Health Bulletin 03/March/2026 - Video
Overview
Here are the top health stories for the day:
Supreme Court Allows Medical Degrees to Students With Invalid Certificates, Imposes Rs 10 Lakh Fine Each
In a partial relief to two medical students from Maharashtra who had secured admission using tribe certificates that were later found to be invalid, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) to issue their medical degrees.
The court observed that wasting their years of medical training would not be in the best interest of society, especially when the country already faces a shortage of qualified doctors.
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NMC Sets Deadline for Submission of HFR, HMIS Details
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed all medical colleges and institutions under its ambit to submit details related to Health Facility Registry (HFR) IDs and Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) linkage of their attached or associated hospitals within seven days.
In a notice issued by the IT Division of NMC, the Commission mentioned that the move is aimed at leveraging technology to make the annual renewal and assessment process of medical colleges more objective and transparent.
For more details, check out the full story on the link below:
Medical college assessment, renewal: NMC sets deadline for HFR, HMIS details submission
Rising Negligence Allegations Push Doctors Toward Defensive Medicine in Kerala
A series of alleged medical negligence cases across Kerala has left young doctors anxious, particularly those posted in emergency and critical care units. Within professional forums and WhatsApp groups, many have been discussing ways to reduce legal and personal risks, with defensive medicine increasingly emerging as a preferred approach. Dr Ashik Basheer, state president of the General Practitioners Association, said young doctors fear being branded negligent early in their careers and even facing attacks. As a result, many are opting for additional diagnostic tests, such as CT scans for all head injury cases, to avoid future disputes—even if observation might suffice. Some are also exploring job opportunities abroad due to mounting pressure, TNIE reported.
Senior practitioners are not immune to the shift. Dr Sunil P K, president of the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association, noted that even experienced doctors are becoming risk-averse, leading to unnecessary referrals and higher costs for patients. While associations reject what they term false allegations, they maintain that genuine cases should be investigated by competent authorities. Meanwhile, Mamal Hospital defended its treatment in the death of a two-year-old child, stating that emergency protocols were followed, though the family disputes the explanation.
PM Narendra Modi Launches Nationwide HPV Vaccination Drive for 14-Year-Old Girls
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a nationwide campaign for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for 14-year-old girls in Ajmer, marking a major step towards women’s health and empowerment. The campaign was formally inaugurated by administering HPV vaccines to five girls. During the event, the Prime Minister also inaugurated, dedicated and laid foundation stones for multiple development projects worth over ₹16,000 crore, besides distributing appointment letters to more than 21,000 newly recruited youths in various Rajasthan government departments, Akashvani news reports.
Addressing the gathering, Modi said women’s welfare has remained a core priority for the Bharatiya Janata Party government, describing the HPV drive as a crucial preventive healthcare initiative. He highlighted that since 2014, several schemes have been launched to strengthen women’s social and economic status. The Prime Minister also criticised the Indian National Congress for its protest at the AI Impact Summit, while praising the armed forces and the rapid pace of development in Rajasthan. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, Governor Haribhau Bagde and other dignitaries were present at the programme.
Speakers
