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THE HINDU
NOVEMBER 16, 2007 - Paper Cutting

Free cardiac surgeries for poor children at Madras Medical Mission

CHENNAI: Around 100 poor children will undergo free cardiac surgeries at Madras Medical Mission (MMM) hospital with support from World Malayalee Council, said the Council’s global secretary general A.V. Anoop here on Wednesday.

He announced this at the ‘MMM Beating Hearts’ event organised by its Institute of Cardio Vascular Diseases to celebrate Children’s Day Mr. Anoop said the proceeds from a music concert ‘Hridaya Ragam 2’ to be organised at the Nehru Stadium here in February next year would fund the surgeries. Over 50 children who were operated for heart problems at the MMM, besides students from several city schools participated in the event. Actor Revathy inaugurated the event and interacted with the children. “Interaction between the parents of children who have had surgeries and parents of children who are waiting to undergo surgeries can go a long way in reducing their [latter’s] tension and fears. That is why we organised this event,” said Reena Mathai of MMM.

“Programmes like these bridge the gap between patients and doctors,” said V.K. Padmanabhan, father of Shwetha, who has undergone 3 heart surgeries at MMM.

DECCAN CHRONICLE
OCTOBER 23 ,2007 - Paper Cutting

Hospital to improve health care in Africa

Chennai, Oct. 22: The Madras Medical Mission has signed an MOU with the Save the Heart Programme in Nigeria as part of its efforts to strengthen Indo African ties and to provide good health care facilities to the poor in both countries.

Around 15 African children are receiving treatment in the multi-speciality city hospital as part of the programme.

“We are also planning to set up a cardiac care center in Nigeria and train doctors in cardiac treatment procedures. We found that when visiting doctors from foreign countries perform surgeries it did not help the patient much when he / she is recouping. It also costs more and is not a long-term solution. We want to replicate the success of the cardia center atKenya,” said Dr. S. Ajit Mullasari, director of cardiology, MMM.

The hospital also ha similar tie ups with other countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Seychelles and Fiji. More than 40 foreign children, suffering from different cardiac ailments, have been treated at MMM at a subsidized cost of 2,500 – 3,000- US dollars, which in their home countries would have cost them ten times more.

“The African governments have been very cooperative and that is why the ‘Save the Heart’ initiative is a success,” said Dr. R Suresh Kumar, pediatric cardiologist, MMM.

THE HINDU
OCTOBER 1, 2007 - Paper Cutting

A day marked by programmes filled with hearty life messages

‘Celebrate your heart’ is the theme of the propoganda; walkathons conducted to create awareness

’20-minute walk keeps a long smile on your face’

CHENNAI: Several programmes to mark World Heart Day, with prevention rather than cure as their key message, were held on Sunday across the city. That nutrition and physical exercise were the key to lead a hearty life was another point that the events sought to emphasise.

The Madras Medical Mission (MMM) conducted several awareness programmes over the last week, including those for school and college students. On Sunday, it organised a walkathon to create awareness of the importance of healthy eating habits and exercise. Nearly 200 youth participated in the walkathon held in Anna Nagar.

The programmes came in the backdrop of an increase in the number of people prone to heart disease as per a survey of the Cardiological Society of India. Quoting from the survey, former president of the Society V. Chockalingam recently said that in the last 15 years, the increase has been 3 per cent to 15 per cent of the total population.

Another walkathon to create awareness of healthy living and heart was organised by Lister Metropolis in association with Kaleesuwari Refinery.

“The purpose of the walk was to create awareness of heart care. People are aware of importance of health eating habits and exercise, but they need to be constantly reminded. Our theme was: 20-minute walk keeps a long smile on your face”, according to Nirmala Shrethar of Lister Metropolis.

The age group of the participants in the walk from the Labour Statue to the Gandhi Statue on the Marina was 17 – 75.

Seventyfive NCC cadets from various colleges also participated, Ms. Nirmala Shrethar said.

Television actor Vijay Adhiraj and film director Suresh Krishna participated in the event.

Apollo Hospitals, as part of the World Heart Day, organised a two-week-long awareness campaign on Sunday.

Pamphlets distributed
As part of the programme, volunteers distributed pamphlets to morning walkers on the Marina and Elliots beaches.

