New healthcare information system integrates 4 public hospitals & 20 healthcare centres with DOHMS online facility

System includes electronically enabled health card developed
Al Babtain Trading Est.

August 11, 2003

Dubai - The Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS) has installed an Integrated Healthcare Information System (IHIS) that allows the networking and systems integration of Dubai's four major hospitals, Rashid Hospital, Dubai Hospital, Al Wasl Hospital and Al Maktoum Hospital, and twenty other primary healthcare centers, with DOHMS online platform.

The project forms part of DOHMS commitment to providing residents of Dubai with a user-friendly and accessible healthcare system, and adds value to the new online portal, www.dohms.gov.ae, which was recently launched to offer a host of automated services to individual and corporate users, in complete integration with the Dubai eGovernment portal.

In addition, DOHMS has announced the introduction of an electronically enabled health card service, developed by Al Babtain Trading Establishment, a leading provider of healthcare information solutions in the Middle East, which offers online application and renewal of health cards, to support the department's new online services.

In appreciation of their contribution towards developing the e-services for the health card, DOHMS recently felicitated Al Babtain Trading Est. A certificate of appreciation was handed over to Amr Mostafa, General Manager, Al Babtain Trading Est, by Sina Khoory, IT Director, DOHMS. Also present at the ceremony were Sayed Mousa, Operations Manager and Wael Gamal, Marketing Executive, Al Babtain Trading Est.

"Al Babtain Trading represents the world renowned Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services ME Channel and we were glad to use their expertise in developing our online systems. The new health cards will provide enhanced and immediate access to an individual's medical and personal information, aiding our operations considerably," said Sina Khoory, IT Director, DOHMS.

"Moreover, by centrally integrating online systems of all leading hospitals and clinics, corporate as well as individual users can have unified access to information, enhancing the usage and delivery of medical care services in the region", added Khoory.

"We are honored to have been chosen by DOHMS to undertake this prestigious project, which will provide a great benefit to Dubai's residents. As part of the Dubai government's e-initiative, citizens no longer need to stand in lengthy lines to apply or renew their healthcards. Each health card is fitted with electronic memory card that enables online updation of information," said Amr Mostafa, General Manager, Al Babtain Trading Est.

Al Babtain Trading Est. (ABTE) is the healthcare division of the Al Babtain Group, established in Dubai by a group of experienced healthcare consultants in 1996, in order to provide state-of-the-art integrated healthcare information solutions in the Middle East market. Al Babtain is a privately owned business group and one of the largest trading concerns in Kuwait. As the sole GCC representative of Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services, formerly Shared Medical Systems (SMS), the world's leading healthcare information solution providers, in the Middle East, ABTE penetrated the healthcare market by providing state-of-the-art Integrated HealthCare Information Solutions and a quality of world class services. ABTE has an alliance with leading Healthcare Information Systems provider Misys (Lab systems) that offers expertise in creating customized laboratory systems; and with HealthSystems Consultants Limited who offer a wide range of healthcare information solutions and related consultancy services to healthcare providers.

August 10, 2003 New Delhi

137 special courts set up to try cases of atrocities against scheduled castes & scheduled tribes

137 Exclusive Special Courts have been set up in 10 states to ensure early prosecution of cases under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Of them 12 Courts are in Andhra Pradesh, 11 in Bihar, 7 in Chhatisgarh, 10 in Gujarat, 6 in Karnataka, 29 in Madhya Pradesh, 17 in Rajasthan, 4 in Tamil Nadu, 40 in Uttar Pradesh and one in Uttaranchal. Further all state governments except Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland have notified the existing Courts of Session as Special Courts for trial of offences under the Act.

Special Cells have also been set up in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Pondicherry for implementation of the Act and early prosecution of cases under it. During 2001, more than thirty thousand cases of atrocities were registered under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and prosecutions sanctioned in over 16,200 cases.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been providing central assistance to the states and UTs to strengthen the administrative and judicial machinery for awareness generation and relief and rehabilitation of the affected persons. This assistance has witnessed a continuous increase during the last three years. It increased from Rs.27.08 crore in 2000-01 to about Rs. 40.18 crore in 2002-03.

President and prime minister greet nation on Raksha Bandhan

The President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee have greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
In his message the President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam said: -"On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens.
Raksha Bandhan is a very important festival and happy event where 'Unity of minds' in the real sense prevails among brothers and sisters leading to unity in the families, unity in the states and finally in the nation".

