAK President Dr. Nisar-ul-Hassan in a statement issued to the news agency KNO.

Dr. Hassan said Kashmir is witnessing an alarming rise in drug abuse cases over the past few decades. “Drug addicts are at a higher risk of contracting hepatitis and have the potential to spread this deadly infection to others,” he said.

In a recent study conducted at the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Kashmir, 72% of drug addicts were found to have Hepatitis C infection.

“Research has found that each drug addict infected with hepatitis virus is likely to infect 20 others and this rapid transmission of the disease occurs within the first three years of initial infection,” he said.

The DAK President said another reason for the high rates of Hepatitis infection is unhygienic dental practices in Kashmir.

“Most of the dental clinics use unsterilized or improperly sterilized instruments. The tools are not cleaned in between patients. The disposable items which are for single-use are reused on patients. Unsterile needles are used in multiple-dose medication vials,” he said

“Dentists do not change gloves in between patients and use the same gloves for every patient that leads to cross-infection,” he said and added, “Patients are not screened for hepatitis prior to intervention, resulting in the transfer of these viruses from one patient to another.”

Dr. Nisar said Hepatitis B and C infections are serious medical conditions and infected patients may not have outward symptoms of the disease for many years. The delayed onset makes screening important.

Hepatitis B and C are common causes of Cirrhosis or scarring of the liver which can cause liver failure and even cancer.

“While the Hepatitis B vaccine was included in the routine/universal immunization programme after 2006, many people above 17 years are unvaccinated. People should get vaccinated against hepatitis B as soon as possible to protect themselves from getting the virus,” he said.

“Hepatitis C has no vaccine, but there are ways to prevent the disease. And, if detected early, this is one of the few viral infectious diseases with great cure rates,” he added.

SRINAGAR — With National Exit Test (NExT) set to replace MBBS final examination, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Saturday said that the NExT exam is not in the interest of medical students.

“The students are awarded MBBS degrees in medical colleges/universities only after rigorous training and examinations. There are so many exams that medical students have to write during their MBBS course, and the additional exit exam will put an undue burden on students,” said DAK President, Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan.

Dr Hassan said while medical students focus on both theoretical and clinical aspects of medical science under the existing system, the introduction of the NExT exam will force them to focus on the theoretical part of medicine during their course. “This is bound to hamper the development of their clinical skills,” he said.

The DAK President said the attendance of students in clinical postings and ward training will decrease as they will be solely focussing on this decisive exit exam. “This will affect their clinical judgement and communication skills which are so essential for patient care,” he said, adding, “We need doctors for patient care, not MCQ-cracking robots who have never seen clinics.”

Dr Nisar said the NExT exam is also intended to replace NEET-PG and it will not assess the students on basic subjects. It will only assess the clinical subjects and the applied aspects of non-clinical subjects.

“Knowledge of basic science is crucial for any medical and surgical specialty,” he said, adding, “After qualifying for post-graduation, students will be subjected to viva-voce which has the potential to bias.”

General Secretary, DAK, Dr Arshad Ali said the National Medical Commission has proposed the NExT exam which is set to replace MBBS final and NEET-PG examinations.

“NExT exam will be conducted in two parts. Part-I will be a theoretical examination with multiple choice questions and Part-II will be a practical examination/viva-voce conducted after the completion of an internship,” he said.

SRINAGAR — Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Wednesday condemned the misbehaviour of a Pulwama councillor with a doctor.

The councillor has used demeaning, abusive and unparliamentary language with the doctor while he was discharging his duties, DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan said in a statement issued to the news agency KNO, adding that “such behaviour is simply unacceptable.”

Dr Hassan said on Monday evening that the councillor entered District Hospital Pulwama and threatened and abused the doctor on duty which resulted in the disruption of medical services. “Such acts of intimidation against medical staff who provide help to sick and wounded is shocking,” he said.

The DAK President said medical personnel put in their blood and sweat to save lives in extremely difficult conditions and instead of appreciation get abused. “The act of hooliganism from a public representative has generated fear and anxiety among health care workers,” he said.

Dr Nisar said under such circumstances, doctors cannot deliver their services efficiently which adversely affects patient care. “It is difficult for doctors to work under such hostile conditions,” he said, adding, “Such atrocious attitude towards doctors has forced many to migrate and this is the main reason for brain drain.”

General Secretary, DAK, Dr Arshad Ali said such maltreatment with a doctor on duty will not only set bad precedence but will also demoralize the medical staff who are discharging their duties in the toughest circumstances.

“There has to be an end to this mad pattern of atrocities against medical staff which has become routine,” he added.