The theme that Apollo Hospitals is propagating this year to ‘celebrate your heart’.

ANNA NAGAR TIMES
September 23 – 29, 2007 - Paper Cutting

MMM to start M.Sc course in Medical Sociology

By our Staff Reporter

Madras Medical Mission Academy of Medical Sciences (131, Sakthi Nagar, Nolambur) will start M.Sc course in Medical Sociology in October.

The course, which is the first in India, is affiliated to Dr. MGR Medical University.

MMM had earlier introduced the post-graduate diploma in medical sociology in 1999 and B.Sc in the subject, affiliated to Manipal Academy of Mediacl Education in 2004.

Further particulars about the course may be got in the website: www.mmm.org.in

The New Indian Express
August 25, 2007 - Paper Cutting

Electrophysiologists meet on Aug 25, 26

Express News Service

Chennai, Aug 24: The Madras Medical Mission will hold a cardiac electrophysiology meet on August 25 and 26. Over 25 cardiac electrophysiologists will participate in the meet, which is the first of its kind in the country, said a press release.

The aim of the meet was to discuss and evolve a consensus on the modalities of treatment for arrhythmia, make the costs for electrophysiology procedures reimbursable by government agencies and encourage insurance companies to cover various electrophysiology procedures.

The speciality catered to the problems arising from out-of-rhythm disturbances of the heart. At least one-third of all the ailments caused by heart diseases were complicated by rhythmic disturbances, the release said.

“There is an urgent need to create awareness among the medical fraternity on the nuances of cardiac electrophysiology, prevention, cure and treatment options. People who suffer from palpitations, episodes of unconsciousness, and those who have heart failure will require a detailed cardiac electrophysiological study to be effectively treated,” said Ulhas M. Pandurangi, senior consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist of the hospital.

The cost of electrical therapy which required the application of electrical energy and implantation of a pacemaker was around Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 10 lakh, depending upon the computer circuits required to treat arrhythmia or heart failure, added the release.

Deccan Chronicle
Aug -24 - Paper Cutting

Aunt gives seriously ill baby boy new life

Chennai, Aug. 24: One-year-old Sharia (name changed) has had to face many odds to survive. He was diagnosed with a congenital heart disease called transposition of great vessels at birth. The vessels carrying deoxygenated blood to the lungs and oxygenated blood away from the heart were swapped, resulting in impure blood being supplied throughout the body. Such a condition occurs in one in every hundred children suffering from congenital heart problems, according to doctors.

The doctors gave Sharia only a ten percent chance of survival. His father however refused to give him further treatment. Frustrated, his mother Ahana committed suicide. Ahana’s sister Salma however adopted the baby. She then took him to the Madras Medical Mission where the problem was corrected after a complicated surgery. “The child was brought here when he was hardly one-year-old. Most children with heart diseases hardly survive a month without surgery. But Sharia has survived miraculously because of a hole in the heart through which some amount of oxygenated blood could be transmitted throughout the body by the vessels,” said Dr. R. Suresh Kumar, Pediatric cardiologist.

Salma, however, said that wrong advise of the doctors cost the life of her sister. “Sharia was their first child after a year of marriage. The doctors did not advise her to go a specialist. Added to this her husband also refused to provide further treatment for the child. My sister would not have committed suicide had she been aware of the fact that the disease was curable.” She said.

“The doctor’s advise that the baby had only a ten percent chance of survival was wrong. Any open heart surgery is risky but latest equipment has enabled us to perform cardiac surgeries effectively. Many children suffering from congenital heart diseases die because of misdiagnosis,” said cardiac surgeon Dr. Ejaz Sheriff. “They do not know that advanced treatment is available in Chennai. More awareness needs to be created among doctors about immediate diagnosis of a congenital disease and referring them to the specialists in the field,” he added.

Anna Nagar Times
July 29 – Aug 4, 2007 - Paper Cutting

MMM to start cardiovascular center in Nigeria

Madras Medical Mission (4A, J. Jayalalitha Nagar, Mogappair) has signed an agreement with University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria to establish a Center of Cardiovascular Diseases there.

Madras Medical Mission has a long tradition of treating patients from Nigeria and training Nigerian doctors in cardiac care.

