Saturday, Jan 08, 2005
Saturday, Jan 08, 2005 |
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Chennai
By Our Staff Reporter
CHENNAI, JAN. 7. The scientific and social responsibility of doctors and corporate houses in the management of congenital heart disease is the focus of a three-day international paediatric cardiology congress being held in the city, according to Mathew Samuel Kalarickal, chairman of the organising committee. The Madras Medical Mission, which is hosting the congress, has done some 500 heart surgeries free so far. The hospital has tied up with the Andhra Pradesh Government to treat more children from that State despite the high cost involved. R. Suresh Kumar, organising secretary, said in the last 100 years, advances in medicine had ensured that 90 per cent of children born with congenital heart diseases could either be cured or live with medical support. The challenge was greater in India as most children arrived in hospital at an advanced stage of the disease. The problem was compounded by malnutrition. Inaugurating the congress, K.M. Mathew, Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama, said the group had set apart Rs. 5 million to treat 100 children. The beneficiaries were chosen from medical camps held all over Kerala. The Madras Medical Mission and the newspaper group had conducted a survey in Kerala and found that most heart patients, many of them children, could not afford surgery. He called for a healthcare system that would ensure all people who needed treatment got it. K. Krishna Kumar, Director of Tata Sons, said despite the growing numbers of the rich, there was also great poverty, mostly affecting children. He hailed the hospital's efforts to reach out to help poor children. Mr. Kumar recommended that the Ratan Tata Trust and the Tata companies should set up a fund for paediatric cardiac surgery programmes by contributing Rs. 10 lakhs every year. N. Ram, Editor-in-chief, The Hindu, said many children went without basic life-giving medicare as the will of the healthcare system to undertake social security had weakened in the name of fiscal and budget deficits. Congratulating the hospital and the Manorama group, he called for a focus on such campaigns to put pressure on governments and corporate houses and the system to do better. He paid tribute to cardiologist K.M. Cherian, a pioneer in the field. The serious press from South India focused on giving credible information, critical investigation, pointing out shortcomings and educating the public. If the media took up individual cases, such as that of children from countries such as Pakistan, it was to bring about a change in attitude, Mr. Ram said.
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