Financial Irregularities at RG Kar Hospital: CBI identifies 3 Business Entities in FIR

Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continued its searches in connection with the investigation into the alleged financial irregularities at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata by including names of three business entities in the first information report (FIR) filed in the case.

These names were highlighted in a petition submitted to the Calcutta High Court by a whistleblower and former deputy superintendent of RG Kar, Akhtar Ali. Acting on this petition, the court directed the CBI last week to take over the investigation.

Sources said that the three new names included in the FIR are of three business entities namely Maa Tara Traders, Ehsan Cafe and Kham Louha.

Also Read:RG Kar Corruption Probe: CBI raids ex-principal Sandip Ghosh’s premises, 14 other locations

The CBI initially filed an FIR against Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar, who is under scrutiny for both financial irregularities and the recent rape and murder of a junior doctor at the hospital.

According to an IANS report, sources said the three business entities were named in the FIR following specific clues that they were beneficiaries in the financial irregularities allegedly done when Ghosh was at the helm of affairs at R.G. Kar.

On Sunday, the CBI sleuths conducted marathon raids and search operations at the residences of Ghosh at Beliaghata in central Kolkata and the proprietor of Maa Tara Traders Biplab Sinha in Howrah district. The raid and search operations were conducted at some other places, including one former and one present official attached with R.G. Kar.

As per findings of the CBI officials, sources said that Maa Tara Traders enjoyed a virtual monopoly in supplying different medical equipment to R.G. Kar because of the closeness of its proprietor with Ghosh.

The CBI officials are carrying out a multi-angle investigation in the matter of financial irregularities at state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital involving 15 specific charges of fund fudging, sources have said, news agency IANS reported.

The main allegation is the tendering of different contracts to private and outsourced parties without getting the necessary approval from the state health department and the college council.

Also Read:Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: CBI files FIR against RG Kar ex-principal

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Could psychedelic-assisted therapy change addiction treatment?

After years of being seen as dangerous “party drugs,” psychedelic substances are receiving renewed attention as therapies for addiction—but far more research is needed, according to a new special series of articles in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (JSAD), published at Rutgers University.

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2 in 3 parents want help preventing their child from developing hereditary health conditions, national polls finds

Among things many families don’t wish to pass down to their children and grandchildren: medical issues.

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Survey finds more than 3 in 4 Americans don’t feel they could help someone suffering an opioid overdose

International Overdose Awareness Day is a worldwide campaign held each Aug. 31 that acknowledges the grief of family and friends left behind from those who have died from a drug overdose. This year’s campaign theme “Together we can” highlights the power of the community standing together to help end overdose.

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People of lower socioeconomic status less likely to receive cataract surgery in private clinics, research shows

Despite increased funding for cataract surgeries to private, for-profit clinics, access to surgery fell 9% for lower-income people, according to new research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

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A case of tick-borne Powassan virus in a child

With tick-borne viruses such as Powassan virus increasing in Canada, clinicians should consider these infections in patients with encephalitis, as a case study shows in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

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RG Kar Corruption Probe: CBI raids ex-principal Sandip Ghosh’s premises, 14 other locations

Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday conducted searches at the premises of the former principal of RG Kar Medical College Sandip Ghosh, and 14 other locations in the city. The searches were conducted in connection with the alleged financial irregularities at the institute. 

According to the PTI report, officials said, the central probe agency is also searching 14 other locations in the city, including that of the accused and their associates.

The medical college came into media glare following the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in a seminar hall on August 9 in which a traffic police volunteer Sanjay Roy was arrested.

A CBI team also reached the residence of Dr Debashish Som, Demonstrator of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, on Sunday Morning, news agency ANI reported.

Also Read:CBI gets nod for polygraph test of RG Kar ex-principal, 4 doctors

The gruesome crime resulted in nationwide protests by doctors and citizens.  

On the directions of the Calcutta High Court, the CBI has registered cases into the killing as well as alleged financial irregularities.  

As per a media report in the TOI, the Swasthya Bhavan complaint stated, “Upon examination of the complaint, it has transpired during departmental investigation that there is a criminal nexus between Ghosh and certain unscrupulous contractors leading to award of various works of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata to them. The findings have revealed collusive bidding or bid rigging leading to award of such works to one cafeteria and two trading firms that were awarded the contract for running the cafeteria in an apparent instance of collusive bidding”.