The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a separate message said that the festival symbolises the Indian concept of strong family ties and pervades through all communities and religions. May the threads of Rakhi strengthen the bonds of harmony, unity and brotherhood among all the countrymen, the Prime Minister added.
Vice- President greets people on Raksha Bandhan

Vice President of India Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, has conveyed his sincere greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan. He said "I convey my sincere greetings to the people of India on the auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan. Rakshabandhan is celebrated all over the country by tying of Rakhis around the wrists of brothers by the sisters, which greatly strengthen the feelings of love and sense of belongingness. The festival reminds us of the enduring subtlety of this bond, which is built around the relationships, based on human values and enjoins on all brothers to give protection to sisters.May this festival herald in the true spirit of universal love, goodwill and compassion in the Society.

Ram Naik expresses deep shock over helicopter crash

Ram Naik, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas has in a statement here today expressed deep shock and profound grief at the tragedy in which a MI-72 helicopter operated by M/s Mesco carrying twenty-nine persons including four crewmembers met an unfortunate accident in the Mumbai Offshore. Amongst the passengers were twenty-three ONGC staffers while two belonged to one of ONGC's contractors working in Mumbai High. The helicopter had taken off from ONGC's drilling rig Sagar Kiran and was on its way to Sagar Jyoti. The incident took place at about 12.15 in the afternoon, today.
Naik informed that immediately after the incident rescue teams consisting of three Offshore Supply Vehicles (OSV), one Multipurpose Support Vessel (MSV) and four helicopters belonging to the ONGC, Navy and Coast Guard were pressed into service.

When reports last came in, these teams had rescued three survivors of whom the condition of one was reported to be critical. One body had also been recovered. The relief and rescue teams were still on the job searching for survivors. The Minister expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. Ram Naik said, "I have requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation to get an inquiry conducted into the circumstances of the incident immediately".

ONGC uses the services of helicopters to carry its manpower and provide logistic support for its exploration and production operations in the offshore areas. Pawan Hans Corporation Limited owns most of the helicopters hired by ONGC. In case of additional requirements, these are met from private sources as well as the Air Force.
On hearing the news of accident, Ram Naik has rushed to the site of accident to oversee the relief and rescue operations.

RSP maintains steady growth

Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) of the Steel Authority of India Ltd. continued to maintain a steady growth rate in all areas of operations and crossed several milestones during the first four months of the current fiscal. The plant crossed the half million tonne mark in the production of hot metal, saleable steel (total) and dispatch of saleable steel for the second year in succession and crossed the half million tonne mark in the production of continuous cast slabs from CCM-I and CCM-2 for the first time.

RSP commenced the current fiscal with the strategy of producing higher volumes in a bid to enhance its capacity utilisation as well as market presence. Towards achieving this objective, plant has achieved best ever April-July performance in the areas of total sinter (0.856 million tonnes), hot metal (0.56 million tonnes) and total crude steel (0.504 million tonnes). In the finishing mills too, the best ever April-July performance was registered in the production of total saleable steel (0.532 million tonnes) which is a growth of 6.2 per cent over the corresponding period of last year.

A major contribution to the plant's performance during the first four months of the fiscal has been made by the sterling performance of July. RSP has recorded the best ever July performance in the areas of hot metal, total crude steel, total saleable and dispatch of saleable steel. It is noteworthy that the production of total saleable steel of 1,55,133 tonnes for the month of July has been the best as compared to any month since inception of the plant. Incidentally, the monthly best ever production of saleable steel had been set up only recently in March 2003.

In tune with market demand RSP continued its efforts to improve its profitability by increasing the production of value added items. During the first four months an impressive growth rate has been recorded for value added products as compared to the corresponding period of last year in the production of plates (40%), tine plates (25 %), electric resistance weld pipes (147 %), spiral weld pipes (271 %), CR sheet/coil (1.6 %), galvanised sheets (1.5 %) and CRNO from Silicon Steel Mill (8 %). The production of RSP's high value-added CRNO from its Silicon Steel Mill during the month of July was the best ever performance.