SRINAGAR — Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Thursday sought restoration of the old pension scheme for the government employees of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Revival of the old pension system would ensure the social and financial security of employees,” said DAK President Dr. Nisar ul Hassan in a statement issued to the news agency KNO.

Dr. Hassan said under the old pension scheme, an employee gets 50% of his/her last drawn salary as a monthly pension with the addition of a dearness allowance as and when declared by the government. “After the demise of the retired employee, the nominee gets 50% of the total amount drawn by the retired employee as a family pension,” he said.

Government employees in J&K recruited on or after January 1, 2010, are not eligible for the old pension scheme and come under the new pension scheme.

The DAK President said the new pension scheme does not provide a guarantee of pension and there is no provision for family pension in the new system. “Under the new scheme, employees are required to contribute 10% of their monthly salary, which the government matches and invests in equity shares,” he said, adding “The new scheme is market-linked and hence uncertain.”

Dr. Nisar said employees spend their productive years of life in government service with the hope that post-retirement, they get a guaranteed pension which will give them financial independence in old age when they can’t earn. “The employees put in their blood and sweat during service to cause good governance and the government is duty bound to provide them with a sense of security post-retirement,” he said.

General Secretary DAK, Dr. Arshad Ali said under the new pension system, the hard-earned retirement fund of employees is subjected to the vagaries of the share market which fluctuates at the drop of a hat, putting the social security of employees at risk.

“An employee cannot work with his full potential and contribute to good governance if his socio-economic security is threatened,” he said.

“Four of the States including Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Haryana have gone back to the old pension scheme and the chorus for restoration is also mounting in other states,” he added.

SRINAGAR — With the continuous dip in temperatures to sub-freezing levels in Kashmir valley, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Wednesday said the chilly weather of winter puts people at greater risk of high blood pressure.

“Falling temperatures in winter causes a hike in blood pressure which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, the two leading causes of death and disability in the valley,” said DAK President Dr. Nisar ul Hassan.

Dr Hassan said high blood pressure, also called hypertension, is harder to control in winter. "Even healthy people aren’t off the hook. They tend to have high blood pressure in winter."

“When winter arrives and temperatures drop, there is one place where the mercury rises, that is in the blood pressure gauges,” he said.

The DAK President said frigid temperatures constrict blood vessels which increases blood pressure because more pressure is needed to force blood through narrowed vessels. “Hormones, like adrenaline and nor-adrenaline increase in response to cold, and these cause spike in blood pressure,” he said adding, “Lack of sunlight during winter reduces vitamin D levels which increases blood pressure.”

He said people are sedentary in winter, staying inside and eating more which causes weight gain and contributes to hypertension. “While we can’t change the weather, simple precautions can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure in winter. Keep yourself warm to prevent cold temperatures. If you move out, dress in layers, wear a hat, gloves, and scarf. Avoid going in the chill for a walk and move your workout inside. Reduce salt intake and take a diet rich in vegetables and fruits. And, don’t forget to take your vitamin D,” advised Dr Nisar.

“People who are on treatment for high blood pressure need to monitor their blood pressure more frequently during winter as they may need an increase in doses or addition of drugs to keep their blood pressure under control,” he said.

SRINAGAR — With the surge in COVID-19 cases in various countries, Doctors' Association Kashmir (DAK) on Thursday said there is no need to panic as most people in Kashmir have hybrid immunity because of a combination of widespread natural infection and vaccination.

“Hybrid immunity offers robust and long-lasting protection against COVID-19,” said DAK President and Influenza expert Dr. Nisar ul Hassan in a statement issued to the news agency GNS.

Dr. Hassan said that according to a new study, people with hybrid immunity developed by both vaccination and previous infections have significant protection against future Covid infections. “The research has found that a major and durable immune response occurs if a person has been both vaccinated and got infected with the virus,” he said.

The DAK President said more than 90 percent population in Kashmir is vaccinated and people have contracted the virus more than once during three COVID-19 waves that were witnessed since the beginning of the pandemic.

“The third wave was caused by omicron and its subvariants which are responsible for COVID-19 cases globally even now. We have been exposed to almost all of them over the last few months without there being any sign of a surge in cases or hospitalization. And, we don’t see this trend changing soon,” he said.

“So there is no need to panic over Covid rise in China and other countries as Kashmiris have excellent protection against currently circulating variants,” said Dr. Nisar. He added, “However, we need to enhance genome sequencing of COVID-19 to look for newer variants.”

“There is an urgent need to set up a genetic testing lab in Kashmir to detect and track COVID-19 variants,” he added.