Medicines that might affect driving

Some drugs that could make it dangerous to drive include:

• Opioid pain relievers
• Prescription drugs for anxiety (for example, benzodiazepines)
• Anti-seizure drugs (antiepileptic drugs)
• Antipsychotic drugs
• Some antidepressants
• Products containing codeine
• Some cold remedies and allergy products, such as antihistamines (both prescription and OTC)
• Sleeping pills
• Muscle relaxants
• Medicines that treat or control symptoms of diarrhea
• Medicines that treat or prevent symptoms of motion sickness
• Diet pills, “stay awake” drugs, and other medications with stimulants (e.g., caffeine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine)

Also, avoid combining medication and alcohol while driving.

(Source: US FDA)

With NMC taking over it may be time to revise MCI Code of Ethics (Part 3)

The MCI Code of Ethics Regulations requires a Declaration (Appendix 1) to be signed and submitted at the time of registration.

A. DECLARATION

1. I solemnly pledge myself to consecrate my life to service of humanity.
2. Even under threat, I will not use my medical knowledge contrary to the laws of Humanity.....read more

Choosing Wisely: 5 things doctors & patients should question about tests or treatment for rheumatologic diseases

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) - Section on Rheumatology, as part of the national “Choosing Wisely” campaign, has released a list of tests and procedures commonly used to treat rheumatologic diseases that should be questioned by patients and physicians to ensure they are evidence-based and necessary.

The five list items are

1. Do not prescribe opioids for chronic pain management in patients with autoimmune disease.
2. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) and other autoantibody testing should not be ordered on a child unless there is strong suspicion or specific signs of autoimmune disease.....read more

Spiritual Prescriptions: Satsang

Satsang is a common household word and is often organized in residential colonies. Traditionally, Satsang means the regular meeting of a group of elderly or women of an area with a common intention of attaining inner happiness or peace through Bhajans or devotional songs for a particular God or Gods. In Satsang, people realize that it is the Self, communing with Self.

The Sanskrit word ‘Satsang’ literally means gathering together for guidance, mutual support or in search of truth. It may involve talking together, eating together, working together, listening together or praying together.....read more

Healthcare News Monitor

Telangana stalls deworming drive after tablets were found to be ‘Not of Standard Quality’

The Hindu

The deworming drive aimed at distribution of Albendazole tablets to around 6.68 lakh children in both Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts as part of the National Deworming Programme (NDP) could not be held as per schedule on Thursday. The drive has been put off in the erstwhile Khammam district after two batches of the anti-worm tablets supplied to both the districts were found to be ‘Not of Standard Quality’ (NSQ).A couple of hours before the scheduled distribution programme came the orders from the Telangana State Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TSMSIDC) to the officials concerned not to issue the two batches (9658 and 9659) of Albendazole tablets under the NDD programme. Health Department sources said an urgent message was flashed to the pharmacists of the central medicine stores of Khammam district on Wednesday night asking them to recall the stocks of the two batches of Albendazole tablets from the concerned institutions and programme officers.

Soon, 75% waiver on land cost for private hospitals in rural areas of Jharkhand

The Times of India

RANCHI: Chief minister Raghubar Das on Thursday lauded health workers in the state, saying their efforts have raised institutionalised delivery to 87%. Moreover, the infant mortality rate (IMR) came down to 29 per thousand and maternal mortality rate (MMR) to 165 per lakh, which are significant, Das said while addressing the healthcare summit organised by the state health department here. Addressing delegates at the summit, health family welfare and medical education minister Ram Chandra Chandravanshi invited private hospital chains to set up their institutions in rural areas and promised that state government will waive off 75% of the total cost incurred on land Chandravanshi further said his ministry is working on a mission mode to provide healthcare services to people residing in the interiors, too. "We have started operations at 100 telemedicine centres where people are attended by specialised doctors and are rendered world-class services. Apart from that, we have also launched bike ambulance service to provide help to patients living in non-accessible areas of the state."

Gujarat: Healthcare to be closer & better

Daily News & Analysis

Citizens can now expect to get better healthcare services closer to their homes, as the local civic body plans to improve the pay structure of its medical and paramedical workforce providing primary and secondary healthcare infrastructure. It also plans to recruit close to 700 personnel and expand secondary healthcare infrastructure. The move is aimed to divert routine cases away from its large super-specialty hospitals, which will then cater to patients suffering from severe ailments. The state government will fund the pay expense of this medical and paramedical staff. The primary infrastructure consists of Urban Health Centres (UHCs) which have only Out Patient Department (OPD) and treat patients with normal ailments by providing them medicines, while secondary infrastructure consists of Community Health Centres (CHCs) which are like multispeciality hospitals, where in addition to OPD, facilities of indoor patients as well and better diagnostic infrastructure are available.