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Cuttack: Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda and Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister, Odisha, distributed cobranded cards of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, in Cuttack yesterday.
The Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana was also launched during the event. Shri Jual Oram, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs; Shri Mukesh Mahaling, Minister, Health and Family Welfare, Odisha and Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly of Odisha were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Shri JP Nadda said that “Today is a historic day for Odisha as the AB PM-JAY, the world’s largest health coverage program under which 62 crore people are currently being benefitted, will connect approximately 1.3 crore families, almost 3.52 crore people of Odisha.”
Also Read:Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda visits Jan Aushadhi Kendra at AIIMS Bilaspur
Shri Nadda informed that more than 8.19 crore people have availed services under the scheme and Rs 1.26 lakh crore have been spent under the same to provide healthcare services to the people of the country.
The Union Health Minister highlighted that around 61 crore people are covered under the scheme now. He said, “earlier, more than 55 crore people were covered under the scheme.
Then ASHAs, Anganwadi workers and their families i.e. approximately 36 lakh people were added in the scheme. “In October last year, people over 70 yrs of age were covered under the scheme and now, with the implementation of Ayushman Vaya Vandana in Odisha, all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status, will be covered”, he stated.
Shri Nadda pointed out that the out-of-pocket expenditure has declined from 62% to 38% today as a result of the Ayushman Bharat scheme”. He also highlighted that under the 100-day TB Intensified Elimination Programme, Odisha proactively participated identified 16,500 new cases. “Under PM ABHIM, Rs. 1,411 crores have been provided for strengthening the healthcare infrastructure of Odisha”, he stated.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi highlighted that launch event as “another feather added to Odisha’s development story”. He stated that “from today onwards, beneficiaries of Odisha will get free healthcare facility. Odia people residing outside the state will also get the benefit. They can avail the facility in the hospitals outside the state.”
He stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Ayushman Bharat scheme is benefiting people across the nation, especially the poor and underprivileged section.
Shri Majhi informed that more than 4,000 doctors have been appointed under the current administration and 5,000 more appointments are under process. He underlined the commitment of the state government to strengthen health infrastructure in the state and stated its aim to establish medical college in all the districts of the state.
Shri Jual Oram noted that tribals of Odisha will be greatly benefited under the scheme. He stated that “people of the state are elated with the implementation of the scheme.”
Shri Mukesh Mahaling highlighted that “3.50 Cr people of the state will get health insurance cards under Ayushman Bharat & Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana and 23 lakhs elderly people in Odisha will also be benefited under the Vaya Vandana Yojana.”.
Also Read:PM Modi reviews AYUSH sector, reiterates government’s commitment to strengthen it
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Kottayam: The use of the shortcut phrase “Repeat All” by doctors on patient prescriptions, instead of writing down each medicine name specifically, has stirred controversy, with concerns emerging over the potential misuse of certain allopathic drugs. Shockingly, it has been found that doctors used this method even on five years old prescriptions.
Government doctors often resort to writing “Repeat All” on prescriptions during hectic outpatient hours, using it as a time-saving measure. However, this practice is not particularly followed by everyone in the medical fraternity.
Doctors are naturally recommended to write the full names of medicines on prescriptions to avoid any confusion or errors at the pharmacy. The clear instruction in the prescriptions helps pharmacists from making any mistakes since any mistakes in this process could lead to a potential health risk for patients.
Also read- Homeopaths can now prescribe Allopathy Medicines in Maharashtra
Questioning why doctors follow such practices, the Kerala Health Department has issued a directive to District Medical Officers (DMOs) to review and clarify their stance on the continued use of the term, following a formal complaint by the Kerala Government Pharmacists Association.
The association highlighted the issue through a letter to the health department. It pointed out the risks involved when doctors write “Repeat All” on prescriptions without specifying the names of the medicines.
In a letter to the Director of the Health Department, the association urged the department to ask doctors not to use such practices and to follow proper prescription practices.
“Patients undergoing extreme care and those with lifestyle diseases, and those enrolled in the Community Mental Health Program are often prescribed the same medicines on a monthly basis. These patients are also provided with a booklet to record their medicines. During their monthly visits, doctors usually enquire about changes in the patient’s condition. If the answer is “no,” the doctor simply writes “Repeat All” referring to the earlier prescriptions. It is then up to the pharmacist to flip through the pages and identify the medicines to be given,” reads the letter.
The association made a shocking revelation that even prescriptions written five years ago are being repeated in this manner. The issue traces back to the COVID-19 pandemic, when many patients began collecting their regular medications directly from pharmacies without consulting a doctor or obtaining fresh prescriptions. While this was tolerated during the crisis for continuity of care, the Kerala Government Pharmacists Association claims the practice has persisted in several hospitals even after the pandemic ended.
Dr MC Tomichen, retired RMO of Kottayam Medical College, told Mathrubhumi that the correct procedure is to write the prescription clearly each and every time. He feels that prescriptions marked with “Repeat All” are vulnerable to misuse. He also said that pharmacists should remain vigilant when handling such notes.