The University College Hospital of Ibadan is the oldest multi-specialty medical school in West Africa, and has 1000 beds, 300 undergraduates and 50 post graduates pass out of this college every year.

June 28 - 2007

Saline-resistant paddy trials on - Paper Cutting

The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation is into field trials for developing a paddy crop that uses a ‘genetic shield’ as buffer against saline soil, foundation executive director P.C. Kesavan said on Wednesday.

Addressing a function got up to mark the annual day of the Madras Medical Mission and commemorate two decades of its cardiac care, he said the salt-tolerant genes transferred to this potential super crop were sourced from the mangrove species, Avicennia Marina, found on the east coast.

The trials were progressing on a piece of land near the reactor of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research to benchmark the genetically engineered crop against biosafety and environmental impact parameters before being released for cultivation.

The salinity-resistant paddy was conceived to withstand the onslaught of global warming that is pushing up sea levels and leading to coastal soil and water being salinised.

The project that explored yet another potentially path breaking biotechnology application for food security would also mark the transition from the ‘green revolution’ to the ‘evergreen revolution,’ Mr.Kesavan said.

Excess stocks

He pointed out that the Green Revolution had unfortunately mutated from ‘green’ to ‘greed’. nThe country was now producing rice stocks that exceeded the needs of the population of one billion. While excess production signaled prosperity, it also meant over-exploitation of soil resource. The tragic side was that around 230 million people were unable to afford food.

Mr.Kesavan said it was the Foundation’s mission to resolve the ‘famine of livelihood’ rather than a ‘famine of food’ by empowering 70 percent of the population, spread across six lakh villages, with technology and knowledge. This vision of Dr.Swaminathan coalesced with that of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Verghese Eapen, honorary vice-president of the MMM, called for a healthcare revolution to make available treatment to the needy.

Mr.Kesavan later felicitated Mr.Eapen and c.O Varghese, members of MMM’s first managing committee.

R.K.Kalyan Singh, advisor, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, and S.Rajan, director, cardiac surgery, institute of Cardiovascular Diseases were also felicitated.

Gets gold medal for best paper presentation in national medical meet

V.Baskaran (senior Perfusionist, Madras Medical Mission Hospital, Mogappair) won the gold medal for the best paper presentation in the 7th annual conference of Indian society of Extra-Corpo-real Technology held in Jaipur on Feb.9 & 10.

About 40 papers were presented during the conference.
A Perfusionist is one who handles the heart & lung machine during a cardiac surgery.

June 23 - 2007

Anniversary event at cardiovascular centre - Paper Cutting

Madras Medical Mission’s Institute of cardiovascular Diseases will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Wednesday. At the event, Professor M.S.Swaminathan will felicitate the team behind the hospital.

A three-day medical education programme, ‘International Interventional Cardiovascular Symposium - Advanced Cardiovascular Therapeutics’, is under way. The symposium, that began on Friday, brings together over 300 delegates, including interventional cardiologists in the adult and paediatric segment, radiologists, surgeons and physicians.

The international faculty includes consultant paediatric cardiologist Neil Wilson, paediatric interventional cardiologist Larry Latson from the United States, peripheral interventional cardiologist Michel Henry of France and interventional cardiologist Eulogio Garcia from Spain.

The specialists, with expertise in aortic and pulmonary valve replacement procedures, will share their experiences. About 25 live surgical procedures will be performed during the symposium, senior cardiologists Mathew Samuel and Ajit S.Mullasari said here on Friday. The symposium will witness lectures, live case transmissions from the catheterization laboratory and interactive debates.

On Saturday Dr. Wilson will speak on ‘percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation,’ a non-surgical implantation of mechanical valves.

The institute, the first major initiative of MMM, has grown from a 30-bed hospital with one operating room to a 250-bed facility at Mogappair. It has to its credit over 28,000 cardiac surgical procedures.

July 22, 2007 - Paper Cutting

The Hindu

Blood donation camp held

The Bank of Baroda organized a blood donation camp to mark its Centenary Year at the SIET College, Teynampet, in collaboration with the Madras Medical Mission, Chennai. Students, staff of the bank and members of the public donated blood. Seventy people donated 50 units.

