Child death forces India to recall measles vaccine

The Ministry of Heath and Family Welfare in India has recalled over four million doses of a measles vaccine supplied by a south Indian drug manufacturer—Indian Immunologicals Limited—after four children died following inoculation with the drug.

The Ministry has directed all state governments to stop use of the vaccine until further orders, besides halting further supplies from the Hyderabad-based manufacturer.

The recall came after four infants who received the measles vaccine in the southern state of Tamil Nadu died on Wednesday.

Grief-stricken parents said their babies started frothing at the mouth and nose and died within 15 to 20 minutes of being administered the vaccine.

The State Health Minister said that the children might have had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine, while noting that some 20,000 children in Tamil Nadu were inoculated against measles with the same drug Wednesday.

According to sources, vaccine samples have been sent to a national laboratory for testing and a team of health experts is examining how the vaccine was stored and how health workers administered it.

Taking immediate action on the issue, the Government of Tamil Nadu has suspended its measles vaccination programme. The recall is likely to hit the immunisation programme in other states also.

India releases cyclone management guidelines

: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of India on Thursday released a guideline for management of cyclones aimed at helping various ministries and departments in the centre and the state to prepare flood management plans and minimise loss of life and property.

The guideline also reccomended an exclusive eco-system monitoring network to study the impact of climate change and setting up of a comprehensive Cyclone Disaster Management Information System (CDMIS) to cover all phases of disaster management.

Besides identifying 10 key areas of cyclone management, including the establishment of a state-of-the-art cyclone early warning system (EWS) involving observations, predictions, warnings and user friendly advisories, the guideline has also called for commissioning of the National Disaster Communication Infrastructure (NDCI).

According to the NDMA reccomendation, the commissioning of NDCI would help the country provide dedicated and failsafe communications to the national, state and district disaster management authorities and officials concerned.

The new guidelines also stresses on the need to expand the warning dissemination outreach by introducing ‘Last Mile Connectivity’, that includes using VHF technology to provide public address system along the entire coast line.

It also recommended that the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) should be implemented in all the 13 coastal states and UTs.

The guidelines also talks about the taking up structural mitigation measures like improving structural lifeline infrastructure, construction of multi-purpose cyclone shelters and cattle mounds, ensuring cyclone resistant design standards in rural and urban housing schemes, building all-weather road links, bridges, culverts and saline embankments.

The NDMA document further stated that management of coastal zones should include mapping and delineation of coastal wetlands, patches of mangroves and shelterbelts and identification of potential zones for expanding bio-shield spread based on remote sensing tools.

Under the new guidelines, a National Cyclone Disaster Management Institute will be set up of in one of the coastal states to address all issues related to cyclone risks.

It further recommended the commissioning of Aircraft Probing of Cyclone (APC) facility to fill the critical observational data gaps and significantly reduce the margin of error in predicting cyclone track, intensity and landfall.

Releasing the guidelines, the Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Kapil Sibal said that the National Guidelines for the Management of Cyclone have been formulated after a ‘nine step’ process fully taking on board various central ministries and departments and the states and union territories.

The process also included wide consultations with scientific and technical institutions, academics, technocrats and humanitarian organisations.

Speaking on the occasion, Sibal also said that a National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project for approximately Rs 1,600 crore with assistance from the World Bank, is in the process of finalisation covering all the 13 coastal states and union territories.

The various activities under this project will include construction of cyclone shelters, shelter belt and mangrove plantations, establishing last mile connectivity, improving link roads.

Once all the activities, as laid down in these guidelines are implemented, we will be much better prepared to face the hazards of cyclones, the Minister added.

The guidelines of management of cyclones describe in brief the manifestations of the phenomenon of floods, achievements made so far in controlling them, provides a roadmap for future course of action, and includes a well defined milestones to help in monitoring implementation thereof.

Microsoft’s e-Gov platform is now available

Microsoft announced the worldwide availability of its Citizen Service Platform (CSP), designed to help governments of all sizes more responsively deliver services to citizens via the Internet.

It also facilitates easier interaction with citizens, streamlines processes and, as a result, saves time and taxpayer money, the company stated.

The new platform will be available to customers along with free templates to help them implement technological solutions to some of the most common issues governments face.

The CSP, a culmination of Microsoft’s partnerships, programmes and projects conducted with governments over several years, was developed based on challenges faced by diverse government offices and different regions worldwide.

The company has developed an applications framework upon which partners can build solutions that address specific government needs, including technical guidance regarding implementation and customization for use by both partners and customers.