The High Court has also instructed the CBI to submit a progress report on the investigation within three weeks. 

Also Read:Animal-like Instinct, Addicted to pornography’: Kolkata rape-murder accused psychoanalytic profile

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Shilpa Medicare successfully completes Phase 3 studies of SMLNUD07 – NorUDCA

Karnataka: Shilpa Medicare has successfully completed phase-3 clinical studies of its novel product SMLNUD07 – Nor
Ursodeoxycholic Acid (NorUDCA) tablets that is expected to revolutionise the treatment of patients
suffering from Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).

This trial was a multicentric, placebo controlled
double blinded study conducted on total 165 Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients across India
– a significant statistically powered number of patients leading to better reliability of data and results. No
serious adverse events were reported in this phase 3 study and the treatment was well tolerated at the
dose of 1500 mg per day for the duration of 24 weeks.


The trial resulted in significant, at least one stage, decrease in liver fibrosis. Additionally, there was a
significant reduction in fat accumulation in liver. The decrease in fibrosis was measured using the “Fibroscan”
technique which is the USFDA approved imaging technique for assessment of liver fibrosis. The decrease in
fat accumulation was evaluated through the CAP scoring technique. Significant normalization of Alanine
Aminotransferase (ALT) was conclusively demonstrated in this study. This approach provides a more holistic
view of the treatment’s effect by capturing multiple relevant outcomes.
These results indicate that NorUDCA could become a new standard of care with significant improvements in
restoring liver function in NAFLD patients.

Shilpa Medicare Ltd plans to submit these Phase 3 clinical trial
findings at the earliest to the CDSCO, India for seeking marketing authorization in India.
Nor UDCA is likely to be a first-in-class treatment option for NAFLD in India and has significant advantages
over UDCA like enhanced choleretic effect, resistance to amidation, anti-inflammatory properties and
reduction in fibrosis, said the Company.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Vishnukant Bhutada – Managing Director Shilpa Medicare Limited
said, “We are very pleased with the successful Phase III trials outcome for this unique product addressing
the unmet need of patients suffering from NAFLD with a potential first line of treatment. This development
exemplifies Shilpa’s constant endeavor to work towards introducing novel first of its kind pharmaceutical
products that help improve the healthcare requirements of a large patient pool.”
NAFLD is the most common liver disease and it is estimated to affect about 25% of the population in World
(approx. 1.2 billion) and about 188 million people suffer from NAFLD in India. If NAFLD is not treated in a
timely manner, it is likely to turn into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which could have fatal implications
for the patient.

Read also: Shilpa Medicare successfully completes Phase 1 clinical trial for Recombinant Human Albumin 20%

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72-year-old brain-dead woman gives new life to five with organ, tissue donation at HCMCT Manipal Hospital

New Delhi: On the morning of 15th August, 72-year-old Ms Kavita Rajkumar Goel, was found unconscious in her house. Her family immediately rushed her to HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka. 

Ms Kavita was resuscitated and placed on the ventilator. An urgent CT scan of head revealed massive brain hemorrhage. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, her condition deteriorated rapidly and she was declared brain.

The family was counseled for organ donation and post their approval both the kidneys, corneas, and skin were donated. Heart and lungs could not be donated in view of her age and the liver was medically unsuitable for transplantation. Her kidneys were allocated by NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization). One kidney was transplanted into a 52-year-old female at HCMCT Manipal Hospital Dwarka, while the other kidney was transplanted in a 63-year-old male at Artemis Hospital. Ms. Goel’s corneas and skin were also donated, offering hope and healing to multiple recipients.

Also Read:Manipal Hospital raises awareness on robotic-assisted Knee Replacement Surgeries

Dr Shrikanth Srinivasan, Chairman, Manipal Institute of Critical Care Medicine, HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka said, “After stabilization of her condition an urgent CT scan was done which revealed that she has suffered from a massive brain hemorrhage. Despite intensive treatment under the care of Neurosurgery and Critical Care teams, she could not recover and was declared brain dead on 16th August 2024 at 10:10 pm.”

