Updates
Government Addresses Parliament on National Health Measures
In a recent parliamentary session, the government discussed measures to address the surge in COVID-19 cases and the monitoring of new variants. The focus was on enhancing healthcare infrastructure and ensuring comprehensive surveillance across the country.
Experts Warn Against Social Media Liver Detox Recipes
At the INASL-2024 meeting in Kochi, liver disease experts advised against using unproven social media liver detox recipes, emphasizing the importance of preventive lifestyle measures like avoiding alcohol and maintaining a healthy diet.
SC to Hear Plea for NEET-PG Postponement
The Supreme Court will hear a plea seeking the postponement of the NEET-PG exam scheduled for August 11. The petition argues that candidates have been allocated inconvenient test cities, making travel arrangements difficult.
AI Model Detects Prostate Cancer with Radiologist-Level Accuracy
An AI model developed for prostate cancer detection shows performance comparable to experienced radiologists. The model aids in diagnosing from MRI scans, increasing detection rates with fewer false positives, potentially improving clinical outcomes.
States receive nearly 75% of the GST from health and life insurance: FM
FM Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized that 73-74% of GST collected on health and life insurance goes to the states, urging opposition to address concerns with state finance ministers. GST on these insurances existed pre-GST era.
ICMR Begins Work on Advanced Emergency Care Systems
ICMR has initiated the National Health Research Priority Project to develop advanced emergency care systems in Puri, Ludhiana, Vidisha, Vadodara, and Pondicherry, enhancing emergency care with better logistics, IT and AI integration, and healthcare provider training.
Supreme Court Rejects PIL on Bharat Biotech Vaccine Data
The Supreme Court has rejected a PIL seeking segregated data from the Phase-III clinical trial results of Bharat Biotech's Rotavirus Vaccine. The court deemed the petition a broad inquiry and stated that there was no compelling public interest in disclosing the segregated data.
Singapore, Hong Kong Clarify No Ban on Indian Spices
The Indian Ministry of Commerce clarifies that Singapore and Hong Kong have not banned Indian spices. Specific batches were recalled due to contamination, and pre-shipment testing measures are now in place.
Lakshadweep and J&K Lead in 2023-24 National Immunisation Coverage
The national full immunisation coverage for 2023-24 was 93.50%, with Lakshadweep and Jammu and Kashmir leading the list. This achievement highlights the success of catch-up campaigns like Intensified Mission Indradhanush.
Gujarat Tops Health Category in SDG India Index
Gujarat has achieved the first rank in the 'Good Health and Well-being' category of the SDG India Index 2023-24, as released by NITI Aayog. This marks the second consecutive year the state has topped this category, owing to significant improvements in maternal and child health, immunization, and control of infectious diseases.
API-ICP Release Guidelines on Managing Hypertension in T2DM Patients
The Association of Physicians of India and the Indian College of Physicians have released guidelines to manage hypertension in Indian patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. These guidelines address the unique challenges and emphasize early detection, comprehensive assessment, and a multi-faceted treatment approach.
ICMR Identifies Methodological Flaws in BHU's Covaxin Study
The ICMR reviewed Banaras Hindu University's long-term safety analysis of Covaxin and found serious methodological flaws. The study lacked a control arm and had high risk of bias, leading to unreliable conclusions.