5th June 2021

 

Topic: Health Infrastructure

 

Important for Both Prelims & Mains

 

What is the news?

• The Nahan Hospital receives a second RT-PCR machine.

 

So what is important in the news from an examination perspective?

• RT-PCR Machine

 

What is RT-PCR Machine?

• Real-time RT-PCR is a nuclear derivative method to detect the presence of specific genetic material in any pathogen, including a virus.
• Real-time RT-PCR is one of the most commonly used laboratory methods for the detection of COVID-19.

 

Working:

• The technique is composed of two parts: The synthesis of cDNA (complementary DNA) from RNA by reverse transcription (RT) and.
• Amplification of a specific cDNA through polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

 

Topic: IT Health

 

What is the news?

• Kangra Care Portal launched.

 

Purpose:

• Info about Covid beds available online.

 

Why important?

• Kangra became the first district in the state to provide online health counselling services to citizens and the availability of beds in hospitals.

 

Benefits:

• It can be used to improve health services.
• A full database of public and private hospitals associated with COVID-19 will be available on the portal.
• It will be updated regularly so that the family members of the patients can get information on time.

(Source: The Tribune)

 

Subject: Ease of access to education.

 

Importance: Mains

 

What is the news?

• Self-attested documents valid in universities, colleges in Himachal: Education regulator.
• Original certificates cannot be withheld after verification.
• Academic institutions and affiliated universities will treat self-determined documents as valid and authentic for all administrative purposes and requirements and will return the original documents to the students after physical verification.
• Taking original certificates of students in custody under any circumstances is strictly prohibited and in case of suspicion over a certificate, it should be cross checked with the issuer university or board.

 

Background:

• The education regulator’s decision came in a case involving Sunil Kumar, a student from a three-year BBA course at Indus International University. The university held on to his original documents for over a year. Sunil’s parents had repeatedly asked the university officials to return the documents, but there was no answer. They then approached the commission.

 

Steps taken:

• SPs of all districts to lodge FIRs against the university or college managements and registrars who are found blackmailing and harassing students by not returning original documents to them.
• No private university or college in the state would insist on the submission of original academic and personal certificates, including mark sheets, school leaving certificate and other documents, at the time of admission.

 

About Documents:

• HPPIERC had directed the university to submit original documents/certificates, including certificate of caste, income, Himachal bonafide, Class X and XII mark sheets, Aadhaar card and PNB passbook.

(Source: The Tribune)