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Overstretched, under-resourced specialist hospitals bear the brunt of underlying health system crisis Report of Jan Arogya Abhiyan fact finding visit, 6-7 October 2023 As you know recently there have been excessive numbers of deaths of patients in several tertiary hospitals in different parts of Maharashtra, which has been covered by the media. Among these incidents, the occurrence of 24 deaths in 24 hours on 1st October at Government Medical College, Nanded involved the largest number of mortalities, and was most highlighted. Jan Arogya Abhiyan (JSA Maharashtra) responded by sending a fact-finding team to Nanded, to investigate the various factors and underlying causes related to these unusually large numbers of deaths observed in a tertiary referral hospital. The complete report based on this investigation, which is the product of efforts by numerous activists and health professionals associated with JAA, is attached. Hope that our more systemic enquiry might emphasise the critical health system issues which have been less noted until now, followed by wider discussion about the deepening public health system crisis in Maharashtra, which now seems to be reaching breaking point. On the practical front, now Jan Arogya Abhiyan and Nanded based activists are organising an ‘Arogya Hakka Parishad’ (Health rights convention) at Nanded on 27th October (see poster below) where this report will be publicly discussed and action plans for further mobilisation to demand urgently required improvements in health services in Nanded will be worked out. This event will also mark the launching of a state-wide Right to Healthcare campaign in Maharashtra initiated by Jan Arogya Abhiyan, where similar events would be organised in many other districts across the state. Comments and responses are welcome.

  Click Here for Detailed Statement Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) stands in support of Dr. Saibal Jana and Dr. Dipankar Sengupta of Shaheed Hospital, Dalli Rajhara, Chhattisgarh where, through an order dated October 11, 2022, the Chhattisgarh Medical Council (CGMC) has suspended the registration of Dr. Jana and Dr. Sengupta for three months. JSA deems this suspension as unfair and illegal. It demands that these suspension orders be revoked with immediate effect. In such times when healthcare is increasingly getting corporatised and profit-driven, it is the committed initiatives such as the Shaheed Hospital which have stood resolutely for the people, providing affordable and rational care to the masses.

In memory of Dr. Amit Sengupta, his family has instituted an annual fellowship. The fellowship would be awarded to a young health activist who works in the area on health rights, particularly for the vulnerable sections of the society, demonstrating leadership qualities and commitment to bring scientific temper and awareness about health rights. The Fellowship will be awarded for a duration of one year with a stipend up to INR One Lakh only. Application process: Applicants are invited to send – Filled in application form Brief curriculum vitae (CV) and Two references who have professional association with the applicant, but are not related to the applicant. The application and CV can be in English, Hindi, any other national language. Email/ letter should contain the subject line: Dr Amit Sengupta Fellowship on Health Rights The application should be sent to the following email id: asgfellowships@gmail.com The Deadline for receiving applications is extended to 20th June 2022 (previously 10th June) डॉ अमित सेनगुप्ता स्वास्थ्य अधिकार फ़ेलोशिप 2022 डॉ अमित सेनगुप्ता की स्मृति में, उनके परिवार ने एक वार्षिक फ़ेलोशिप की स्थापना की है। यह फ़ेलोशिप एक ऐसे युवा स्वास्थ्य कार्यकर्ता को प्रदान की जाएगी जो स्वास्थ्य अधिकारों के क्षेत्र में काम कर रहा/रही  हो, विशेष रूप से समाज के कमज़ोर वर्ग के लिए। एक ऐसा/ऐसी युवा कार्यकर्ता जो वैज्ञानिक सोच और स्वास्थ्य अधिकारों के बारे में जागरूकता लाने के लिए नेतृत्व गुण और प्रतिबद्धता को प्रदर्शित कर पाए। फ़ेलोशिप को केवल एक लाख रूपए तक के स्टाइपेंड के साथ एक वर्ष की अवधि के लिए प्रदान किया जाएगा। आवेदन प्रक्रिया: आवेदकों को निम्नलिखित भेजने के लिए आमंत्रित किया जाता है: भरे हुए आवेदन फॉर्म संक्षिप्त बायोडाटा (सीवी) और दो संदर्भ जिनके आवेदक के साथ पेशेवर संबंध हैं, लेकिन उनसे ज़ाती तौर पर संबंधित नहीं हैं। आवेदन और बायोडाटा अंग्रेजी, हिंदी, या किसी भी अन्य राष्ट्रीय भाषा में हो सकता है। ईमेल / पत्र में विषय पंक्ति होनी चाहिए: डॉ अमित सेनगुप्ता स्वास्थ्य अधिकार फ़ेलोशिप आवेदन को निम्नलिखित ईमेल आईडी पर भेजा जाना चाहिए: asgfellowships@gmail.com आवेदन प्राप्त करने की अंतिम तिथि को 20 जून 2022 तक बढ़ा दिया गया है (पहले 10 जून थी) Call for Fellowship – CLICK HERE Application form- CLICK HERE FOR ENGLISH CLICK HERE FOR HINDI

