Relax MBBS eligibility for northeast tribal students |  |
- Relax MBBS eligibility for northeast tribal students
- New test detects kidney disorder early
- New diagnostic system for heart patients in rural areas
- Jharkhand's ex-minister surrenders in medicine scam
- Breast feeding cuts infant mortality by 10 percent: AIIMS
- Beat diabetes with a wheat and rice free diet
- Scientist urges government ruling on genetically engineered salmon
- Health officials from 16 states discuss leprosy
- IGNOU, Unicef sensitise scribes on infant deaths
| Relax MBBS eligibility for northeast tribal students Posted: 08 Aug 2011 05:25 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) The Tripura government and opposition parties have urged the central government and the Medical Council of India - to further relax eligibility criteria for admission to medical colleges for northeast's tribal students. 'Both the centre and the MCI are yet to communicate their decisions on more cut-off marks relaxations for the tribal and the Scheduled Castes - community students seeking admission to MBBS courses,' Tripura's Health and Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty told reporters Sunday. He said the relaxation will facilitate backward community students to obtain professional education. Besides Chakraborty, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and opposition Congress leader Ratan Lal Nath have written separate letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and MCI chairman K.K. Talwar on the issue. According to the MCI guidelines, a general category MBBS aspirant will have to secure at least 50 percent marks in both Class 12 and entrance examinations. The cut-off for students of tribal and SC communities is 40 percent. Various political parties and tribal organisations have been agitating for the past one month in Tripura on the issue. Some individuals and organisations have also filed cases in the Gauhati High Court, seeking directives for further relaxation of cut-off marks. Tribals constitute over 27 percent of the northeast India's total population of 45.58 million -. http://www.rxpgnews.com    |
| New test detects kidney disorder early Posted: 06 Aug 2011 09:20 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, Aug 6 - The risk of cardiac disorders due to kidney diseases can now be reduced by an X-ray that makes early detection possible, health experts said here Saturday. 'Patients with chronic kidney diseases have higher levels of phosphorus in the blood, which causes increased calcification of the major arteries and heart valves. This contributes the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in such patients,' said A.K. Bhalla, senior consultant and co-chairman at the department of nephrology, Sir Ganga Ram hospital. 'Lumbar X-ray of spine is performed to identify stones in the kidney and nephrocalcinosis, which can lead to renal failure in future,' added Bhalla. Experts recommend the abdominal X-ray to determine calcification at the right time and help in preventing fatal consequences. The test costs around Rs.200-250. 'The lumbar X-ray also shows vascular calcification - especially in diabetic patients who are more vulnerable to kidney disorder,' said Ashwani Gupta, from the nephrology department of the Ganga Ram Hospital. According to the National Kidney Foundation of India, 100 in a population of a million suffer from kidney diseases. While around 90,000 kidney transplants per year are required in the country annually, only 22.5 percent patients requiring dialysis are able to receive treatment the treatment. Experts suggest some of the common risks for kidney diseases are diabetes and hypertension. http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
| New diagnostic system for heart patients in rural areas Posted: 06 Aug 2011 09:04 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Kolkata, Aug 6 - Heart patients in rural areas can now walk in for tests at their local clinics, which will be connected to a central hospital in a big city via an information technology component, making it possible for immediate anaysis by leading experts. In order to provide rural India with basic cardiac health care services, Roche Diagnostics India, the Indian arm of the Fortune 500 healthcare multinational Roche Diagnostics, has come up with an Integrated Cardiovascular Clinical Network - solution, eliminating the need for travelling to metros for treatment. The model uses point-of care testing and IT system to improve the access and delivery of professional cardiac care in the rural areas. The iCCnet model functions like a 'satellite model' with three main components -- Point-of-Care cardiac testing device, IT system and a central hospital in the city, said Roche Diagnostics India managing director Bhuwnesh Agrawal here Saturday. 'We are currently in talks with the Assam government regarding the implementation of this model. We want this to be implemented in whole of India. It will benefit people in rural India,' said Agrawal. http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