Dr (Col) Avnish Seth VSM, Chairman, Manipal Institute of Gastroenterology & Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Sciences, HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka and Head Manipal Organ Sharing & Transplant (MOST) said, “The team worked closely with the patient’s family, providing them with the required information and support so that they could make an informed decision. The family was very keen to donate all her organs. However, based on the age and fitness of organs, only kidneys could be retrieved. Corneas and skin were also retrieved by eye and skin banks.”

Ms Viji Varghese, Director, HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka said, “The family’s decision to donate organs made a difference in the lives of others. The legacy of the donor will live on through the lives she has saved. Donating one’s organs is a gift of life, it is an opportunity to give someone else a second chance in life. We strongly encourage everyone to think about organ donation and to register as an organ donor. We can save lives if we work together.”

There is a wide gap between patients who need transplants and the organs that are available in India. 1.8 lakh people suffer from kidney failure every year, however, only 13,426 kidney transplants are done in 2023. An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 liver transplants are needed annually in India but only 4491 were performed in 2023. Similarly, of several thousand who suffer from heart failure, only 221 got a heart transplant. In the case of Corneas, about 25,000 transplants are done every year against a requirement of 1 lakh.

The noble act of organ donation highlights the pressing need for organ donations in India, as there is a significant disparity between patients awaiting transplants and the availability of organs. Increasing awareness and participation in organ donation can bridge this gap and offer hope to countless lives in need.

Also Read:Manipal Hospitals expands footprints in East India, rebrands AMRI units

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Pesco-vegetarian diets best for reducing risk of death in elderly, unravels study

A variety of vegetarian diets appear to protect against risk of mortality and contributing conditions, with a pesco-vegetarian diet-which includes fish-providing the most protection against risk in very elderly people, according to a new study.

Researchers at Loma Linda University Health found that vegetarian diets are associated with lower risk for all-cause mortality and many cause-specific mortalities, especially among males and in middle-aged subjects. However, slightly higher risks were observed among very elderly vegetarians for neurological conditions such as stroke, dementia, and Parkinson’s Disease. Despite this, the pesco-vegetarian diet continued to offer a small but noticeable advantage over other vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets, even in elderly people.

Gary Fraser, MBCHB, PhD, distinguished professor at Loma Linda University School of Public Health and principal investigator of the study, said a vegetarian diet appears to offer protection from risk of death through middle-aged years, but once it helps people get into their 80s that overall advantage seems to disappear for those adhering to a strict vegetarian diet.

“These increased risks of neurological conditions among vegetarians in their 80s weren’t huge, but something is going on there that we shouldn’t ignore if we wish the vegetarian advantage to continue for all vegetarians in their later years,” Fraser said.

The study, Cause-specific and all-cause mortalities in vegetarian compared to non-vegetarian participants from the Adventist Health Study-2 cohort, was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The study used data from the Adventist Health Study-2, a massive cohort of nearly 96,000 people who identify as Seventh-day Adventist and lived in the United States and Canada during the study’s baseline recruitment between 2002 and 2007, with follow-up through 2015. Data from that group has been used for numerous studies on health, disease, and mortality over the years. This study analyzed data from more than 88,000 subjects and approximately 12,500 deaths in the study cohort. Dietary data were collected using a questionnaire and then categorized into five patterns: non-vegetarian, semi-vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, and vegan.

Fraser said his team found that Adventist vegetarians overall had about a 12% less risk of death compared to Adventist non-vegetarians. Study participants with a pesco-vegetarian diet had an 18% less risk of death. Those with a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet (including dairy and eggs) had a 15% less risk of death. Vegans overall had a less than 3% decreased risk of death, but male vegans fared much better than non-vegetarians, in contrast to females.

“Overall, this is some of the clearest data that American vegetarians are greater protected from premature death than non-vegetarians,” Fraser said.

Reference:

Grace P Abris, David J Shavlik, Roy O Mathew, Fayth M Butler, Jisoo Oh, Rawiwan Sirirat, Lars E Sveen, Gary E Fraser, Cause-specific and all-cause mortalities in vegetarian compared with those in nonvegetarian participants from the Adventist Health Study-2 cohort, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.07.028.

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