Union Health Budget 2022-23 falls flat, fails to allocate funds for COVID care! Health budget stagnant despite COVID crisis, National Health Mission neglected! Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) condemns the inadequacies in Union Health Budget in the strongest possible terms and appeals to the Parliament to reject cuts, and unitedly call for increased allocations for health! Oppose cuts in overall allocations for Health, instead ensure major increase! for the Press Release discussing the implications of Union Budget 22-23 for Health CLICK HERE for English CLICK HERE for हिन्दी

Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Delhi (JSA, Delhi) is extremely concerned about the current surge in Covid 19 cases across the Country, particularly in the National Capital Delhi. Delhi is facing a crippling shortage of oxygen particularly with the non-availability of Oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders and the availability of oxygen beds. Families of patients are running from pillar to post for oxygen cylinders and to refill the oxygen for many hours standing in the queue. It is a matter of extreme anguish and despair that in spite of so much life-saving equipment available since the past ten days, yet some of it could not be handed over to hospitals even in the capital city of Delhi, where hundreds of people continue to die each day due to lack of oxygen. In fact, it is a case of criminal mis-governance. JSA expresses its distress at this situation and appeals to the Union Health Minister to expedite, without any further delay, the distribution of the large number of oxygen generators, oxygen concentrators, ventilators and other Covid relief materials that have been arriving in the country in the past ten days. JSA reiterates that Health and Healthcare are basic human rights which must be treated as top most political priority by the government, immediately expediting the distribution of oxygen generators, oxygen concentrators, ventilators and other Covid relief materials, so that no time is lost in saving precious lives. Read the Letter here – JSA Delhi Letter_MoHFW_Oxygen and other Essential Medical Supplies

JSA would like to extend our support to filed before the High Court of Bombay seeking issuance of government use Compulsory Licence for two anti-TB drugs — bedaquiline (Bdq) and delamanid (Dlm). We urge the Indian government to ensure uninterrupted supply of these medicines to every needy TB patient in the country by taking active steps to issue such a license. read the letter- click here

In support of the ongoing Farmers’ Protest to repeal the three Farm Laws enacted by the Centre, the Delhi and Haryana chapters of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan conducted a rapid assessment of basic amenities at the protest sites. The objective of the rapid assessment was to highlight concerns of the protesters and put forward their demands to the Central government, various State governments, local bodies and other concerned authorities to ensure adequate and good quality sanitation, water supply, solid waste management and health facilities at all the protest sites. This report is the synthesis of a survey of participants in various protest sites and field observations of JSA volunteers. Read the REPORT  Read the PRESS RELEASE (English)

Comments by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan on the Health Data Management Policy (HDMP) under the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM). To read full statement- Click Here

A photo-essay by Sarojini N, National Convenor, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan on the unplanned lockdowns in response to Covid19 pandemic in India and the effect it has had on a vast population of migrants. To view the photo essay- Click Here