New medications for early Alzheimer’s draw praise, controversy
Independence Health System has introduced a new service that capitalizes on an overwhelming patient medical need and two new medicines.
Powered by WPeMatico
Archive for month: August, 2024
Do plastics cause autism? Here’s what the latest study really says
A study out recently has prompted much media attention about the role of plastics in developing autism.
Powered by WPeMatico
Neighborhood socioeconomic status linked to premature mortality
Low neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with premature mortality, according to a study published online Aug. 8 in JAMA Network Open.
Powered by WPeMatico
FDA approves first nasal spray to curb anaphylaxis, an alternative to injections
Folks nervous about administering a rescue shot for anaphylaxis finally have a new alternative in a nasal spray.
Powered by WPeMatico
Proposal to include AYUSH Packages in AB PM- JAY underway: Shri Prataprao Jadhav
New Delhi: Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) aims to provide health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to approximately 55 Cr beneficiaries corresponding to 12.34 Crore families constituting the bottom 40% of India’s population.
Inclusion of AYUSH packages under AB PM-JAY have been proposed. In this regard, it may kindly be noted that meetings between NHA and Ministry of AYUSH, GoI have been held for necessary deliberation on the implementation model for the proposed convergence of AYUSH packages with AB PM-JAY. Wider stakeholder consultations involving implementing states/UTs have been held.
Further, discussions on various aspects of the AYUSH package integration including package design, package cost, AYUSH hospital on-boarding, Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs), objectively defined treatment outcomes, financial implications, etc. are ongoing.
(i) Central Government employees and pensioners enrolled in the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) have access to healthcare services through allopathic as well as Ayush i.e. Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy systems of medicine. Currently, CGHS runs 110 Ayush Wellness Centres along with one Ayurvedic Hospital in India. Additionally, 20 Yoga internees provide yoga consultations to beneficiaries at various CGHS Wellness Centres in association with Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), under the Ministry of Ayush.
Also Read:Over 29,000 Hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana as of June 2024
At present, CGHS has 54 empanelled Ayush Day Care Therapy Centres in Delhi/NCR and 45 empanelled IPD (In-Patient Department) Ayush Health Care Organisations (HCOs) across the country. These facilities offer comprehensive health care for CGHS beneficiaries in Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, and Siddha system of medicine in accordance with CGHS-approved procedures and rates.
This network underscores the government’s commitment to providing diverse healthcare options that include Ayush systems, thereby catering to the holistic health needs of Central Government employees and pensioners under CGHS.
(ii) The Ministry of Ayush implemented a Central Sector Scheme of Ayurswasthya Yojana since FY 2021-22. The Scheme has 02 components viz.-
(a) AYUSH and public Health
(b) Centre of Excellence (CoE)
Under the AYUSH and public Health Component of Ayurswasthya Yojana, there is provision of distribution of AYUSH medicines and organize free medical camps in such localities like rural, tribal population and slums in cities etc. the population to be covered under this component will be at least 1.5 lakhs. Minimums 1000 persons should be benefited by medical intervention.
(iii) Public Health being a State subject, the primary responsibility to ensure the availability of Ayush treatment lies with State/UT Governments. However, Ministry of Ayush is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) through State/UT Governments for development and promotion of Ayush system and supporting their efforts for providing treatment facilities to the community through Ayush system of medicines under different activities as per the provision of NAM guidelines. The Mission inter-alia makes provision for the following: –
(i) Operationalization of Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Ayush) by upgrading existing Ayush dispensaries and Health Sub-centres
(ii)Co-location of Ayush facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs)
(iii)Supply of essential drugs to Government Ayush Hospitals, Government Dispensaries and Government/ Government aided Teaching Institutional Ayush Hospitals
(iv)Upgradation of existing standalone Government Ayush Hospitals
(v)Upgradation of existing Government/Panchayat/Government aided Ayush Dispensaries/Construction of building for existing Ayush Dispensary (Rented/dilapidated accommodation)/ Construction of building to establish new Ayush Dispensary
(vi) Setting up of 50/30/10 bedded integrated Ayush Hospitals
(vii) Ayush Public Health Programs
(viii) Establishment of new Ayush colleges in the States where availability of Ayush teaching institutions is inadequate in Government Sector
(ix) Infrastructural development of Ayush Under-Graduate Institutions
(x) Infrastructural development of Ayush Post-Graduate Institutions/add on PG/ Pharmacy/Para Medical Courses
State/UT Governments may avail the financial assistance by submitting the proposals through State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs) as per the provisions of NAM guideline.
