Health Bulletin 17/August/2026
Here are the top health stories for the day:
The Calcutta High Court has refused to allow NEET UG 2026 candidates to change their category from General or OBC-NCL to EWS after the examination and publication of the all-India merit list. Justice Amrita Sinha dismissed a plea filed by eight candidates seeking permission to participate in West Bengal medical and dental counselling under the EWS category using certificates issued after April 1, 2026. The candidates had registered for NEET UG 2026 as General or OBC-NCL and did not possess EWS certificates when applications were submitted between February 8 and March 8.
The Court observed that allowing candidates to change their category after the merit list was published could affect candidates who had followed the prescribed rules and declared EWS status within the required timeline. It held that candidates claiming EWS reservation should have a valid certificate at the relevant application stage. The Court also noted that EWS eligibility depends on income and assets for a particular financial year and may change annually. Referring to earlier Supreme Court rulings, the Court stressed transparency and fairness, observing that “changing the rules of the game” after the merit list would be impermissible. The petition was accordingly dismissed, according to the Court Book report.
MBBS Seats in India Rise to 1.39 Lakh, 47,886 Added in Five Years: Health Ministry
India's total MBBS seat count has increased from 99,463 in the 2022-23 academic year to 1,39,489 in 2026-27, with 47,886 seats added over the last five years.
In the current 2026-27 academic year alone, 10,513 new MBBS seats have been added, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda recently informed the parliament in a written reply.
For more details, check out the full story on the link mentioned below:
1,39,489 MBBS seats in India, 47,886 added in the last 5 years: Health Ministry
FMG Internship Stipend Disbursement Falls Under States' Purview: Health Ministry
The payment of stipend to medical interns, including Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs), is regulated in accordance with the stipend rates prescribed by the respective State Governments or Universities, as applicable to the concerned medical college/institution, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, informed Parliament.
The Minister shared the information in response to queries raised in the parliament by a member who sought to know whether it is a fact that, despite a recent Supreme Court order that Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) are entitled to internship stipends at par with Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs) and the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines in this regard, most States have not made such payments leaving thousands of FMG interns in limbo and the details of the action taken thereon, if any, to help FMG interns in this regard.
For more details, check out the full story on the link mentioned below:
H1N1 Outbreak: Bengaluru School Closed After 500 Students, 21 Staff Fall Ill
More than 500 students and 21 staff members of a school in Bengaluru's Richards Town have reportedly fallen ill with fever, cold, cough and body aches amid a seasonal flu-like outbreak. According to reports, the illness spread rapidly across the campus, with symptoms ranging from mild fever to persistent cough and body pain. At least two cases have been confirmed as H1N1, while one staff member is undergoing treatment at a city hospital. As a precautionary measure, the school has announced that it will remain closed until August 18 to contain the outbreak and protect students and staff, reports Money Control.
The school has also raised concerns over street food vendors and unhygienic conditions near its premises, alleging that accumulated waste could increase health risks. It specifically flagged sanitation issues near a kebab vendor and alleged that vendors were blocking a kindergarten gate, causing congestion. The school has sought immediate health and safety inspections of nearby food outlets and urged civic authorities to restrict the sale of junk food near educational institutions. It has also approached education and municipal health officials, seeking urgent intervention to prevent the situation from worsening.
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