The Delhi Medical Association (DMA) has offered praise for the controversial National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, in a marked departure from the criticism it has faced from much of India’s medical fraternity. “We are of the opinion that the NMC Act is good for society,” stated president of the DMA Dr Girish Tyagi. “It will […]
Delhi
Medicines for water-borne disease in flood-ravaged Thane
Maharashtra’s Thane district has been battling heavy rainfall in recent weeks, causing floods and leaving it vulnerable to the spread of water-borne disease. To guard against such infections, officials have been distributing medicines – an effort which has reached more than 60,000 people. The state has been beleaguered by intense flooding amidst heavy monsoon rainfall. […]
AIIMS, Safdarjung doctors call off strikes – but more are to come
The controversy over the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill shows no signs of dissipating, even as resident doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi have called off their strikes in protest of the law. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan met with the protesting resident doctors at […]
Toxic vegetables being sold in Delhi: Study
Beware! Chances are high that the vegetables you are eating in the national capital contain high levels of lead. According to a study conducted by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), vegetables grown on the Yamuna floodplains contain high doses of lead, leading to high risk to the public. Prolonged consumption of such toxic […]
Death in the sewers: Manual scavenging continues to kill
In the first six months of 2019, at least fifty people died because of manual scavenging – in just eight states. This is according to data collected from the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) from Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. The fatalities offer a snapshot of a much […]
Rotavirus infections: Multiple states launch vaccination drives
Multiple states have launched vaccination drives against rotavirus infections, a significant driver of child mortality in India. Rotavirus infections are the leading cause of severe diarrhoeal disease worldwide. Diarrhoeal disease is the second most common cause of death of children under five years old and represents the most common cause of infectious disease outbreaks in […]
Delhi ordered to pay Rs 25 crore over pollution
Dissatisfaction over the Delhi government’s response to polluters is incurring a financial penalty of Rs 25 crore, by order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT issued to the state government what was described as its “last opportunity” to pay the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) a sum of Rs 25 crore as a […]
E-cigarette industry appeals against potential ban
The e-cigarette industry has appealed against the proposed ban on the devices, calling on regulation instead of outright prohibition. With the Centre in position to initiate a blanket ban on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) by classifying them under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, the Trade Representatives of ENDS in India (TRENDS), an association of […]
Delhi government given notice over working conditions of nurses
The Delhi High Court has ordered the national capital government to improve the working conditions of nurses in the state. The Supreme Court had earlier called on the Delhi government to take recommendations on board calling on improvements to be made in the working conditions of nurses in private hospitals in the national capital. A […]
Delhi cracks down on biomedical waste
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has ordered the closure of 32 facilities over improper disposal of biomedical waste – highlighting a major pollution and sanitation issue affecting India. Earlier this year, it was reported that hospitals in Delhi were behind schedule in adhering to the Union Environment Ministry’s guidelines concerning proper management of biomedical […]