| Jharkhand's ex-minister surrenders in medicine scam Posted: 06 Aug 2011 03:44 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Ranchi, Aug 6 - Former Jharkhand health minister Bhanu Pratap Sahi Saturday surrendered in a CBI court in Ranchi for his suspected involvement in the National Rural Health Mission - financial misappropriation scandal, popularly known as the medicine scam. Sahi surrendered in the court of Nityanand Singh. He was sent to 14 days judicial custody. The former minister appealed for medical treatment complaining of chest pain. The court asked the jail authorities to take necessary steps for his medical check-up. The Central Bureau of Investigation - court Friday passed order to attach properties of Sahi and ex-health secretary Pradeep Kumar. Another former health secretary Siyaram Prasad was arrested by the CBI in May in the NRHM scam. There are allegations against the former health minister and ex-health secretaries that they purchased medicines, vehicles, medical equipment from 19 private firms at higher rates, causing huge financial losses to the state exchequer in 2008-2009. Both Sahi and Pradeep Kumar were evading arrest for months. Pradeep Kumar was suspended in 2009 when the CBI had raided his house. The Jharkhand High Court this week rejected his anticipatory bail plea. http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
| Breast feeding cuts infant mortality by 10 percent: AIIMS Posted: 05 Aug 2011 08:03 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, Aug 5 - Breast feeding can help bring down infant mortality rate in the country by nearly 10 percent, experts at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences - here said Friday. According to National Family Health Survey-3 -, India has an infant mortality rate of 57 per 1000 live births and an under-five mortality rate of 74.3. 'Major causes of infant mortality are pneumonia and diarrhoea that are very much preventable. Breast feeding protects the infants against the diseases and also boosts their immune system,' said Vinod Paul, head of paediatrics department at AIIMS. 'What we are missing are life-saving interventions at the policy level,' Paul said. The premier health institute is observing breast feeding awareness week. 'Women are surrounded by myths on the issue of breast feeding. The fact being that six months of necessary breast feeding is a natural boon for any mother and child.' Ramesh Agarwal, associate professor of paediatrics at AIIMS, said: 'We want to tell people at the community level and at a personal forum that breast-fed children are never malnourished. They have strong immunity to fight diseases.' 'When a pregnant woman comes to the centre, we have to deal with a host of issues. This includes informing her that breast feeding is not going to harm her, and it is a necessity under all circumstances. We investigate her health completely,' Paul explained. http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
| Beat diabetes with a wheat and rice free diet Posted: 05 Aug 2011 10:55 AM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, Aug 5 - Forget the much advertised cornflake or the humble roti and rice -- they can kill. Workday menus of Indians living in big cities are being redefined by the fear of proliferating diabetes brought on by stress and poor diet, say leading lifestyle doctors and diabeticians. With India expected to be home to 80 percent of the world's diabetic population by 2025, the buzzword is 'low glycemic load foods'. The glycemic index or GI is a measure of the effects of carbohydrate on blood sugar level. Studies have proved that people who eat low-glycemic food over several years are less prone to type 2 diabetes and coronary heart diseases than those who love their morning platter of 'parantha, poori and roti -' - the high glycemic delights. 'The meals should be kept free of flour, cornflakes, wheat and rice,' Gaurav Sharma, a diabetologist, sports medicine and lifestyle doctor told IANS. They can kill with excess starch and gluten allergy, the newest wheat allergen on the pantry shelf which can aggravate the condition of diabetics. 'An ideal anti-diabetic breakfast, the most important meal of the day, should be a combination of eggs - fried, poached or scrambled in extra-virgin olive oil - accompanied by a tomato or mint dip followed by herbal or jasmine tea,' he added. Eggs do not increase cholesterol; the popular perception of eggs as a potential source of cholesterol is a myth, said the doctor who has treated several top sportspersons including Kapil Dev. Sharma, who has been practising lifestyle medicine for the last two decades, has designed several anti-diabetes diet plans. 'Every Indian family with or without a history of diabetes must use at least three different varieties of cooking oils rich in the essential Omega-3 fatty acids, which help production of natural insulin,' the doctor said. 'They can be olive oil, mustard oil, clarified butter, coconut oil or flaxseed oil,' he added. Breakfast is ideally... http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
