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Harsh Vardhan

CGHS: Vardhan announces expansion

The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) will expand to 100 cities by 2022, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has announced.  The initiative was launched in 1954 by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to provide a range of health benefits to beneficiaries, including central government employees and retirees drawing pensions, as well …

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Tip of the iceberg: What the AIIMS fire tells us about India’s hospitals

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi resumed services at the beginning of the week following the outbreak of a fire over the weekend. No fatalities or injuries were reported in the blaze, which reportedly originated due to a short circuit. According to reports, the fire broke out on the first and …

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DMA gives support to NMC Bill

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 …

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Rotavirus vaccine for every child

The Union Health Ministry, in a bid to cut deaths from diarrhoeal disease, will provide the rotavirus vaccine to every child under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).  Acute diarrhoeal disease is the leading cause of infectious disease outbreaks in India and is the second most common cause of death among children under five years worldwide. …

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NMC Bill signed into law: Opposition continues

Last week, President Ram Nath Kovind signed into law the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill amidst continued opposition from the medical fraternity. The NMC Bill earned approval from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha in recent weeks. Its assent by President Kovind initiated one of the biggest healthcare reforms in Indian history, with a …

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Commercial surrogacy ban clears the Lok Sabha

A controversial bill which lead to a commercial surrogacy ban in India cleared the Lok Sabha on Monday. MPs passed the legislation, which Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan called “the need of the hour”,  by a voice vote. Vardhan stated it was “unfortunate that the country had emerged as a hub of commercial surrogacy …

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Lok Sabha MPs pass amended NMC Bill

Amendments to the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill made by the Rajya Sabha have been approved by Lok Sabha MPs, bringing the controversial legislation closer to becoming law.  The upper house of Parliament passed the NMC Bill last week with two amendments proposed, necessitating that the Bill be returned to the lower house for passage …

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World Breastfeeding Week: The Indian perspective

World Breastfeeding Week, observed annually during the first week of August, draws attention to a practise which serves as a major health boon for both mother and child.  “It is the responsibility of every mother to breastfeed as it has numerous health benefits for both mother [and] child,” tweeted Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, …

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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 …

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NMC Bill wins the support of MPs – but not of doctors

The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill may have won the support of lawmakers, but doctors continue to stand in firm opposition to what is being touted as one of the nation’s biggest ever health reforms.  Rajya Sabha MPs passed the NMC Bill yesterday. The law seeks to effect a major overhaul of medical education in …

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