Last month, the District Prescription Audit Committee in Pathanamthitta issued a directive to doctors urging them to avoid using ‘Repeat All’ on prescriptions to prevent the risk of giving incorrect medicines to patients
Commenting on the matter, Dr KA Sreevivas, State President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), also insists that the full name of each medicine should be written clearly on the prescription. This helps pharmacists avoid errors or confusion when giving medicines. He acknowledges that some doctors may write “Repeat All” due to time constraints, but that not all doctors follow this shortcut.
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Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its probe into the alleged rape and murder of a Postgraduate doctor trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, revisiting key individuals and officials to uncover whether there was an attempt to cover up the incident that occurred on August 9, 2024.
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that in the ongoing investigation into the tragic rape-murder of a PG doctor tarinee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last August, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the Calcutta High Court that medical reports had confirmed rape, but not gang rape. The agency also revealed that it was probing whether there was any attempt to cover up the incident, but conceded that it could not provide a timeline for when the investigation would be completed.
Also Read: CBI tells HC No gangrape in RG Kar case, investigating larger conspiracy
As part of their ongoing probe, CBI officers recently resumed questioning hospital officials and postgraduate trainees. On Tuesday, the team recorded a fresh statement from the security supervisor who was on duty during the night shift on August 8 — a person they had previously interviewed.
“The response time of the security personnel and that of the RG Kar administration in informing the local police station in Tala after the body was found is significant,” a senior CBI officer said, not giving further details, Telegraph India reports.
In addition to the security personnel, the CBI spoke briefly to the current principal and vice-principal of RG Kar Medical College. However, neither of them was in office at the time of the incident. The then-principal, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, remains in custody.
During the last hearing in March, the CBI counsel informed the Calcutta High Court that the agency was exploring the possibility of a larger conspiracy and was examining if efforts were made to conceal the crime or mislead the initial investigation.
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China: A new study has highlighted the significant impact of postoperative hyperglycemia (PHG) on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, revealing that this condition not only occurs frequently but also leads to a range of complications.
“Postoperative hyperglycemia (PHG) was observed in 65.3% of patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and was significantly associated with a higher risk of several postoperative complications,” the researchers reported in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. Patients with PHG had increased rates of acute kidney injury (12.6% vs. 4.0%), delirium (9.5% vs. 3.4%), and pulmonary infections (12.0% vs. 5.1%) when compared to those without PHG.
The researchers further identified several independent risk factors for developing PHG, including pre-existing diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 13.1), pulmonary infection (OR 1.91), elevated intraoperative blood glucose levels (OR 1.51), and female sex (OR 1.38). In addition to heightened complication rates, patients with PHG also faced prolonged ICU stays and longer overall hospitalization.
Postoperative hyperglycemia is commonly observed following cardiac surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Yuping Xiang, Department of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, and colleagues aimed to assess the incidence of PHG in such patients, identify its independent risk factors, and explore its impact on clinical outcomes.
For this purpose, the researchers conducted a retrospective observational study at West China Hospital of Sichuan University, analyzing patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between January 2023 and March 2024. 1,008 consecutive patients admitted to the cardiac surgery ICU were categorized into PHG and non-PHG groups. Blood glucose levels were monitored immediately after surgery and every 3–4 hours daily for 10 days or until ICU discharge. Patients with PHG received intravenous insulin therapy.
Based on the study, the researchers reported the following findings:
The study revealed that postoperative hyperglycemia commonly occurs after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and is independently associated with risk factors like older age, female sex, diabetes, pulmonary infections, longer aortic cross-clamp time, and high intraoperative glucose levels. PHG is linked to poorer outcomes, including higher rates of kidney injury, delirium, infections, prolonged ventilation, extended ICU and hospital stays, and increased risk of self-discharge or death.
“These findings highlight the need for timely detection and effective management of PHG to enhance postoperative recovery,” the authors concluded.
Reference:
Xiang, Y., Luo, T., & Zeng, L. (2025). Risk factors and clinical outcome of postoperative hyperglycemia after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 12, 1479922. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1479922
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Recent study evaluated hemolysis in patients supported with the Impella 5.5 percutaneous left ventricular assist device in a single-center experience. The research aimed to characterize the hemolytic sequelae in the largest series of Impella 5.5-supported patients to date. A total of 123 patients with recorded plasma free hemoglobin (PfHb) levels were included in the retrospective analysis, with 26 patients classified as high hemolysis (HH) and 25 as low hemolysis (LH) based on PfHb levels. The study found that HH patients had higher admission SCAI stages, longer Impella 5.5 support days, more additional mechanical circulatory support (MCS), and required more blood product transfusions compared to LH patients.