June 10 - 2007

Lions Club to sponsor cardiac surgeries at concessional charges at MMM - Paper Cutting

Lions International (dist 324 A2 signed a memorandum of understanding ) with Madras Medical Mission Hospital to sponsor 50 cardiac surgeries at concessional charges for patients from the lowest socio economic families.

The MoU was signed by S T Srinivasan (District Governor of Lions International) and D V George (Hon Sec, MMM) in the presence of K raman District Chairman (Lions International) and Dr S Rajan(Director, Cardiac Surgery, MMM) and Dr Ajit John Punnoose (CEO, MMM).

MMM and Lions International had earlier conducted a cardiac screening camp in Jayamkondam and 25 patients from there had subsequently availed treatment in MMM.

May 29 - 2007

13 Hospitals get back transplant licence - Paper Cutting

Terming the flaws as ‘minimal’, the State Government has decided to revoke the suspension of organ transplant licences of 13 hospitals, keeping in mind the ‘welfare of the patients.’

The government has, however, not taken any decision on the two hospitals, whose licences were cancelled.

A month ago, the State government had suspended the organ transplant licences of 13 hospitals in the state after an enquiry into kidney donation racket had uncovered irregularities in the records of these hospitals.

But on Monday, a meeting convened by the Directorate of Medical Services with the black listed hospitals decided to take a ‘humanitarian approach’ on the grounds that the number of patients waiting for transplant was growing.

“The hospitals had committed only simple mistakes like discrepancies in forms and HLA matching. We have kept in mind the suffering of the patients waiting for transplants. Many of them are on dialysis and need to undergo surgery,” an official said. “The hospitals have agreed to follow all the rules and regulations. They will submit an undertaking that they will obey the rules,” the official said.

Following the decision, the suspension orders of Apollo Specialty Hospital and Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research in Madurai; Devaki Hoapital, Billroth Kaliappa Hospital and Madras Medical Mission in Chennai; ABC Hospital, Kaveri Medical Centre in Tiruchy; PSG Hospital, Kovai Medical Centre, G Kuppuswamy Naidu Hospital and Vedanayagam Hospital in Coimbatore; Galaxy Hospital in Tirunelveli and Ramakrishna Nursing Home, Erode, would be revoked.

Once the suspension is revoked, the hospitals have to submit fresh applications for approval to the Authorisation Committee. Old approval orders would not be accepted, another official said.

However, the cancellation of licences of M R Hospital and Aswini Soundarya Nursing Home, Chennai, has not been revoked, pending final enquiry.

May 27 - 2007

MMM treats 3 children with rare heart disease within a month - Paper Cutting

Madras Medical Mission (Jayalalitha Nagar, Mogappair) successfully treated 3 children suffering from an extremely rare heart defect known as ALCAPA within a period of one month between March and April.
19-months-old Jeeva and a-few-weeks-old infants Nihal and Tasneem underwent successful corrective surgeries on March 29, May 3 and May 10, performed by Dr.John Valiath and Dr.Ejaz Ahmed Sherif.
Each surgery lasted several hours.Jeeva and Nihal have already been discharged while Tasneem will be going home shortly.

March 18 - 2007

Gets gold medal for best paper presentation in national medical meet - Paper Cutting

V.Baskaran (senior Perfusionist, Madras Medical Mission Hospital, Mogappair) won the gold medal for the best paper presentation in the 7th annual conference of Indian society of Extra-Corpo-real Technology held in Jaipur on Feb.9 & 10.
About 40 papers were presented during the conference.A Perfusionist is one who handles the heart & lung machine during a cardiac surgery.

March 12 - 2007

Women’s Day celebrated - Paper Cutting

The Institute of Reproductive Medicine, a unit of the Madras Medical Mission, celebrated Women’s day celebrated. Women’s day on Thursday. Medical Director of the Institute Reproductive Medicine and Women’s Health Dr.Thankam Varma spoke on the role of women in society. Susan Thomas, HR, Murugappa Group, and director of sankalp, Sulatha Ajit, were also present.