This information was given by the Minister of State (IC) for Ayush Shri Prataprao Jadhav in the Lok Sabha in a written reply to a question.
Powered by WPeMatico
650 Assistant Professors, 1200 Nurses to be recruited at Govt Medical Colleges by KEA
Bengaluru: Around 650 assistant professors and 1,200 nurses who come under the Group-A category will be recruited through competitive examination by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) soon.
The confirmation in this regard came from Karnataka Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil on Wednesday who directed officials to fill the vacancies in a meeting held with the officials of the department.
Also read- Telangana: 872 teaching faculty to be recruited at 8 new medical colleges
“Chairing a crucial meeting with the officials of the Department of Medical Education, Minister Patil not satisfied with the current recruitment process which the heads of the individual institutions used to conduct recruitment amid allegations of corruption and nepotism, took a slew of measures aimed at regulating the recruitment process and filling the vacant posts in the 33 government institutions coming under the department of medical education including 22 medical colleges and 11 super speciality hospitals across the state,” said the official statement reported by ANI.
The step is aimed at maintaining transparency and competition in the recruitment process and checking irregularities. The minister said that the department’s recruitment bylaws would be amended to pave the way for KEA to conduct tests for the vacant posts.
The statement added, “The proposal to recruit nurses through KEA was sent by the government a couple of years back. The KEA, however, wrote back that it would be difficult for it to examine the absence of proper C&R rules in, the roaster system. When this development was brought to the minister’s notice, Patil directed the DME & joint secretary to follow C&R rules applicable to the recruitment of nurses under the health and family welfare department”.
For a smooth process of handing over the recruitment mantle to KEA, Patil instructed the director of medical education Sujatha Rathod to constitute an expert committee for syllabus for the KEA to hold tests, it added, news agaency ANI reported.
Powered by WPeMatico
Merck discontinues Phase 3 trial for lung cancer combo drug
Rahway: Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has announced the discontinuation of the Phase 3 KeyVibe-008 trial based on the recommendation of an independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC). The trial is evaluating the investigational fixed-dose combination (coformulation) of vibostolimab, an anti-TIGIT antibody, and pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with chemotherapy compared to atezolizumab in combination with chemotherapy, for the first-line treatment of patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).
At a pre-planned analysis, data showed that the primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) met the pre-specified futility criteria. Additionally, when compared to patients in the control arm, patients in the vibostolimab and pembrolizumab fixed-dose combination arm experienced a higher rate of adverse events (AEs) and immune-related AEs. A comprehensive analysis of this study is ongoing.
Merck is notifying study investigators of the decision and that patients should stop ongoing treatment with the fixed-dose combination of vibostolimab and pembrolizumab and be offered the option to be treated with atezolizumab. Results will be shared with the scientific community.
“Small cell lung cancer remains a difficult disease to treat, as evident by the seven percent five-year survival rate and limited advancements in treatment options,” said Dr. Marjorie Green, senior vice president and head of oncology, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. “Innovative research plays a critical role in improving our understanding to help patients achieve better outcomes, and while we hoped the results would be different, we remain committed to investigating novel approaches to treat this debilitating disease. We are extremely grateful to all of the patients, caregivers and investigators for their participation in this study.”
Merck has an extensive clinical development program in lung cancer and is advancing multiple registration-enabling studies, with research directed at earlier stages of disease and novel combinations.
