Docs to act for cancer awareness

For the last few days, Somnath Sonwalkar, an occupational therapist at KEM Hospital, Parel, has been a regular at the hospital's lawn after finishing work at the outpatient department.

Joining a group of theatre actors, Sonwalkar, 29, uses his college theatre experience to rehearse his lines to perfection for a street play against tobacco consumption.

On May 31 — World No Tobacco Day — Sonawalkar will be part of a 20-minute play at three different locations in Parel.
For the first time, the Mumbai chapter of the Indian Medical Association has organised a street play roping in medical and paramedical professionals along with the local 'Jidda' theatre group to raise awareness about ill effects of tobacco.
“We see several cases related to tobacco abuse and counsel them against its consumption. However, this play will allow us to talk to the general public and convince them in an different manner to stop using tobacco,” said Sonwalkar.
“The play peppered with songs will address issues such as reasons for smoking or chewing tobacco, effects of long term tobacco use and how to stop consumption,” said Dr Kishor Khushale, associate professor at KEM Hospital who has written and directed the play.
Rahul Bhandare, the hospital's ward boy, will assist with the play's music while three doctors will act as medical professionals providing information to patients and journalists.

The American College of Cardiology to tie up with Mumbai hospitals

The peculiar nature of heart diseases among Indians is finally getting international attention.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC), a medical association whose guidelines for treating heart diseases are followed across the globe, will tie up with 10 Indian hospitals, including four from the city, to study the patterns of heart ailments here. The aim was to draw up Indian-specific treatment rules, said ACC officials.

The four city hospitals are KEM Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Asian Heart Institute and Hiranandani Hospital. Details of patients visiting OPDs of these hospitals will be taken.

At present, most treatment guidelines are based on studies conducted on Anglo-Saxon patients, says ACC’s Brendan Mullen. As cardiac disease among Indians is different from that among the Anglo Saxons, the same rules cannot be blindly applied. “The dosages prescribed for Americans cannot be given to Indians who are slightly built in comparison,” said Asian Heart Institute’s Dr Ramakanta Panda.

Dr Prafulla Kerkar, who heads KEM Hospital’s cardiology department, said, “Indian doctors have a wide experience in treating heart diseases, but

India doesn’t have standardized guidelines like in the US or Europe. Everything is anecdotal.” There was no guideline on if a patient should be put through expensive procedures or given medicines, he added.

Said Dr Ganesh Kumar of Hiranandani Hospital, “If you study 100 prescriptions, each will be different.” Every patient who has suffered a heart attack should be put on a special class of drugs called beta-blockers. “But this doesn’t happen in India,” he added.

It is here that the ACC registry can help. As Mullen puts it, most heart diseases can be treated with medicines. “We must work out the right treatment for the right patient at the right time,” he said. Dr Panda said, “The burden of heart disease is so high that it will cost India five times its GDP for every patient’s bypass or angioplasty.” The right combination drug for Indians must be worked out.