To date, more than 90 partners have signed up to build solutions on the CSP, Microsoft informed.

The CSP availability includes templates available for existing customers for free download, bolstering their ability to do more with existing technology investments.

The new platform consists of eight new templates that focus on common government pain points, including E-Councilor template which allows messenger communication with a virtual government worker to ask questions, Web TV template that allows government and citizen video hosting in Web 2.0 style and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 templates, a set of 40 templates to customise scenarios that address both site and system administration needs.

Others include local government communications template, role-based my site template, agenda management template that allows organisations to streamline processes, electronic form templates addressing areas from building permitting to tax declaration and Microsoft Dynamics CRM templates for municipal governments.

With these templates, governments are able to apply them to their own CSP configurations, and customise them to further close the gap between citizen expectations and their own delivery of services.

India to prepare NPR with 2011 Census

After the successful completion of pilot project on identity card, the Government of India is planning to prepare the National Population Register (NPR) with the 2011 Census. It will have specified characteristics of each individual, including photograph and finger biometrics.

Inaugurating the two day Data Users Conference for the 2011 Census here today, organised by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commission, the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil observed that the creation of NPR might usher in the era of register-based census in the country.

He further said that it would help in future to have the estimates of population on a real time basis by combining it with the system of registration of births and deaths in the country.

Pointing out that the population of India is expected to reach 1.2 billion by 2011, he said that the difficult areas and difficult populations should be identified in advance so that no person in any household is left unrecorded and no area is left untouched.

He informed that a Committee has been set up under the Chairmanship of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to look at the provisions of the India Census Act, 1948 and consider providing for supervision by independent observers, wherever deemed essential.

The Home Minister emphasised the need to use technology at every possible stage of the census planning and census taking, while adding that a number of new technologies have emerged and matured over the past decade.

He said that the endeavour of census organisation should be to complete the release of the 2011 data within two to three years from the date of completion of census.

Addressing the conference, the Minister of State for Home Shakeel Ahmed mentioned that innovations have been made from time to time in the process of census taking.

He said that for the 2011 census, database of village boundary and location for each sub-district has been digitally prepared and for the towns, the census organisation has undertaken preparation of digital geographic database with the support of Survey of India.

Ahmed said that a Group under the Registrar General of India in the context of National e-Governance project is examining standardisation of the name and address system in the country. Once in place, this would help reduce the omission rate at census considerably.

The Minister observed that the focus of data dissemination would continue to be more on electronic media and the data dissemination strategy would aim at developing a healthy camaraderie with all sections of data users, both within the government and outside.

Earlier, the Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta said that India has not only an exceptional record as a country of having uninterrupted decennial censuses but also of managing the census within an affordable cost.

He further informed that the cost of the 2001 census was Rs 1,403 crore which comes to Rs 14 per person.

Gupta stressed that there was a need to ensure that the number of questions in the next census did not become so large as to disturb the balance which is essential to maintain between the enumerator’s motivation and respondent’s fatigue.

Slovenia launches eDemocracy service

The Government of Slovenia has launched an eDemocracy service that offers the public the opportunity to influence changes in existing legislation, by contributing their suggestions, comments and opinions.

The service, given under national government portal ‘eUprava’, will allow citizens to follow closely the preparation and adoption of regulations, and co-operate in the elimination of administrative barriers, reports ePractcie.

It offers a direct link to elected representatives, thus contributing to improved communication between the general public and public administrations and increasing greater efficiency in the democratic process.

The eDemocracy service provides general information on the public administration, democratic processes, and the adoption of laws and regulations at both national and EU level, thus helping citizens to improve their understanding of the system.

It has four different elements, which include eliminating administrative barriers; contacting elected representatives; democratic processes; and legislation, legal rules in the EU, public information or elections.The Government of Slovenia has launched an eDemocracy service that offers the public the opportunity to influence changes in existing legislation, by contributing their suggestions, comments and opinions.

The service, given under national government portal ‘eUprava’, will allow citizens to follow closely the preparation and adoption of regulations, and co-operate in the elimination of administrative barriers, reports ePractcie.

It offers a direct link to elected representatives, thus contributing to improved communication between the general public and public administrations and increasing greater efficiency in the democratic process.

The eDemocracy service provides general information on the public administration, democratic processes, and the adoption of laws and regulations at both national and EU level, thus helping citizens to improve their understanding of the system.

It has four different elements, which include eliminating administrative barriers; contacting elected representatives; democratic processes; and legislation, legal rules in the EU, public information or elections.

