Date:12/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/12/stories/2008101259060300.htm

Karnataka - Mangalore

Over one crore people suffering from rheumatism: expert

Special Correspondent

Concern over dearth of paediatric rheumatology specialists in the country

— Photo: R. Eswarraj

DISCUSSION: Ashok Kumar (left), president of Indian Rheumatology Association sharing a light moment with K.M. Mahendranath, organising chairman, during the inaugural function of the national conference on ‘Paediatric Rheumatology’ in Mangalore on Saturday.

MANGALORE: In India, more than one crore people are suffering from rheumatism, a diseases characterised by pain in muscles and joints, and more than four lakh children are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. But, there are only about 800 rheumatologists in the country and very few of them have specialised in paediatric rheumatology.

This was highlighted by experts on the inaugural day of the two-day national conference on paediatric rheumatology on Saturday here.

Ashok Kumar, president of the Indian Rheumatology Association (IRA), said that children in the U.S. and UK too were not getting adequate treatment for rheumatism. According to a survey, many doctors in the U.S. were averse to treat children suffering from rheumatology and no one liked to treat children below 11 years. The scene was similar in the U.K., he said.In India, most of the paediatric rheumatism cases were being handled by general physicians, paediatricians and orthopaedicians. As a result, children suffering from this disorder either did not get treatment or the medical attention provided to them was inadequate.

Dr. Ashok Kumar said there was a need for structural training for doctors and knowledge about safety and effectiveness of medicines. The studies undertaken in the west could lead to availability of safer drugs. India had more than 4 lakh juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients requiring immediate medical attention, he said.

K.M. Mahendranath, former president of the IRA, said the doctors specialising in rheumatology were practising in urban areas. There were hardly any in far-flung areas. The country had about 800 specialists in rheumatology against 10,000 needed. The wide gap should be filled at the earliest, Dr. Mahendranath said and added that no medical institutions had started a branch in paediatric rheumatology as yet. He suggested to Manipal University’s Pro-Chancellor H.S. Ballal and its Vice-Chancellor R.P. Warrier to start a branch. The IRA was willing to help the university in this regard, he said and added that the medical institutions should go all out to help the large suffering public.