| Scientist urges government ruling on genetically engineered salmon Posted: 05 Aug 2011 05:00 AM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- A Purdue University scientist is urging federal officials to decide whether genetically engineered salmon would be allowed for U.S. consumption and arguing that not doing so may set back scientific efforts to increase food production. William Muir, a professor of animal sciences, said that based on data made available by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, AquAdvantage (AA) salmon poses little real risk to the environment or human health. AA salmon were given a gene from Chinook salmon that speeds growth and improves feed efficiency in farm-raised fish. Developed by AquaBounty Technologies, the fish would be spawned in Canada and grown to full size in Panama, both of which are land-based, contained facilities. We realize that any new technology can have risks, and those risks need to be assessed in a thorough and convincing manner, Muir said. However, once the assessment has been completed and the agency concludes from the weight of evidence that risks of harm, either to the environment or to consumers, is negligible, the next step, which is to allow production and sale of the product, needs to be taken. Muir and Alison L. Van Eenennaam, an animal genomics and biotechnology Extension specialist at the University of California Davis, made the call for FDA approval in a peer-reviewed commentary in the early online version of the journal Nature Biotechnology. The salmon would be the first genetically engineered animal used as a food in the United States, but it has been tied up in FDA regulatory proceedings since 1995. Muir said that becomes a disincentive for those working to increase food supplies for a growing world population. This tells us that no entrepreneur is going to invest in these new projects because they can't get them approved, Muir said. Muir has not received any funding or support from AquaBounty Technologies. Alan Mathew, head of Purdue's Department of Animal Sciences, served on the... http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
| Health officials from 16 states discuss leprosy Posted: 04 Aug 2011 11:54 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, Aug 4 - Health secretaries of the central government and 16 Indian states with highest leprosy cases in a bid to address the menace, a statement said Thursday. 'The annual global toll due to leprosy is attributed to 16 countries and India being the highest global contributor of new cases with over 1,20,000 annual cases,' said the statement. 'The conference was aimed at discussing ways to improve the coverage of leprosy control activities ensuring that the disease burden reduces in all endemic areas,' added the statement. In 2006, India attained the significant milestone of achieving national and state level elimination of the disease except in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadar and Nagar Haveli. However, it resurfaced later and now attributes to more than 65 percent of the global burden of leprosy with 1 to 1.2 lakh new cases every year, said the statement. Nata Menabde, WHO representative to India stated: 'We believe that collaborative partnerships with international leprosy agencies and multi-sectoral coordination with other ministries are extremely important in achieving the goal of district level elimination.' Meanwhile, sustained efforts are still required at the state and district levels though significant progress was made during the 11th Five Year Plan in reducing leprosy burden in the country from 1,69,709 cases in 2005 to 126,800 new cases in 2010, said the statement. The government in partnership with major international leprosy agencies and WHO has developed a result-based programme for the 12th Five Year Plan to diagnose disabilities caused due to leprosy in early stages. 'About 209 districts with high number of leprosy cases will be targeted and followed up over a period of time. Innovative approaches like involvement of faith-based organisations, child-to-child approach in spreading the leprosy message, and basic screening have also been included,' said the statement. http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
| IGNOU, Unicef sensitise scribes on infant deaths Posted: 04 Aug 2011 07:26 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, Aug 4 - The Indira Gandhi National Open University - along with Unicef sensitised media personnel on the high infant mortality and low immunisation levels in Madhya Pradesh, a statement said Thursday. 'A 20-member team comprising national, state and district level media visited Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh and observed the low rate of routine immunisation and high infant mortality in the state,' a varsity official said. The journalists visited the state-of-the-art special care newborn units, set-up by the National Rural Health Mision - and Unicef, as well as the cold chain vaccine storage units in the district. According to IGNOU, the visit was part of second phase of its partnership with Unicef launched a month ago to address the issue. The journalists got a first-hand experience about the micro-planning involved in the handling of cold chain equipment that maintains vaccines at right temperatures. 'The field visit to Jabalpur followed media engagement held through video-conference in Delhi, in which over 80 media professionals from Delhi, Bhopal and Jabalpur exchanged views on the subject,' added the official. Tania Goldner, Unicef chief of field office, Madhya Pradesh, said that around 5,000 children under the age of five die daily in India and a large number of these deaths are due to preventable causes. 'Vaccine-preventable diseases are one of the major causes of morbidity, disability and mortality among children in many states of India. 'It is here that we need media's support to convey the need for immunisation as well as help to motivate parents for immunising their children,' she added. http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
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