Austria launches e-auction website

The Government of Austria has launched a website ‘e-Auktin’ to help boroughs—administrative divisions—put their building, supply and service needs up for electronic auction. It also permits further bargaining before a contract is signed.

According to an ePractice report, the new website is set to revolutionise local authority procurement and cut costs, while facilitating average savings of around 10 per cent to local taxpayers.

The local authority procurement is regulated by strict Austrian law, where bargaining is prohibited after a contract has been awarded to the cheapest or to the best current bid.

However, the newly launched e-auctions system allows the procuring agency or departments to receive further offers from, and bargaining with, all participants.

Besides, the new solution also promotes transparency in local government procurement, while opening up municipal contracts to a geographically wider range of potential bidders.

Once implemented, the new e-auction system can also be used for other, more minor purchases—not subject to statutory tendering requirements.

The new facility, developed by Joachim Grieber of Austria’s Kufgem Kommunal Consulting, involves no licensing or registration costs.

India executes 1st phase of smart ID cards

The first phase of the implementation of the pilot project on Multi-purpose National Identity Cards (MNIC) has been completed on March 31, 2008.

In a written communication to the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Home Affairs Shakeel Ahmad said that more than 12 lakh identity (smart) cards have been issued to those of 18 years and above in the pilot areas in 12 states and one union territory in the country.

He further said that 20 MNIC centres set up one in each tehsil and block of the pilot areas will remain functional till March next year for maintenance and updating of database.

Besides, they will be providing services to the identity card holders as well as those who could not be verified in the first phase.

Meanwhile, the Minister informed that the Planning Commission has accorded ‘in principal approval’ to the scheme for preparation of National Population Register (NPR).

He further said that the scheme envisages collection of information on specified items of each individual at the time of population enumeration during census 2011.

New regulation for medical devices industry likely

The Government of India is in the process of creating a new and better regulatory structure for the medical devices industry as part of its effort towards achieving quality healthcare for all.

Announcing this at the Medical Technology Conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Joint Secretary Debasis Panda said the government will provide some regulations for the medical devices industry that is growing in a haphazard manner.

He further added that the Ministry is working towards a switch from a control regime to a regulatory regime to cope with the new technologies and treatments that are now available.

According to CII, the medical equipment industry is estimated at US $2.17 billion, growing significantly at 15 per cent per year, and is further estimated to reach US $4.97 billion by 2012

Indian Healthcare Federation President Naresh Trehan said that it is imperative to accelerate growth through partnering and aligning with the key stakeholders including the healthcare service providers, medical technology industry and insurance providers.

CII’s National Healthcare Committee has made huge strides by bringing the industry and the government together on several issues relating to providing sustainable healthcare to the masses and this interactive conference will work towards taking this process forward, Trehan added.

“Poised to touch Rs 140,000 crore in five years time, Indian healthcare sector is all set to become one of the largest in the world,” Philips Electronics India Senior Director and Business Head Anjan Bose said.

He further said that the medical services and devices industry must tap into this emerging market and explore the potential of India as a future production hub while focusing on improving the quality of healthcare, R&D and ethical issues.

“There is urgent need to understand and regulate the composite and complex medical technology industry and this conference is aimed at bringing together all the stakeholders to discus issues of technology, manufacturing, financing and above all ethics,” CII Medical Equipment Division Chairman Alok Mishra said.

The Indian medical technology sector has come a long way in providing quality healthcare products and has seen an increase of investments in healthcare facilities, especially in hi-tech medical equipments and devices.

Mobile medical units for Indian villages

In an effort to take healthcare to door step of the public in rural areas, especially in underserved areas, the Government of India has approved mobile medical units (MMUs) at one MMU per district under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

In a written communication to the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Panabaaka Lakshmi informed that two kinds of MMUs are envisaged, one with diagnostic facilities for the states other than North-Eastern states, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).

In addition, for these states, specialised facilities and services such as X ray, ECG and ultra-sound have been proposed to be provided due to their difficult hilly terrain, non-approachability by public transport and long distances to be covered.

The states are, however, expected to address the diversity and ensure the adoption of most suitable and sustainable model for MMUs to suit their local requirements, the Minister said.

Lakshmi said that the funds are released to states and union territories (UTs) as per their requirements in their respective annual NRHM programme implementation plans.

She further informed that pathology labs facility is available at the level of Primary Health Centre and Community Health Centres, which are established in rural areas as per population norms.

