Health Bulletin 11/January/2024

Here are the top health stories for the day:

Govt fee for 50 percent MBBS seats in private medical colleges: SC to examine validity of NMC fee order

The Supreme Court will now examine the validity of the National Medical Commission's Fee Order directing Government Medical College fees at 50% of the seats in the Private Medical Colleges.

Earlier, the matter was brought to the Supreme Court for consideration by the Association of Health Sciences Institutes (AHSI), who had filed a plea challenging the NMC's Office Memorandum dated February 3, 2022, which mentioned that "the fee of the 50 per cent seats in the private medical colleges and deemed universities should be at par with the fee in the government medical colleges of that particular State and UT."

For the full story, check out the link given below:

Govt Fee For 50 Percent MBBS Seats In Private Medical Colleges: SC To Examine Validity Of NMC Fee Order

Action against four doctors for turning away accident victim

The Health Department has taken disciplinary action against four doctors from two Delhi government-run hospitals, Lok Nayak Hospital and Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, in connection with the death of a patient who was denied treatment. The patient, Pramod, a 47-year-old man accused of sexual harassment, sustained injuries while attempting to escape from a police vehicle and later died after being denied treatment by four government hospitals.

The Health Department has directed each hospital to terminate the services of a senior resident doctor who was on duty on the night of January 2 and 3. Additionally, the department has recommended the suspension of one senior doctor from each hospital. The four doctors have been found guilty of negligence, and the administrative heads of both hospitals have been instructed to provide explanations for the lapses.

The FDA warned an asthma drug could induce despair. Many were never told

In 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a stark warning about the asthma and allergy drug Singulair, indicating potential side effects such as aggression and suicidal thoughts. However, the warning had limited impact, as the drug was still prescribed to 12 million people in the United States in 2022. Children, who face higher risks, continued to use the drug, with 1.6 million prescriptions. The FDA's handling of Singulair highlights gaps in addressing side effects from long-approved medications and in effectively warning the public and doctors. Despite issuing a warning label, the FDA did not mandate education for doctors regarding the drug's side effects. Some patients only became aware of the risks through online support groups, emphasizing the need for improved communication about medication risks.

Ozempic not linked to increase in suicidal thoughts, U.S. study suggests

A recent U.S. federal study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and conducted by Case Western Reserve University reveals that individuals taking the diabetes and obesity drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, containing the active ingredient semaglutide, had a lower risk of suicidal thoughts compared to those on other medications for the same conditions. The analysis involved electronic medical records of over 1.8 million patients prescribed semaglutide or alternative drugs for obesity or diabetes between 2017 and 2022. Individuals on semaglutide exhibited a 49% to 73% lower risk of first-time or recurring suicidal thoughts during a six-month follow-up period. The study's focus was on patients taking semaglutide or other drugs for diabetes or obesity.

Reference: Wang, W., Volkow, N.D., Berger, N.A. et al. Association of semaglutide with risk of suicidal ideation in a real-world cohort. Nat Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02672-2