Health Bulletin 13/July/2026 - Video
Overview
Here are the top health stories for the day:
NMC Approves 150 Additional MBBS Seats for Govt Medical Colleges in J&K, Andhra Pradesh
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved an increase of 150 MBBS seats in government medical colleges across Jammu & Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh for the 2026-27 academic session. The approval includes 50 additional seats for Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, increasing its annual intake from 200 to 250 seats. The permission was granted by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, following an assessment under the Undergraduate Medical Education Standards Regulations (UGMSR), 2023.
In Andhra Pradesh, the NMC has sanctioned 100 additional MBBS seats, including 75 seats for Government Medical College, Kadapa, raising its intake from 175 to 250, and 25 seats for ACSR Government Medical College, Nellore, increasing its intake from 175 to 200, according to an India Today report.
State Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said the approvals would strengthen medical education and expand opportunities for aspiring doctors. Officials in Jammu & Kashmir also said the enhanced intake at GMC Srinagar would further boost healthcare capacity and reinforce the institution's status as one of the region's leading government medical colleges.
NEET 2026 Paper Leak: CBI Finds No Involvement of NTA Officials
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has found no evidence of the involvement of any government official, including National Testing Agency (NTA) office bearers, in the NEET UG 2026 paper leak case.
According to officials familiar with the investigation, the leaked question papers were allegedly shared by teachers who had been appointed by the NTA to prepare the examination papers.
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SFI Demands NEET Abolition, Seeks Union Education Minister's Resignation
Members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) staged a hunger strike in Madurai on Saturday, demanding the abolition of the NEET examination, the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the test, and the dismantling of the National Testing Agency (NTA). The protest also condemned the alleged crackdown on students and youth protesting against the examination system in Delhi. The demonstration was led by SFI state executive committee member C. David Rajadurai near the Palanganatham roundabout.
Addressing the gathering, SFI Madurai suburban district secretary S. Sudharshan alleged that NEET has adversely affected students and called for stronger measures to prevent student suicides. He further held the Union Government and the Education Minister responsible for failing to prevent alleged irregularities in national entrance examinations. Speakers at the protest criticised what they described as the commercialisation of education and anti-student policies of the Centre. Madurai Corporation Acting Mayor T. Nagarajan and representatives of allied organisations also extended their support to the protest, reports TOI.
Mumbai Reports 325 Maternal Deaths in 4 Years, RTI Data Shows
Maternal deaths in Mumbai continue to fluctuate despite a steady decline in neonatal and infant mortality, according to RTI data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). While neonatal and infant deaths fell from 1,846 in 2022 to 1,687 in 2024, the city recorded 325 maternal deaths over the last four years, with annual figures ranging between 70 and 93 since 2022.
Health officials said nearly half of these maternal deaths involved women referred from neighbouring districts such as Thane, Palghar and other parts of Maharashtra. Excluding referral cases, Mumbai's maternal mortality ratio (MMR) remains below the Sustainable Development Goal target of 70 deaths per 1,00,000 live births, but rises above 80 when all cases are included, according to an Economic Times report.
Doctors attributed the persistent maternal mortality burden to delayed referrals of high-risk pregnancies, pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and hypertension, pregnancy-related complications, and seasonal infections including leptospirosis, malaria, dengue and hepatitis. Experts stressed that timely referral of complicated pregnancies to tertiary care centres and a stronger triaging system could significantly reduce preventable maternal deaths.
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