May 13 - 2007

International Nurses Day celebrated - Paper Cutting

CHENNAI: The Madras Medical Mission’s nursing staff celebrated International Nurses Day on Saturday.
Hospital nursing superintendent Susan Alexander said it marked the 187th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.
Josephine Little Flower, Registrar, Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council, spoke on ‘Positive Practice Environments: Quality workplaces and Quality patient care.’
Nurses excelling in in-service education were awarded.

April 07 - 2007

College Day - Paper Cutting

April 01 - 2007

Doctor Talk - Paper Cutting

Dr. C. Jagadeesh , Consultant Respiratory Physician , Madras Medical Mission

1. What do you have to say about public awareness levels of Tuberculosis among the public in the city?

The public awareness about tuberculosis, as with all diseases, is low in our country, including the metropolitan cities like Chennai. People have to understand that it is just an infectious disease, although a potential killer if left untreated. The social stigma attached to the disease has to be condemned. After all, it is a disease, which can be completely cured!

Every child born in the country is vaccinated with BCG. Although this vaccine does not provide complete immunity against TB, it protects against severe and disseminated form of TB. TB spreads by sputum (phlegm) of the people who have active TB. Treating a patient effectively prevents the transmission of TB from that individual to others. General hygienic measures and better living conditions would help. But still, the germs causing TB can spread by air and enter into the human lungs along with the inspired air. Some people may have a high risk of contracting TB due to compromised immunity levels. They may need medication to protect against TB.

Lung is the most commonly affected organ. Cough with or without sputum, loss of weight, loss of appetite and fever with temperature spiking in the evenings are common symptoms. TB can affect any part of the body like brain, heart, kidney intestine or bone. The symptoms would vary with the diseased organ. Anybody having prolonged cough with or without sputum should have his / her sputum tested for TB and chest X-rayed to rule out TB.

All government hospitals including primary health centers have facility for detection of TB by testing sputum. Medicines for TB are available free of cost in these hospitals. Directly observed treatment (DOT) strategy, which is internationally accepted, is followed by government funded institutions.

But, in our country, majority of people have access to private medical care, where self administered treatment (SAT) is implemented. This is also equally effective.

Except in fully disseminated and very advanced cases, TB generally responds well to treatment. Early correct diagnosis is the key. Adequate dosage of every medicine has to be taken care of. Plenty of patience would be needed as the treatment runs for 6 months or more. Discontinuation of treatment once the symptoms start disappearing, is a very unfortunate occurrence, seen not uncommonly. These patients may end up getting a form of TB which can be much more difficult to treat!

Multi drug resistant TB (MDR TB) is a new threat, where the germs don’t die when exposed to standard anti TB drugs. Such patients will need different type of medications.

Patients infected with HIV gradually lose their immunity. So they are vulnerable to many infectious diseases, including TB. Actually, patients with HIV disease and AIDS die of infectious diseases secondary to the impaired immunity and TB is among the top of that list.

Treating the HIV disease adequately so that the immunity is within acceptable limits eliminates the extra risk of TB. Occasionally, medicines are used to protect against TB in HIV positive individuals with high vulnerability.

100% recovery is possible, if TB is diagnosed early by standard detection techniques and if the drug sensitivity pattern of the bug is considered carefully by the doctor during treatment. If the patient takes the medication in adequate dosage and duration, TB can be cured completely.

March 25 to 31 - 2007 - Paper Cutting

Indian Lions Club in USA funds expensive surgery for poor child

Sheha ( 2 year – old child of a manual labourer in Thirukovilur town in villuppuram district), who was critically ill with actute endocarditis with severe mitral valve infection, was admitted in Madras Medical Mission Hospital in February.

The prescribed treatment in the hospital was an intensive multi drug antibiotic therapy for 2 to 4 weeks followed by surgical repair of the mitral value costing over Rs.2 lakhs.

While MMM was wondering how to fund the cost of the surgery, Dr.M.A Abdul Rasheed ( Professor , Business school in university of Texas, Arlington , USA) made an offer to MMM, on behalf of Irving DFW Indian Lions Club, to fund at least one surgery for a deserving child in this hospital.

Sneha’s case was presented to the club and approved, and the Club donated $3000 for this surgery.

Last week , Sneha was operated upon by Dr.John Valliath and Dr.Ejaz Sheriff, cardiac surgeons in MMM who repaired the child’s mitral valve.

