Date:29/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/29/stories/2007072960150400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Free Hepatitis B vaccine from next week

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: From next week children born in hospitals – both government and private – will be administered the hepatitis B vaccine free of cost. “The decision regarding the immunisation was mentioned in the policy note and we are waiting for a convenient date [for the launch] from the State and Central Health ministers,” Health Secretary V.K. Subbaraj said on Saturday.

Inaugurating the two-day live workshop on liver and pancreatic diseases at Government Stanley Medical College, Mr. Subbaraj said most of the diseases of the digestive tract were related to infections. The main cause of gastro-intestinal diseases was poor quality drinking water, food and alcoholism. Though Chennai Corporation had advised hotels to serve hot water he was not sure of the compliance level, he added.

The hospital dean, Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, said over 500 delegates were participating in the workshop, in which 19 live surgeries would be performed. They would be transmitted live to the college auditorium.

The conference will highlight live open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, endoscopic procedures and interventional radiology treatment modules using state-of-the art equipment to treat diseases.