In SCLC, Merck and Daiichi Sankyo recently announced that the first patient has been dosed in the IDeate-Lung02 Phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of investigational ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd) in patients with relapsed SCLC versus treatment of physician’s choice of chemotherapy. Merck and Daiichi Sankyo also expanded their existing global co-development and co-commercialization agreement for three investigational DXd antibody-drug conjugates to include Merck’s MK-6070, an investigational delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) targeting T-cell engager that is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT04471727). The companies are planning to evaluate MK-6070 in combination with I-DXd in certain patients with SCLC, as well as other potential combinations. Merck obtained MK-6070 through its acquisition of Harpoon Therapeutics.
Ongoing Phase 3 studies evaluating the vibostolimab and pembrolizumab fixed-dose combination in lung cancer, which are routinely monitored by external data monitoring committees, include KeyVibe-003 , KeyVibe-006 and KeyVibe-007 . Interim external data monitoring committee safety reviews have not resulted in any study modifications to date and the studies are undergoing ongoing comprehensive safety monitoring.
Read also: Merck Animal Health concludes acquisition of Elanco Aqua business
Powered by WPeMatico
Over Rs 7000 crore spent on treatment of 45 lakh patients under Ayushman Bharat scheme in UP
Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is significantly advancing the reach of the Central government’s Ayushman Bharat scheme, ensuring that a vast number of residents receive healthcare benefits and that patients with serious illnesses are treated by specialist doctors in leading corporate hospitals.
The Yogi Adityanath government has made more than five crore Ayushman cards — highest in the country — and more than Rs 2,500 crore have been spent so far on the treatment of more than 6 lakh patients with serious illnesses. Not only this, Ayushman card holders from other states are also taking advantage of the better health services of the state, news agency IANS reported.
Principal Secretary, Medical, Health and Family Welfare, Partha Sarathi Sen Sharma says that on the directions of Chief Minister Adityanath, Ayushman cards are being made on a war footing to provide the benefits of the scheme to the maximum number of people. As a result of this, there are 5,11,72,647 Ayushman cardholders in the state.
Also Read:AB PM-JAY: 30 crore Ayushman Cards issued, With 4.8 crore Uttar Pradesh tops the list
These cardholders have access to treatment across 5,669 hospitals in the state, including 2,948 government hospitals and 2,721 private facilities.
Not only this, but the cardholders are also getting treatment in big corporate hospitals such as Apollo, Medanta, Yashoda, Regency, and Tender Palm amongst others.
According to the Principal Secretary, so far Rs 7,040 crore has been spent on the treatment of 45,19,375 patients under the scheme in the state.
According to the IANS report, he said that Uttar Pradesh has been the number one state in the country for the last several years in terms of making cards, while Madhya Pradesh is in second place, where 4.03 crore cards have been made. Bihar is in the third position with 3.26 crore cardholders.
More than one lakh card holders from other states have so far received treatment in Uttar Pradesh.
CEO of the State Agency For Comprehensive Health and Integrated Services (SACHIS) Sangeeta Singh said that even the most serious diseases of Ayushman card holders are being treated easily in the state.
She said that till now 6,98,831 patients have been provided treatment under tertiary care with Rs 2,557 crore. In this, 66,513 heart patients were treated and Rs 684 crore was spent on their treatment.
“At the same time, 1,79,141 patients from other states took advantage of the better health services of the state. Rs 491 crore was spent on their treatment, while 3,05,264 state resident patients living outside the state got treatment in other states and Rs 821 crore were spent on their treatment,” she added.
Powered by WPeMatico
Non-service postgraduates Posted as Assistant Surgeons, TN Doctors Oppose Move
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Government’s order posting the non-service postgraduate (NSPGs) candidates as assistant surgeons in government medical colleges, ahead of the service doctors and PGs, has upset a section of government doctors in the State.
Demanding that the Government order be withdrawn, the doctors’ associations in the State have warned the authorities to boycott hospital duties in protest of the decision.
TN Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) said that the non-service postgraduates would be posted to the institutes and work for a minimum period of one year. This was ordered to ensure that these NSPGs fulfilled their bond conditions by working as Assistant Surgeons.
However, this decision has been strongly opposed by Democratic Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association. Issuing a Statement, the association strongly opposed the method of posting the NSPGs in regular posts without conducting any counselling for the existing service PGs.