March 18 to 24 - 2007 - Paper Cutting

Liver and Gastrointestinal cancer Clinic opened in MMM hospital

Liver and Gastro – intestinal Cancer Clinic was inaugurated in MMM Hospital (Dr.J.Jayalalitha Nagar, Mogappair ) on March 11.

According to Dr.S.Selvakumar (Surgical Gastroenterologist), there is an alarming rise in the incidence of liver and gastro – intestinal cancers in recent times, and these could be treated effectively if diagnosed early.

The clinic will offer couselling for prevention of gastro – intestinal cancers, screening for early detection of such cancers and comprehensive treatment options.

Dr.Selvakumar will be supported by other specialists in the same field and backed by radiation and medical oncologists.

March 12 - 2007 -

Women’s Day Celebrated

The Institute of Reproductive Medicine, a unit of the Madras Medical Mission, celebrated Women’s day on Thursday. Medical Director of the Institute of Reproductive Medicine and women’s Health Dr.Thankam Varma Spoke on the role of women in society. Susan Thomas , HR, Murugappa Group, and Director of Sankalp, Sulatha Ajit, were also present.

March 04 to 15 - 2007 - Paper Cutting

MMM performs complicated cardiac surgery on 10 – day old baby

When pradeep, a young businessman and easwari, a Microbiologist, residents of thanjavur, had their first baby on jan 29 this year, they little knew the ordeal that was awaiting them.

The family’s thrill in having the first born boy soon turned in to apprehension when the pediatrician informed the parents that the baby had a life-threatening illness of the heart- transposition of great arteries (TGA).

TGA is a quirk of nature in which the major arteries arise from the wrong chambers of the heart, making the baby turn blue shortly after birth.

The father rushed with the baby in an ambulance from thanjavur to Madras Medical Mission Hospital in Mogappair, Chennai.

When the doors of the ICU closed in front of him, he had a little hope of seeing his son alive again.

The very next day baby underwent a catheter intervention - -Balloon Atrial Septostomy by Dr.R.Suresh Kumar , Chief Pediatric Cardiologist . Following this , the baby improved but his oxygen saturation was not normal.

The doctors decided that the baby would require a major open-heart surgery to switch the arteries after which the baby would become normal.

On feb8 Dr.John Valliath, Senior consultant, performed the arterial switch operation on the 10-day-old baby.

The father went through a few days of anxious waiting, but was glad to notice that the baby’s health was improving everyday.

Now the baby is in its mother’s arms and the parents silently thank the Madras Medical Mission for the timely help and life-saving surgical intervention.

Jan 15 - 2007 - Paper Cutting

MMM academy of medical sciences (MMM AMS), a unit of the Madras Medical Mission conducted their convocation ceremony recently. 68 students of MMM AMS received their degree/post graduate diploma certificates during the convocation ceremony.Prof.S.Ramachandran, Vice-chancellor, University of Madras conferred the degree to the gathering he insisted that a employable degree programmes be granted rather than a degree without a practical training.

Jan 13 - 2007 - Paper Cutting

Keep healthcare costs low, says Anbumani

Union Minister presents MMM award to CMC, Vellore

The Government will not tolerate any rise in costs of healthcare, union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss said at a function organized to commemorate the silver jubilee of the Madras Medical Mission here on Friday.

Over the last five years, healthcare costs had been steadily increasing consequent to the boom in the medical tourism industry. The rates in India were still among the lowest in the world and the union government was determined to see that it stayed that way. While medical tourism could be carried on, hospitals should be careful to charge differential rates for tourists. costs should be kept low for the citizens of the country. Otherwise, the poor and disadvantaged, especially in rural areas, would be completely cut-off from health care, Dr.Ambumani said.

The Government was trying to bring down the costs of patient care by promoting medical parks that hub for manufacturing medical equipment and diagnostic tools locally so that the prices would be for local consumption and not for export.

Earlier, the Minister presented the MMM Award for Excellence in healthcare to the Christian Medical College, Vellore. Congratulating the CMC and the MMM for their service in the not-for-profit segment. Dr.Anbumani urged such organizations to come together to participate in the national programme to combat non-communicable diseases.

