This Article is From Aug 12, 2010

MNCs may be behind superbug 'propaganda', say MPs

MNCs may be behind superbug 'propaganda', say MPs
New Delhi: Members in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday suspected hands of multi-national pharmaceutical and hospital companies behind British scientists' claims that an infectious superbug originating from Indian hospitals is spreading in the world.

"When India is emerging as a medical tourism destination, this type of news is unfortunate and may be a sinister design of multinational companies" to defame the Indian medical sector, S S Ahluwalia (BJP) said during Zero Hour.

Demanding a response from the government, he said some foreign tourists after returning from India reported some infection and attributed it to Indian hospitals. "It may not be true," he said.

Ahluwalia, who was supported by Jayanthi Natarajan (Cong), said there should be a system of maintaining a registry for patients suffering from infectious diseases.

Natarajan said reports of superbug, attributable to India, is a "wrong propaganda against the country".

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prithviraj Chavan said he would find out the facts from the Health Minister.

According to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, a hospital-acquired superbug which cannot be treated by the existing drugs is originating from India.

Indian medical tourism industry which is making rapid progress revolves around providing treatment and surgeries to global patients at significantly lower costs. The sector has been estimated at Rs 1200 crore.

In a separate Zero Hour mention, Avinash Rai Khanna (BJP) expressed concern over the water level in the Bhakra Dam reaching towards the danger mark. He said Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan face the threat of floods.

P Rajeeve (CPI-M) said MPs from Kerala have staged dharna outside the House demanding clearance of the Kochi Metro project, which was to come up as a joint venture between the state government and the Centre.

Mohan Singh (SP) demanded that a Central team should visit eastern Uttar Pradesh for assessment of the drought situation.

M V Mysura Reddy (TDP) expressed concern over spread of swine flu in Andhra Pradesh.

Naresh Gujral (SAD) demanded that the government should take up with Pakistan the problem of Sutlej river getting polluted from across the border.

He said people in the Malwa region of Punjab are suffering from various diseases as lethal chemicals find their way into the river.
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