Health Bulletin 20/February/2024

Here are the top health stories for the day:

Dermatomyositis: The rare disease that took life of 'Dangal' actor Suhani Bhatnagar

Dermatomyositis, a rare and challenging autoimmune disorder, recently claimed the life of Suhani Bhatnagar, a young and talented actress best known for her portrayal of young Babita Phogat in Aamir Khan's acclaimed wrestling film, "Dangal". At just 19 years old, Suhani's untimely passing in Delhi has cast a spotlight on this uncommon disease, following a brief battle that began with symptoms emerging just two months ago and a diagnosis confirmed merely ten days before her tragic demise.

This condition is marked by the immune system erroneously attacking the body's own tissues, leading to inflammation and consequent damage, predominantly affecting the skin and muscles. Individuals with dermatomyositis experience a variety of symptoms, most notably a distinctive skin rash that manifests as reddish or purplish discoloration on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, and sometimes extends to the elbows, knees, and knuckles. The disease also causes muscle weakness and fatigue, severely impacting the ability to perform daily tasks and activities.

Parliamentary Committee's take on affordable medical education

Taking note of the problems faced by medical aspirants due to the huge cost of medical education in private medical colleges in India, a Parliamentary Committee on Health has recommended multiple measures to the Government to deal with the issue.

The panel has opined that running medical colleges and hospitals on a PPP model and giving tax benefits to the company/group could also help make medical education more affordable.

Apart from these, the panel has recommended the Ministry formulate a comprehensive framework to address the bureaucratic hurdles and effectively implement the partnership of the private medical colleges with the district hospitals.

For the full story, check out the link given below:

How Can Medical Education Be Made More Affordable? Here Is What Parliamentary Committee Said

PM Modi inaugurates AIIMS campus in Jammu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jammu. PM Modi also handed over appointment orders to around 1,500 new government recruits of Jammu and Kashmir.

For the full story, check out the link given below:

PM Modi inaugurates AIIMS Jammu campus, now 1300 MBBS seats, 650 PG medical seats in JnK

ICMR highlights Real-time PCR for Mpox virus

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has showcased significant advancements in health research and technology, according to its Annual Report for 2022-23. Under the leadership of Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of the Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General of ICMR, the report highlights crucial developments like the Real-time PCR for the Mpox virus and NextGen Sequencing techniques, marking a breakthrough in disease diagnosis and surveillance in India.

ICMR's role extends beyond research, significantly influencing public health policy with the formulation of nine comprehensive guidelines and policies aimed at combating health hazards and promoting public health awareness. Notable policies include Tobacco Control in India 2022 and the National Injury Prevention strategy.