Health Bulletin 09/ April/ 2024

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that earlier this year, expressing displeasure over the "misleading" information provided to it on the functioning of medical equipment in GTB hospital, the Delhi High Court had advised the State to constitute a committee of doctors to examine the hospitals run by the city government to come up with a solution. These directions were issued by the Court while considering a PIL initiated by it on its own in 2017 concerning the issue of the non-availability of ICU beds and ventilator facilities in government hospitals in Delhi.

The promise of early access to potentially life-saving drugs through the US Food and Drug Administration's accelerated approval program often comes with high hopes for patients battling debilitating or fatal diseases. However, a recent study sheds light on the reality that many of these drugs fail to demonstrate significant benefits within a reasonable timeframe.

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a cancer specialist and bioethicist at the University of Pennsylvania, underscores the urgency of obtaining definitive answers about the efficacy of accelerated approval drugs within five years. "Thousands of people are getting those drugs. That seems a mistake if we don't know whether they work or not," he emphasizes.

Reference: Liu ITT, Kesselheim AS, Cliff ERS. Clinical Benefit and Regulatory Outcomes of Cancer Drugs Receiving Accelerated Approval. JAMA. Published online April 07, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.2396

Simple oral spray prevents UTIs for up to nine years: Study

Uromune, an oral spray vaccine, has shown significant efficacy in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) for up to nine years in over half of participants. A recent study led by clinicians at the Royal Berkshire Hospital demonstrated the vaccine's safety and efficacy, with around 54% of participants remaining UTI-free during the nine-year follow-up period. The vaccine's ease of administration and long-term benefits make it a potential game-changer in UTI prevention, reducing reliance on antibiotic treatments. With its availability in 26 countries, including the UK and Australia, Uromune offers hope for individuals prone to recurrent UTIs. Ongoing research aims to explore its effectiveness in different patient groups, promising further insights into its widespread application in clinical settings.

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EAU24 European Association of Urology Congress