Health Bulletin 29/July/2026 - Video
Overview
Here are the top health stories for the day:
NEET Protests: Rajya Sabha MP Moves SC Over Delhi Police's Facial Recognition
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi Police's use of facial recognition technology and biometric surveillance during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-linked protests over the NEET UG 2026 paper leak. Filed by Rajya Sabha MP A.A. Rahim, the petition seeks a declaration that the deployment of facial recognition and related surveillance measures against peaceful protesters is unconstitutional. It also urges the Court to direct authorities to immediately stop using such technology without a valid legal framework, reports The Hindu.
The petition alleges that since the protests began on July 20, thousands of protesters, journalists and bystanders have been subjected to continuous biometric surveillance through CCTV cameras, drones, mobile command vehicles and handheld devices. It claims the Delhi Police used facial recognition systems, including the “Ikshana” vehicle, “AjnaLens” smart glasses, and the “Abhigyan” mobile application linked to the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System. According to the plea, these measures were carried out without statutory backing, violated the right to privacy under Article 21, and exceeded the limited purposes for which such technologies were originally intended.
MBBS Admissions 2026: NMC Introduces Competency-Based PwBD Assessment Guideline, Check Details
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued new Guidelines on Assessment of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) for Admission to the MBBS Course for the academic year 2026, exercising its powers under the NMC Act, 2019 and the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023.
The new guidelines, which came into effect on July 27, 2026, introduce a competency-based framework for assessing PwBD candidates seeking admission to MBBS courses across the country.
For more details, check out the full story on the link mentioned below:
Assam to Expand Medical Colleges, Nursing Institutes to Address Doctor Shortage: Health Minister
Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Monday told the Assembly that doctors cannot be “produced in factories” and that expanding medical education is the only sustainable solution to the state's doctor shortage. Responding to concerns raised during a discussion on Assam’s healthcare system, Singhal said over 4,000 doctors are currently serving in government hospitals and highlighted that the state now has 1,825 MBBS seats and 788 postgraduate medical seats. He added that the government is increasing the number of medical colleges and nursing institutes to strengthen the healthcare workforce, stressing that doctors can only be trained through medical colleges, not recruited overnight from outside the state, reports TOI.
Highlighting improvements in public healthcare, Singhal said over 4.63 crore patients visited government hospitals for outpatient treatment in 2025–26, compared to 4.32 crore the previous year. He added that inpatient admissions rose by nearly 70,000, while surgeries increased from 71,635 to 98,666, reflecting growing public confidence in government hospitals. Assam currently has 14 functional medical colleges, 10 under construction, and three more announced in the state Budget, with the government's long-term vision of establishing a medical college in every district. He also emphasised that healthcare reforms should focus equally on preventive healthcare, and not just hospital-based treatment.
Health Ministry Observes World Hepatitis Day 2026, Over 21 Crore People Screened
More than 21 crore people have been screened and over 6 lakh patients have received free treatment under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) since its launch eight years ago, Union Health Secretary Punya Srivastava said on World Hepatitis Day, observed on July 28 every year. He noted that the programme has exceeded its target of setting up one treatment centre in every district, with 1,153 treatment centres now operational nationwide, including over 70 specialised centres providing advanced care for viral hepatitis patients.
Srivastava also highlighted that more than 7.64 crore pregnant women have been screened under the programme, while 2.24 lakh newborns of Hepatitis B-positive mothers have received Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin (HBIG) through coordinated efforts with the National AIDS Control Programme and Universal Immunization Programme. Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel said the Hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine has achieved over 92% coverage since its inclusion in the Universal Immunization Programme in 2011. However, she stressed that only about 65% of pregnant women are currently screened and urged states to achieve 100% screening to ensure timely vaccination and HBIG administration within 24 hours of birth, according to Economic Times report.
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