Health Bulletin 15/December/2023

Here are the top health stories for the day:

WHO calls for ban on flavored vapes

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday urged governments to treat e-cigarettes similarly to tobacco and ban all flavours, threatening cigarette companies' bets on smoking alternatives.

Some researchers, campaigners and governments see e-cigarettes, or vapes, as a key tool in reducing the death and disease caused by smoking. But the U.N. agency said "urgent measures" were needed to control them.

For more details, check out the link given below:

WHO Calls For Ban On Flavoured Vapes, Treating E-Cigarettes The Same As Tobacco

NMC hosps alerted after man tests positive for Zika virus

The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has issued a cautionary alert to all hospitals under its jurisdiction following a positive Zika virus case approximately one month ago. The infected individual, a 22-year-old, received successful treatment in a private hospital, with blood and urine samples subsequently sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune for further analysis, confirming the Zika virus infection.

Conducting an extensive survey in the Bharat Nagar slum area of Nashik, where the patient resides, the Nashik Municipal Corporation has proactively sent samples from all 91 women in the locality to the NIV for testing. Given the significance of protecting pregnant women from Zika, these women have been advised to sleep under mosquito nets. Authorities assured the public that there is no cause for panic, asserting control over the situation.

Delay in treatment of cancer patient leading to death: GTB hospital, doctors held negligent, slapped Rs 5 lakh compensation

Noting that the apathetic approach of the hospital and its doctors towards the gravity of the ailment raises a presumption as regards to the failure of treating doctors in clinical judgment and choosing the right course of action in time, the Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has upheld the District Forum's order that found GTB Hospital and its two doctors guilty of negligence and delay in treating a cancer patient who eventually succumbed to the disease.

The District Commission had directed the facility and the doctors to jointly pay a lump sum compensation of Rs 5 lakhs to the heirs (complainants) of the deceased patient.

For more details, check out the link given below:

Delay In Treatment Of Cancer Patient Leading To Death: GTB Hospital, Doctors Held Negligent, Slapped Rs 5 Lakh Compensation