Poison management information centre opened in GH

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, AUG. 26. A Poison Management Information Centre (PMIC) to disseminate information on poisons and treatment procedures was opened at the Government General Hospital on Friday by Mr. L. K. Tripathy, Health Secretary.

Mr. Tripathy also handed over a G.O. permitting adoption of the intensive medical care unit of the hospital by the Indian Medical Association and the Alumni Association of Madras Medical College, to the representatives of the associations. A master plan at an estimated cost of Rs. 2 crores is being prepared in consultation with a professional organisation to raise fiscal sources for maintenance and purchase of state-of-the-art equipment, to help achieve the Centre of Excellence status for the IMCU. A mobile ventilator, a computer, an intensive care cot and a stretcher were donated to the IMCU on the occasion.

The PMIC would provide information on response to chemical emergencies, toxicovigilance and prevention, poison prevention education and campaign, update the product composition file and provide data on toxicological antidotes and health services. Efforts would be made to create antidote banks in all districts and share information with other centres. Influencing policy- makers to introduce codes of practices or legislation to label poisons available in market would be given priority.

The Centre will also interact with other PICs at the national and international levels for exchange of case data, product and substance data, striking a rapport with industrial and commercial enterprises that manufacture, import, export and handle chemicals and link with botany and zoology experts to assist in rapid identification of toxic plants and animals.

The PMIC is equipped with a CD-ROM on International Programme for Chemical Safety, INTOX, that contains a database of almost all poisons and details of treatment procedures.

Mr. Tripathy stressed on quality health care that should be monitored on a continuous basis, and keeping in tandem with the technological advancements in terms of equipment and medicines. The second JRD Tata award, instituted by the Population Foundation of India, for the best medical services in the field of mother and child care was given to Tamil Nadu. The other fields too should follow the example, he said.

The immediate objective should be to bring about a proper structure in all departments in terms of equipment, personnel, research and development, education and services, that could match the best, he added.

Dr. K. Chellappan, Dean, Madras Medical College, said a little more effort towards a proper day-to-day planning was required from the doctors attached to the institution to make the system function at its best.

Dr. M. S. Ashraf, IMA State president, said doctors should have a more compassionate approach towards patients and spend more time with them.

Dr. M. Arulpitchai Narayanan, secretary, Alumni Association, Dr. B. S. Tiruvadanam, treasurer, and Dr. M. Balasubramanian, IMA State Secretary, spoke.

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