As per the latest media report by The Hindu, this move has also been opposed by the Tamil Nadu Medical Officers’ Association (TNMOA). The association informed the daily that they had already represented the concerns of posting the NSPGs before service doctors and PGs. Even though the DME had assured that the order would be withdrawn, the posting orders were issued and appointees started joining the posts.
“This will hamper the opportunity of hundreds of service doctors in the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services institutions, who completed postgraduation earlier and are waiting to enter DME institutions, and the current final-year batch of service PGs, who will finish their course in six months,” the association said.
Meanwhile, the doctors’ associations have demanded that the State Health Department withdraw the posting order for the NSPGs immediately and conduct counselling for the service postgraduates. TNMOA has warned to initiate protest by boycotting hospital duties if the order was not withdrawn.
Earlier this year, Medical Dialogues had reported that the aspirants preparing for the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB) examination in Tamil Nadu were expressing dissatisfaction with the Health Department’s handling of vacant positions and the allocation of merit marks
They were particularly concerned about the department’s decision to issue a fresh notification for 2,553 assistant surgeon posts, despite 1,251 vacancies remaining unfilled from the April 2023 MRB exam. Back then, the aspirants were planning to challenge this move before the Madras High Court.
Powered by WPeMatico
NEET PG Exam Centre Row: Private Centres Avoided for Better Monitoring, says NBE Chief
New Delhi: Amid the ongoing uproar by the National Eligibility-and-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2024 aspirants regarding the allocation of exam centres, the president of the National Board of Examinations (NBEMS) Dr. Abhijat Sheth said recently that private entrepreneur institutes were avoided for NEET PG 2024 centres for better monitoring.
Dr Sheth further added that the exam scheduled to take place on August 11 is being held in two shifts to eliminate any possibility of malpractice.
The exam, which is conducted by the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) along with its technical partner TCS, has been embroiled in controversies over allegations of paper leak twice, both of which have been rejected by the authorities. Although previously it was decided that NEET PG 2024 exam would be held on June 23, the exam was cancelled on June 22, only hours before the exam.
Commenting on the upcoming exam, Dr. Sheth told PTI, “We are relying on TCS iON centres and AICTE affiliated institutes to hold the exam this time for better supervision and also to stem out any possibility of malpractice. A few private entrepreneur centres have been roped in where there are no TCS iON/ AICTE affiliated institutes available.”
Also Read: NEET PG 2024 exam tomorrow in 2 shifts: NBE adopts AIIMS process for results preparation
Also, the aim behind holding it in two shifts is also to ensure that students do not have to travel too far for the exam centres, he added.
“We have ensured that the students are issued exam centres in the same state as per their given address while filling up forms, to the best extent possible,” Dr Sheth said.
The NEET-PG will be held on pan-India basis for 2,28,542 candidates at 416 examination centres in 170 cities. It will be conducted in two shifts and the scores of the candidates will be normalised, Dr Sheth stated. The centres which were classified as high-risk by TCS based on their audit have been removed from the list.
“Holding in shifts and normalisation is an old and a legitimate process for conducting the exams in India. Institutions like IITs, AIIMS, etc are conducting examinations in multiple shifts,” Dr Sheth said.
Over some candidates being reassigned exam centres on August 4, he said that has been because of the addition of new centres to further reduce inter-state travel of some of the candidates as per suggestions of the health ministry.
Dr Sheth stated that 90 per cent students have been allotted test centres within the state of their correspondence address and remaining students have been allotted centres in nearby states due to limitations of testing seats in their own correspondence state. The admit cards for the exam have been released on Thursday (August 8), he said.
Recently, NBE issued a clarification and mentioned that the social media posts claiming that the question paper for NEET PG 2024 has been leaked and was available for sale were “false and bogus”.
Issuing a notice on 07.08.2024, NBE denied such false claims made by a Telegram channel titled “NEET-PG LEAKED MATERIAL”, where unscrupulous agents were claiming to provide NEET-PG 2024 questions in exchange for money.
Assuring the aspirants that question papers for NEET-PG 2024 are yet to be prepared, NBE added that it has already registered a police complaint against such fraudsters and their accomplices for trying to befool the aspirants.
Powered by WPeMatico