Health Bulletin 18/September/2025

NMC releases MBBS Seat Matrix 2025-26: Zero Seats in 5 Colleges, 11 see reduced intake

The Medical Assessment and Rating Board of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has allocated zero (0) MBBS seats to five medical colleges across the country this year. NMC did not grant the seats for any medical colleges at these medical colleges due to pending court matters.

For more details, check out the full story on the link mentioned below:

MBBS seat matrix 2025-26: NMC allots zero seats to 5 medical colleges, reduces seats in 11

WHO Report identifies Tobacco use as major factor in Global Child Stunting

Tobacco use may significantly contribute to child stunting, reveals a recent WHO report. Despite parents’ best efforts to ensure proper nutrition and healthcare, exposure to tobacco smoke continues to undermine children’s development. Globally, nearly 150 million children under 5 are affected by stunting, and India remains among the countries with the highest burden. According to the National Family Health Survey (2019-21), 35.5% of Indian children under five are stunted, highlighting the scale of the problem at home.

The report underscores that maternal smoking during pregnancy is one of the strongest risk factors. It is linked to low birth weight, preterm birth, and restricted fetal growth—major predictors of stunting in the first two years of life. Even second-hand smoke exposure, whether from fathers or other family members, significantly raises risks. Tobacco toxins affect placental function, cutting off vital nutrition to the baby. WHO has called on India to strengthen anti-tobacco laws, expand cessation services, and protect expectant mothers and children from exposure to safeguard future generations.

Reference: Kajal F, Prasad V, Ashorn P, St Claire S, Schotte K.; Tobacco and stunting: WHO tobacco knowledge summaries

Sangli doctor falls victim to income tax raid scam, loses Rs 2 crore

A doctor from Sangli district went through a terrifying ordeal after four people, posing as income tax officers, allegedly robbed him of jewellery and cash worth approximately Rs 2 crore from his house.

According to news reports, Dr. Jagganath Mehtre, who runs a hospital in Kavathe Mahankal town, stated that the incident occurred on Sunday night at approximately 10:30 pm. The four accused, including a woman, came to his house and showed him identity cards, claiming to be from the Income Tax department. They asked to search his house, and he allowed them in.

For more details, check out the full story on the link below:

Sangli doctor robbed of Rs 2 crore in Fake Income Tax Raid

Rare 'Tooth-in-Eye' Surgery restores vision for Canadian man after 20 years

Rare Tooth-in-eye surgery restored vision to Brent Chapman, a 34-year-old man from North Vancouver, in a medical breakthrough. What sounds bizarre is that the procedure involved using a part of his own tooth to restore his vision. Chapman lost his eyesight over two decades ago due to Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare allergic reaction triggered by Ibuprofen. After years of unsuccessful treatments, he turned to Dr. Greg Moloney at Providence Health Care’s Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, who recommended the rare “tooth-in-eye” surgery, medically known as Osteo-Odonto-Keratoprosthesis (OOKP), CNN Health reported.

The complex procedure involves removing a healthy tooth, shaping it with a small plastic lens, and implanting it into the eye after letting it develop a blood supply under the cheek’s skin. This innovative surgery gives new hope to patients with severe corneal damage who have exhausted other options.