HP initiates ‘green’ printing for California

HP has announced that it has partnered with the state of California to implement a print cartridge recycling and environmental printing programme throughout state agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 500 tonnes per year.

The programme couples print cartridge recycling with a unique rewards system that provides points toward upgrading printers to more efficient HP models.

Piloted with the State Board of Equalisation last year, the programme begins with free return and recycling services for HP ink and toner cartridges through the HP Planet Partners programme.

HP claimed that, if fully implemented statewide, the programme would divert 100 tonnes of print cartridges from landfills annually.

Additionally, as state agencies purchase and recycle HP print cartridges, they earn points with the HP PurchasEdge rewards programme that can be used to accelerate their replacement of older printers with newer, more energy-efficient HP models—saving the state as much as US $2 million per year.

The company also will provide a new tracking and reporting process so each participating agency will receive reports on its contributions toward statewide environmental performance goals.

“Working together to find creative ways to reduce pollution and save money is the best model for a public-private partnership. We strive to be green, while saving lots of green,” the State and Consumer Services Secretary Rosario Marin said.

Announced in tandem with the Green California Summit and Exposition, the programme is now rolling out at the Department of General Services and will be available to all state agencies by the end of the year.

The programme aligns with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s executive order to reduce grid-based electricity use in state buildings by 20 per cent by 2015, thereby reduce the associated greenhouse gas emissions.

The collaboration with HP will create more opportunities for the state to upgrade to printers with energy-efficient technology and duplexing features that significantly reduce paper use and increase statewide energy savings.

Pre-addressed, postage paid and high-volume collection boxes placed at each state agency ensure an easy process for return and recycling.

HP then tracks and documents the returns in accordance with the California State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign. These customised materials are provided by HP to the state free of charge.

If all state agencies follow the lead of the State and Consumer Services Agency, Department of General Services and HP, California is estimated to recycle as much as 100 tonnes of HP inkjet and LaserJet print cartridges per year.

ICG-IOTWS meets to mitigate tsunami danger

The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG-IOTWS) begins in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) today.

The four -day meeting will evaluate progress on the development of the Indian Ocean system, specifically in the areas of seismic detection, sea-level measurement, risk assessment, numerical modelling and scenario development, inter-operable warning centres, and mitigation, preparedness and response.

However, the main focus of discussions will be the proposals for setting up a network of Regional Tsunami Watch Providers (RTWP) for the Indian Ocean.

This network, to be established between 2009 and 2011, will eventually replace the interim advisory service currently provided by the Tsunami Warning Centre in the Pacific (PTWC) in Hawaii and the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) in Tokyo.

The session will be opened by Malaysia’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Maximus Ongkili, IGC-IOTWS Chairperson and Indonesian Institute of Sciences’ Scientific Services Deputy Director Ian Sopaheluwakan and the UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Tsunami Coordination Unit Head Peter Koltermann.

The ICG-IOTWS was set up in 2005 at the initiative of UNESCO-IOC, in response to the tragic December 2004 tsunami that struck Indian Ocean coastlines.

India has already set up the National Tsunami Early Warning System, comprising a real-time network of seismic stations, Bottom Pressure Recorders (BPR) and tide gauges to detect tsunamigenic earthquakes and to monitor tsunamis in the Indian Ocean region.

The system detects all earthquakes of more than six magnitude occurring in the lndian Ocean, in the less than 20 minutes of occurrence.

The efficiency of the end-to-end system was proved during the large undersea earthquake of 8.4 M that occurred on September 12, 2007 in the Indian Ocean.

Chandigarh to become ‘Solar City’ by 2012

Taking the green initiative on the forefront, the Chandigarh Administration has announced that the union territory is preparing to become the first ‘Solar City’ of India by 2012.

According to Chandigarh Administrator Advisor Pradip Mehra, the UT Administration has already issued requisite directives to all the officers in the UT to start preparation for achieving the ‘Solar City’ target within the stipulated time frame.

He was speaking at a symposium on ‘Protecting Health from Climate Change’ organised by the Indian Public Health Association, here.

Cautioning on the ill effects of climate change, Mehra said that people should accept that they are in the middle of climate change and the frequency of natural disasters is increasing at an alarming pace.

He said that with economic development accompanied with the Industrial Revolution has led to the unprecedented development and great increase in welfare activities, thereby increasing the comfort levels.

“But consequent to it is the huge consumption of fuels leading to Global Warming,” Mehra said adding that the global warming would lead to rise of sea level and submerging of islands and coastal areas of the world and result in greater migration from coastal regions.