The acceptability of RSP's products in the market is vouched by despatch of more than half a million tonnes of finished steel to the market during the first four months of the fiscal for the second consecutive year. The steel plant has also concentrated its attention on achieving 100 percent capacity utilisation with a view to bringing down its cost of production. During the month more than 100 per cent capacity utilisation was achieved in the major areas of continuous casting machine-II. Hot Strip Mill, Plate Mill, Silicon Steel Mill and in the dispatches from Ore Bedding and Blending Plant.

Railways self-propelled accident relief medical van

The Railways have developed a Self-Propelled Accident Relief Medical Van. It is maintained in a state of readiness to leave within 20 minutes of a train accident. It has 13 technical and 21 medical experts. The two-coach Self-Propelled Accident Relief Medical Van has a power car coach and a medical coach.

The power car coach is equipped with diesel engine based propulsion and a hydraulic transmission unit for quick acceleration at a high speed of 100 kilometre per hour. Besides, it is equipped with hydraulic operated metal cutter and window bar cutting tools to extricate passengers from coaches, oxy-acetylene gas cutting tools, powerful electric spot lights, hydraulic jacks, ropes, ladders, general purpose tools, light weight tents, folding chairs for setting up control rooms and to provide rest to injured passengers. A diesel generator set is provided for power requirement including air-conditioning for three to four days at a remote site and an industrial quality Aquaguard with 2000 litres potable water storage facility.

The medical coach is equipped with an air-conditioned medical ward with 12 beds, an Operation Theatre for emergency surgery with facilities for tracheotomy, venesection, amputations and other life saving procedures. It also has a state of the art anesthesia apparatus, defibrillator, pulse oxy-metre and a couatary. Sterilized dressing material, splints, first-aid haversack, blankets and clothing for the injured and emergency medicines are also provided. Facility for auto-claving and sterilization, oxygen supply, artificial respiration equipment and resuscitation kit are also provided. In addition, a database of private, civil, medical hospitals, blood banks and voluntary organizations within 10 kilometres of the railway track is maintained to provide aid in case of accidents. Besides, modern communication facilities with internal mobile exchange and digital cameras are provided.

The Railways have planned to have at least one Self-Propelled Accident Relief Medical Van in each of the 67 Divisions to reach accident sites within first hour. This forms part of the plan for streamlining rescue and relief measures in the event of a train accident.
Railways Control Communication System The Railways Control Communication System is working using overhead alignment, quad cable systems and optical fibre cable systems. The Railways have adopted underground cable systems on consideration of reliability and availability.

At present, optic fibre cable system is being laid on 24,000 route kilometres. Works on 19,000 route kilometres would be taken up progressively commensurate with availability of funds. The Railways have 43,000 route kilometres of overhead alignments, which are intrinsically unreliable as these are subject to vagaries of nature and require labour intensive maintenance.

Jaitley holds consultations Indian National Congress on WTO issues

Arun Jaitley, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Law & Justice, met the senior representatives of Indian National Congress (INC) - Pranab Mukherjee and Dr. Manmohan Singh, here today to discuss the present state of the WTO negotiations and sought their views and support in evolving a strategy for the WTO negotiations leading up to the 5th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at Cancun (Mexico), scheduled to be held next month, so that India's interests in the key areas viz., agriculture and non-agricultural market access and the Singapore issues are fully safeguarded. Satyabrata Mukherjee, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry; Dipak Chatterjee, Commerce Secretary; and S.N. Menon, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, were present at the discussions.

INC in turn agreed with Jaitley that the special areas of concern were agriculture and some of the Singapore issues, particularly investment. They also said that as the situation evolved, they could be kept informed so that specific suggestions could be given on issues of particular importance in the key areas of the negotiations.
New CMD of Mazagon Dock Limited

Rear Admiral RM Bhatia, former Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. (HSL), Visakhapatnam, has taken over as CMD, Mazagon Dock Limited. He has replaced Cmde HS Kang. Alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Admiral Bhatia was commissioned in to the Navy in 1967. He has held various key appointments such as the Deputy General Manager, Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, Commanding Officer INS Shivaji, Lonavala and Warship Production Superintendent, Mumbai.

He has spent two years with a leading shipyard in the erstwhile Soviet Union and three years in South Korea as head of the team of specialists for construction of the Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Indian Navy. Prior to his posting as CMD, HSL, Admiral Bhatia was Director General, Naval Projects, Visakhapatnam. He thus brings to MDL a vast cache of experience acquired over three and a half decades which includes over five years as a chief executive.