Health Bulletin 16/August/2023

Here are the top health stories for the day:

Mandatory generic prescriptions: IMA demands deferring implementation of NMC regulations

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday demanded deferring the implementation of the National Medical Commission regulations that make it mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic drugs, stating the biggest impediment to such medicines is the uncertainty about their quality.

The IMA stated that less than 0.1 per cent of the drugs manufactured in India are tested for quality.

“This step should be deferred till the government can assure the quality of all the drugs released into the market. Patient care and safety are not negotiable,” the association said in a statement.

For more details, check out the link given below:

Mandatory Generic Prescriptions: IMA Demands Deferring Implementation Of NMC Regulations

NEET PG seat counselling: MD radiodiagnosis, MD medicine most sought after specializations, surgical specializations lose their glory

NEET PG counselling results are out and the trend towards MD General Medicine and MD Radiodiagnosis being the most sought-after specializations is continuing. At the same time, it seems that surgical specializations have taken a backseat with only 4 of the top 100 students opting for MD General Surgery during the NEET-PG Counselling Seats Allotment 2023, Round 1.

The surge in preferences towards general medicine and radio diagnosis among top rankers was quite evident since the first all-India allotment list for MD/MS admissions demonstrated that 53 out of the top 100 candidates chose general medicine, closely followed by 35 candidates who went ahead with radio-diagnosis. Meanwhile, the remaining candidates opted for specialized fields such as dermatology, gynaecology, and surgery.

For more details, check out the link given below:

NEET PG Seat Counselling: MD Radiodiagnosis, MD Medicine Most Sought After Specializations, Surgical Specialisations Lose Their Glory

NMC’s prescription guidelines for doctors

Prescribe Rational, Prescribe Generic. These are the two major dictums the National Medical Commission has laid down in the recently released National Medical Commission Registered Medical Practitioner RMP (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2023 for all doctors to follow.

Dedicating a separate section to "Generic Medicine and Prescription guidelines" that is going to act as a benchmark for doctors to write their prescriptions, the guidelines lay down the various Dos and Don'ts, when it comes to writing prescriptions. The guidelines also give a template of a model prescription, which may be followed while writing a prescription.

For more details, check out the link given below:

How To Write A Prescription: Check Out NMC's Prescription Guidelines For Doctors

New pill to treat postpartum depression could be a game changer

Biogen Inc. and Sage Therapeutics, Inc. have announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ZURZUVAE (zuranolone) 50 mg for adults with postpartum depression (PPD). ZURZUVAE is an oral, once-daily, 14-day treatment that can provide rapid improvements in depressive symptoms for women with PPD. ZURZUVAE is expected to launch and be commercially available in the fourth quarter of 2023 shortly following scheduling as a controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which is anticipated to occur within 90 days.

For more details, check out the link given below:

Biogen, Sage Therapeutics Get USFDA Nod For Zurzuvae For Postpartum Depression In Women