Health Bulletin 15/June/2023

Here are the top health stories for the day:

Baby without sperm and egg? Scientists create 'synthetic' human embryos in major leap

Scientists have developed synthetic human embryos using stem cells. Prof Magdalena Żernicka-Goetz, of the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology, described the work in a plenary address at the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s annual meeting in Boston, United States.

“Our human model is the first three-lineage human embryo model that specifies amnion and germ cells, precursor cells of egg and sperm,” Żernicka-Goetz told the Guardian. “It’s beautiful and created entirely from embryonic stem cells.”

NMC clarifies on NEET age criterion, keeps tie-breaking rules unchanged for 2023

In a major relief to the medical aspirants in the country, the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has reversed the age criterion for appearing in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) examination.

Apart from this, the NMC UG Board has also clarified that there will be no change in the tie-breaking rules for deciding the ranks of NEET-UG 2023. "Previous procedure/rules (as per Information Bulletin published by NTA) shall be followed for deciding "the inter-se-merit of candidates for tie-breaking" in NEET-UG 2023 result," NMC UG Board mentioned in the Public Notice issued yesterday.

With the publication of the Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2023 in the official Gazette of India on June 02, 2023, changes had been introduced in the age criterion for appearing in NEET and also the tie-breaking rules for the examination.

For more details, check out the link given below:

NMC Clarifies On NEET Age Criterion, Keeps Tie-Breaking Rules Unchanged For 2023

Haryana Drug Controller accused of taking Rs 5 crore bribe from Maiden Pharma, inquiry launched

Indian authorities have launched an inquiry into an allegation that a local pharmaceutical regulator, in return for a bribe, helped switch samples of cough syrups that the World Health Organization (WHO) had linked to the deaths of children in Gambia before the samples were tested at an Indian laboratory, according to two government officials and documents reviewed by Reuters.

In an April 29 letter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Haryana reviewed by Reuters, a lawyer named Yashpal accused the state's drug controller, Manmohan Taneja, of taking a bribe of Rs 50 million ($605,419) from local manufacturer Maiden Pharmaceuticals to help it switch the samples before an Indian government laboratory tested them. Maiden's factory is based in Haryana state.

For more details, check out the link given below:

Haryana Drug Controller Accused Of Taking Rs 5 Crore Bribe From Maiden Pharma, Inquiry Launched

Former Dean of JJ Hospital held guilty of conducting 698 unauthorised surgeries

In the latest update on the controversy at the Ophthalmology department of JJ Hospital, a three-member committee set up by the Dean of the hospital has found the former dean and ex-director of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) Dr TP Lahane guilty of conducting unauthorised surgeries.

After conducting a thorough examination of the CCTV footage and medical records, the panel headed by the medical superintendent of the hospital found that Dr Lahane conducted altogether 698 surgeries without any government orders or authorisation.

For more details, check out the link given below:

Former Dean Of JJ Hospital Held Guilty Of Conducting 698 Unauthorised Surgeries