Health Bulletin 03/February/2026
Here are the top health stories for the day:
MCC Releases Tentative Schedule for Round 3 NEET PG Counselling
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released the tentative schedule for Round 3 of the NEET PG Counselling for the academic year 2025 for admission to 50 percent All India Quota (AIQ) seats and 100 percent Deemed/Central Universities and AFMS seats.
According to the official schedule, Round 3 counselling began with fresh registration on January 30, 2026, and eligible candidates could complete registration and payment by 2:00 PM on January 31, 2026.
For more details, check out the full story on the link below:
MCC Releases Tentative Schedule for Round 3 NEET PG Counselling
Union Budget 2026: Key Health Sector Announcements and Highlights
The Union Budget 2026 was declared on February 1st, with a strong push towards major health initiatives, including mental health, affordable cancer and rare disease treatment, and a strategic boost to position India as a global bio-pharma manufacturing hub.
According to the announcement, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was allocated ₹1,06,530.4 crore in the Union Budget 2026, which is nearly a 10% increase from the budget of the fiscal year 2025-26. This move has placed India’s healthcare at the centre of development.
For more details, check out the full story on the link below:
Union Budget 2026: Key Health Sector Announcements and Policy Highlights
Emergency Patients Cannot Be Denied Medical Reimbursements For Non-Empanelled Hospitals: Punjab and Haryana HC
Ruling that patients cannot be forced to wait for admission to empanelled hospitals in emergency and life-threatening situations, the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted relief to a government employee whose wife underwent an emergency hysterectomy and gallbladder removal surgery at a non-empanelled hospital. The court directed the State Government to reimburse the remaining medical expenses of Rs 4,20,766 along with 6% interest within four weeks.
The Court criticised the government for approving only a small part of the total medical claim. It noted that medical reimbursement cannot be denied just because the hospital was not on the government’s approved list. Once it is clear that genuine treatment was taken, the claim cannot be rejected on technical grounds.
For more details, check out the full story on the link below:
Emergency Patients Need Not Wait for Empanelled Hospitals: Punjab and Haryana HC
Mobility Is a Fundamental Right, Doctors Seek GST Exemption on Assistive Devices
Expressing concern over the Goods and Services Tax (GST) imposed on assistive devices, which are essential for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), the United Doctors Federation (UDF) has urged the government to exempt all such devices from GST in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
Dr Lakshya Mittal, Chairperson and National President of UDF, raised the issue on the social media platform ‘X’. He highlighted that a wheelchair costing Rs 75,000 attracts a 5% GST, amounting to around Rs 3,750.
For more details, check out the full story on the link below:
Mobility Is a Fundamental Right, Doctors Seek GST Exemption on Assistive Devices
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