Wednesday 10 April 2013

85% of private sector employees- a laggard in healthcare: ASSOCHAM Survey

Friday, April 05, 2013

Due to demanding schedules, high stress levels and performance linked perquisites in private sectors, nearly 85% of employees in private sectors are afflicted to life-style, chronic diseases and acute ailment than the government employees ranging below 8%, according to a recent survey conducted by ASSOCHAM on the occasion of ‘World Health day’.

ASSOCHAM’S survey reveals that 42% identified themselves are afflicted to lifestyle disease, followed by 38% suffering from chronic disease and remaining 15% have an acute ailment in the private sector.

While releasing the ASSOCHAM survey on “Government vs. Private employee health scenario”, Mr. D S Rawat, Secretary General ASSOCHAM said, there is due compensation for increased inflation by way of dearness allowance (DA) to government employees whereas, the private sector is by and large out of this facility.”

Employees in private sectors are afflicted to life-style, chronic diseases, acute ailment are:


The findings on the government employees reveal very positive features ranging from reasonably good health, family stability, cordial relationship etc, adds the survey. The survey further points out there are many schemes in healthcare for government employees in addition to pension which reflects better health standards in government jobs.

Around 55 %of the survey respondents fall under the age bracket of 20-29 years, followed by 30-39 years (26 per cent), 40-49 years (16 per cent), 50-59 years (2 per cent) and 60-69 years (approximately 1 per cent).


The report included the major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabd, Pune, Chandigarh, Dehradun etc. A little over 200 employee were selected from each city on an average. Mumbai ranks first afflicted to high levels of stress in private sector followed by Delhi (2nd), Ahemdabad (3rd) Chandigarh (4th), Hyderabad (5th ), Kolkata (6th ) and Chennai (7th) etc.

The survey was able to target private employees from 18 broad sectors, with maximum share contributed by employees from IT/ITes sector (17 per cent).


*Others include employees from those sectors that have contributed >= 1 %share in the survey (consumer durable, construction, energy, healthcare, steel, HR and Misc)

Employees working in engineering and telecom sector contributed 9% and 8% respectively in the questionnaire. Nearly 6% of the employees belonged from market research/KPO and media background each. Management, FMCG and Infrastructure sector employees share is 5% each, in the total survey. Respondents from power and real estate sector contributed 4% each. Employees from education and food& beverages sector provided a share of 3% each. Advertising, manufacturing and textiles employees offered a share of 2% each in the survey results.

“Rising cases of marital disputes and aberrated relationship contributing to high level of stress as reflected in increased serious health problems”, adds Dr. B K Rao, Chairman of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and ASSOCHAM Health Committee.

The increasingly demanding schedules and high stress levels are leading to sleep disorders in private sector. Loss of sleep has wide ranging effects including daytime fatigue, physical discomfort, psychological stress, performance deterioration, low pain threshold and increase absenteeism. The survey further points out that nearly 45% of the corporate employees in private sector sleep less than 6 hours on a daily basis due to work related pressure.

Around 58% of corporate employees in private sector are deeply concerned about their future health, 38% are most of the time fearful regarding their future health conditions and rest 4% are not at all fearful about their future health, adds the ASSOCHAM Survey.

Chronic condition that forced them to absenteeism from workplace are:

{April-March 2013}
Health condition
Private Employee (in %)
Government Employee (in %)
High B.P
65%
13%
Stress
45%
7%
Spondolysis
25%
5%
Heart ailment
45%
12%
Asthma
55%
6%
Arthritis
65%
20%
Slip Disk
45%
3%
Diabetes
45%
7%
Others*
12%
11%
* Others include: stroke, minor paralytic attack, skin disease, chronic liver disease, stomach disease

According to the survey, only 10% employees in private sector have medical insurance, and much of it is inadequate. Nearly all private health service providers require families to spend out-of-pocket at the point of service. This leaves people, highly vulnerable. “Without adequate financial support from the private organization, health remains a major cause of financial insecurity”, adds Mr. Rawat.

In terms of the physical fitness, it was found that around 57% of the employees in the private organization said they ‘do not exercise at all’, 23% do physical workout devoting less than 1 hour/week, 12 %of the employees exercise for 1-3 hours/week, 8% of employees exercise for 3-6 hours/week and merely 7% stay fit by exercising for more than 6 hours/week. The majority of the government employee said that they ‘do exercise’ and physical workout to stay fit by exercising for more than 8 hours/week.
Work related stress can be defined as any level of mental or physical strain that is gained due to pressures in the profession. Work stress is given much impetus since it directly affects the private sectors, adds Mr. Rawat.

For details:
http://www.assocham.org/prels/shownews.php?id=3957

Tuesday 2 April 2013

Acidity & Ayurveda

Due to depressed mental condition, there is continuous secretion of digestive juices (which contains a greater quantity of Hydrochloric Acid). The capacity to digest food gets weaker. Therefore undigested food in the stomach starts to get toxicant. This is the reason why the parson suffering from this problem feels heaviness in the stomach immediately after taking meal.

Sometimes, he also feels pain in the stomach. Burning sensation is felt in the stomach and throat. It may cause vomiting which is a way to release the toxicant stuffs out of the body otherwise it would lead to ulcer in the stomach which can be very dangerous. In case of ulcer, there happens unbearable pain in the middle part of the stomach but after vomiting, the patient feels relaxed. But some patients feel pain after taking meal. If dark brown clots of blood is released in vomiting, the patient should such ice which will give cooling experience to him. Perform Kunjar Kriya in case of hyper acidity which will give relaxation to the patient. Give evening and morning clay on
the stomach, also give anima. Then according to the condition of the patient, let the patient bath till his or her waist. Regularly massage backbone for 15-20 days. In case of hyper acidity, don’t give acidic chemicals like soda as it is harmful. Anima of baking powder gives relaxation to the patient. Also perform steam wash for the patient twice a week. The patient should perform light asanas in airy space.

May laboratory tests and experiments in different countries of the world, following fruits juices and vegetables have been found very useful in ulcer:
1. Cabbage juice added with water
2. Cucumber juice
3. Carrot juice
4. Bottle gourd
5. Coconut water
6. Milk
7. Very ripe banana
8. Bael (stone apple or wood apple) juice added with water.

When the patient shows the signs of recuperating, then he or she can be given fresh curd, orange, vegetable juices, Papaya, watermelon, raisin, Munakka (Blackcurrant), boiled fruits and vegetables. If acid formation is low, then give lemon and honey. If it is required to lower the level of acid, give one spoon pure olive oil after 15 minutes of meal. Never take heavy meal and maintain a gap of three hours in taking meal.