Risk Factors and Prognosis
Logistic regression identified additional MCS and more Impella days as risk factors for hemolysis. Survival analysis showed no significant differences in postoperative complications between HH and LH patients. However, HH patients who survived had fewer platelet transfusions and fewer days of elevated PfHb compared to those who died. The study highlighted the poor prognosis associated with hemolysis in this high-risk cohort. Further analysis of factors associated with survival in the HH group revealed that survivors required fewer platelet transfusions, had lower bilirubin levels, and fewer days of elevated PfHb. The study emphasized the importance of identifying and minimizing hemolysis, given its association with adverse outcomes.
Study Limitations
Limitations of the study included its retrospective nature, a relatively small sample size, and the lack of a consistent hemolysis definition in MCS. The authors recommended larger studies with standardized hemolysis sampling protocols to better understand percutaneous LVAD-associated hemolysis.
Conclusion and Future Research
Overall, the research shed light on the hemolytic complications in Impella 5.5-supported patients and underscored the need for aggressive monitoring and management of hemolysis to improve outcomes in this patient population. Further research is warranted to elucidate the factors contributing to hemolysis and its implications in patients receiving mechanical circulatory support.
Key Points
– The study assessed hemolysis in patients supported with the Impella 5.5 percutaneous left ventricular assist device, focusing on characterizing hemolytic sequelae in a large series of patients.
– 123 patients with recorded plasma free hemoglobin (PfHb) levels were analyzed, with 26 classified as high hemolysis (HH) and 25 as low hemolysis (LH) based on PfHb levels.
– Patients with high hemolysis had higher admission SCAI stages, longer Impella 5.5 support days, more additional mechanical circulatory support (MCS), and required more blood product transfusions compared to low hemolysis patients.
– Logistic regression identified additional MCS and longer Impella days as risk factors for hemolysis, with survival analysis showing no significant differences in postoperative complications between high and low hemolysis patients.
– Survivors in the high hemolysis group required fewer platelet transfusions, had lower bilirubin levels, and fewer days of elevated PfHb, emphasizing the importance of identifying and minimizing hemolysis for better outcomes.
– Study limitations included its retrospective nature, small sample size, and inconsistent hemolysis definition in MCS, recommending larger studies with standardized hemolysis sampling protocols for better understanding of percutaneous LVAD-associated hemolysis.
Reference –
Clothier, J.S., Kobsa, S., Lester, L. et al. Evaluation of hemolysis in patients supported with Impella 5.5: a single center experience. J Cardiothorac Surg 20, 143 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-025-03352-7
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A new study published in the International Journal of Cardiology found proof regarding the ability of the angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (angio-IMR) to accurately diagnose ischemia in angina with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA).
30%-70% of patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) had angina with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA). Additionally, a large portion of ANOCA is caused by coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). ANOCA has been effectively assessed using functional evaluations based on pressure wires. However, the intrusive aspect, the administration of hyperemic medicines, and the increased expense have limited its practical utility.
Angina with non-obstructive coronary artery disease is largely caused by coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). Although it was created for the assessment of CMD, the angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (angio-IMR) has not yet received enough validation in ANOCA. Thus, Jingpu Wang and colleagues carried out this investigation to examine the diagnostic efficacy of angio-IMR for ischemia in ANOCA patients and to validate it against wire-based IMR.
2 separate cohorts were included in this investigation. In the wire-based IMR validation cohort, 74 patients (74 vessels) had their angio-IMR and wire-based IMR assessed. 136 patients (408 vessels) in the SPECT-MPI validation cohort successfully underwent angio-IMR and single-photon emission computed tomography-myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT-MPI). The myocardial perfusion defect on SPECT-MPI and a summed difference score (SDS)≯≥ 2 were used to indicate ischemia.
The angio-IMR ≥ 25 expressed a high diagnostic efficiency and classification agreement (CA) of 91.9% with the reference wire-based IMR ≥ 25 in the wire-based IMR validation cohort. The high angio-IMR group (angio-IMR ≥25) showed greater ischemia in the SPECT-MPI validation cohort than the low angio-IMR group (angio-IMR <25).
With a modest diagnostic performance for ischemia, the angio-IMR ≥ 25 may help distinguish between ischemia and other conditions in patients with ANOAC (integrated discrimination improvement (IDI): 0.184; and net reclassification improvement (NRI): 0.217).
Overall, Angio-IMR and wire-based IMR showed high diagnostic performance and agreement among the ANOCA population in this investigation. Angio-IMR ≥ 25 showed noteworthy efficacy and advantage in detecting ischemia, suggesting that angio-IMR might offer useful data and support ANOCA patient risk classification.
Source:
Wang, J., Li, C., Zhang, M., Zhou, J., Zhang, Q., Guo, W., Pan, C., Yu, H., Chang, S., Lu, H., Chen, Z., Shi, H., Zhang, F., Qian, J., & Ge, J. (2025). The performance of angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance for ischemia in angina with non-obstructive coronary artery disease: Validated by wire-based IMR and SPECT-MPI. International Journal of Cardiology, 133236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2025.133236
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