While the Government would take care of awareness building and screening of patients, there was insufficient infrastructure in the public healthcare set up. The government was studying a public-private partnership model, but also largely healthcare institutions in the voluntary sector, he said.

The award was presented to the CMC in recognition of its exemplary contribution in providing healthcare to the poor and needy over the last century. George Chandy, Director, CMC Vellore, and his team received the award.

The winner was chosen from a list of 103 nominations drawn up after an exhaustive screening process devised by Frost and Sullivan. Two other charitable institutions , St.Luke Leprosarium and Sankara Nethralaya also received high commendation for their service.

Calling the MMM a centre of excellence in the delivery of healthcare, Kenneth Kaunda, first president of Zambia, said collaboration with be beneficial to others.

In an era of fast globalization, interdependency and competing interests,it was important for the international community to act humanely.

The Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa foundation was involved in mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS on children and orphans, he added. Later, representatives of the MMM handed over to Mr.Kaunda.

Tamil nadu Minister of Health K.K.S.S.R.Ramachandran released a silver jubilee souvenir. Yakob Mar Irenios, President . Verghese Eapen, Vice-president and K.V.George, honorary secretary, MMM also Spoke.

Jan 13 - 2007 - Paper Cutting

Central Drug Authority soon : Anbumani

The central drug authority, an agency similar to the US FDA, will be set up in six months, said Union minister for health and family welfare Anbumani Ramadoss.

Speaking on the sidelines of the silver jubilee commemoration function of the Madras Medical Mission here on Friday, the Minister said, “ the cabinet has taken the decision to set up the centre. Now the proposal has to go through the parliament”.

The infrastructure facilities for the centre, which would be an autonomous body comprising professionals, were ready, he added.

Earlier, addressing a gathering of doctors and representatives of related fields, Ramadoss expressed concern over the rising cost of healthcare in the country. Healthcare should be made affordable even to the common man, he said.

Stating that the increase in healthcare expenses coincided with the development of the concept ‘ medical tourism’, the Minister said “ do what you want (in the name of medical tourism), but at no point the government will tolerate the increasing cost. Indian has always been providing the best and cheapest treatment try to maintain it.

He, however, said that the private sector which provided up to 80 percent of the total available facilities, had an important role to play in ensuring affordable health care to all.

Anbumani felt that the rise in cost of health care could be controlled by manufacturing highly expensive medical equipment locally. “ At present, 90 percent of the equipment are imported from abroad,” he said.

Jan 12 - 2007 - Paper Cutting

India and Zambia should work together to fight against the stigma and discrimination attached to HIV/AIDS, said the first President of the Republic of Zambia Kenneth David kaunda in chennai on Thursday.

Kaunda would deliver the MMM Silver Jubilee Oration in the city on Friday. MMM is organizing an international Healthcare Leadership summit on January 12 and 13 as part of their silver jubilee celebrations. Union minister of Health Dr Anbumani Ramadoss and Tamilnadu Health Minister KKSSR Ramachandran are expected to attend .

Jan 12 - 2007 - Paper Cutting

Kaunda to take part in healthcare meet

The Madras Medical Mission has tied up with the governments of several African countries, including Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, verghese Eapen, Vice-chairman of the Mission, said on Thursday.

The institution was providing healthcare to people of Africa, especially for cardiovascular ailments, he told journalists here. It was against this backdrop that the Mission invited the former Zambian president , Kenneth kaunda, for a two-day international healthcare leadership summit, which will begin on Friday. Dr.Kaunda founded the Kenneth Kaunda peace foundation (1992) and the Kenneth kaunda children of Africa foundation (2000)

Jan 11 - 2007 - Paper Cutting

Kenneth Kaunda to address Chennai meet

First president of the republic of zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, will deliver the silver jubilee oration at the Madras Medical Mission here, which will also host an international healthcare leadership summit on January 12 and 13.

The summit will discuss the not-for-profit business models being used in the not-for-profit healthcare sector, and the need for such institutions in the country . heath care profeccionals and administrators , including government representatives from 25 countries, will participate. MM health care excellence award 2007, to be awarded in recognition of hospitals rendering service in the asian region, will be presented on the occasion.