CDSCO to regulate products like adhesives for fixing wigs on scalp or hair

Vide a public notice F. No. COS/MISC-101/19, dated 4th November, 2019, the CDSCO (cosmetics division) is inviting comments on its decision to regulate products like adhesives for fixing wigs on scalp or hair; products which are used for cleansing scalp and artificial nail systems, as cosmetics.

Products like adhesives used for fixing wigs on scalp or hair and products which are used for cleansing scalp will be considered under the category “Products for temporary hair”, which is already mentioned in column 3 of the Guidelines for Import of Cosmetics. A new category “Artificial Nail Systems” has been incorporated for artificial nails in column 3 of the Guidelines for Import of Cosmetics, in order to follow the requirements of Bureau of Indian Standards.

All comments should be submitted on email to dci@nic.in within 30 days from the date of this notification.

Healthcare News Monitor

A guideline telling doctors when not to revive terminally-ill patients, expected soon

Hindustan Times - Rhythma Kaul

India’s apex medical research body, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is attempting to address a grey area in medical care by drafting guidelines to stop doctors from reviving the terminally ill, whose resuscitation is non-beneficial and only causes further suffering. The guidelines, aim to arm doctors to deal with the complex question-- when to give up-- without being binding. A nationwide consultation with all stakeholders including patient groups will begin in the first week of December before the policy is finalized. An expert group discussion on the proposed policy, aptly named, ‘Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) guide’, was held in Delhi on Monday. “This policy document is meant to help doctors decide whether they should or shouldn’t attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),” said Dr Balram Bhargava, director general of the ICMR. It will apply to situations when doctors feel revival of patients with incurable condition will be inappropriate, non beneficial, aggravate suffering and interrupt the natural dying process, says the draft. The policy document seen by HT also lays down the protocols for communicating the decision to not revive such patients on a case to case basis.

Punjab to finally implement Clinical Establishments Act

ET Healthworld-TNN-Vinod Kumar

Chandigarh: No health facility, be it government or private, will be able to deny emergency life-saving medical treatment and critical care to anyone over inability to pay once the much-awaited Clinical Establishments Act comes into force in Punjab. After dragging its feet over implementation of the law, which aims at regulating health faculties for ensuring minimum standards, the state government has finally, prepared a draft of the Clinical Establishments Act, Punjab 2019, and has sought comments from stakeholders within seven days before issuing a notification. The Act mandates that every health centres will have to provide treatment to victims of road accidents, calamities, acid attack and rape survivors irrespective of their ability to pay for treatment at that point of time. In case of death, the health facilities will have to ensure that there is no delay in releasing the dead body of patients to their family members due to billing or other issues. The clinical establishments, however, have been given the right to recover the treatment cost in due course of time.

Mediflation & innovation

Daily Pioneer

As the Government prepares the draft of the Medical Devices Act, it is important to take a holistic view and consider both incentivising innovation and keeping the rising drug prices in check. India’s recent policy interventions in the healthcare sector have grabbed eyeballs around the globe. Be it the world’s largest healthcare scheme, Ayushman Bharat, that was launched by the Narendra Modi Government in order to ensure affordable medical care to the underprivileged, or whether it is in the field of building a holistic ecosystem that rewards innovation and provides the latest diagnostic solutions to patients, India has been in the news worldwide. Hence, as the Central Government prepares the draft of the Medical Devices Act, it is important to take a holistic view and consider both incentivising innovation and keeping the rising drug prices in check. Holding price fairness as its priority, the Government maintains that an alleged mechanism of profiteering, through both hospital bills or drug costs, is fleecing a patient up to 1800 per cent and needs intervention. There is enough evidence of drug overpricing across the country. When the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) led an investigation into billing by two hospitals in 2018 it revealed mark-ups, ranging from 350-1700 per cent, adversely impacting the high and rising out-of-pocket-expenditure (OOPE) of patients.

Telemedicine—Laying Foundation for Accessible Healthcare

eHealth - Mukul

As a facilitator, technology has played a vital role in every field including healthcare and one can easily feel its importance in day to day life when one fathoms life devoid of computer, laptop, and latest mobile applications for few days. It has made things happen which perceived to be near impossible a decade ago and even a novice can certify the glaring fact that these tools have helped leapfrog delivery of services with improved accuracy and efficiency. Technology-based applications including telemedicine have not only paved path for enhanced care but also contributed to provide personalised and value-based health services to masses. These modern-day tools hold huge significance as India struggles on healthcare infrastructure including human workforce. Asymmetric distribution of doctors—urban areas have more concentration while rural remote areas are at the mercy of quacks and less qualified physicians, further aggravates the situation and reiterates role of these modern-day technology. Our latest issue of eHealth is based on the similar theme with cover story ‘Telemedicine: The Biggest Tech-Disruptor to Foster Accessible Healthcare’ encapsulating different aspects on how it bridges geographical barriers in delivering better care, synchronizing medical science and Information technology.

Two-month-old on ventilator suffers 18% burns at KEM Hospital in Mumbai

The Times of India

MUMBAI: A two-month-old baby from Varanasi suffered burns after a minor fire broke out at the paediatric ICU of KEM Hospital in Parel early on Thursday. The condition of the baby was stated to be serious. The baby was on ventilator when the wires of the monitor attached to its body malfunctioned, causing sparks. The baby, Prince Rajbhar, had arrrived in the city only 24 hours before for treatment. "The baby suffered burns in his scalp, left arm and shoulder. He continues to be on ventilator," he said. "It was a freak incident and we will ascertain what caused the sparks." He said prima facie a short-circuit seemed to be behind it. "The wires attached to the monitor malfunctioned and caused the sparks," he said.

Karnataka: OPD services may be hit at private hospitals on Friday

The Times of India- TNN

BENGALURU: Outpatient care at private hospitals across the state is likely to be disrupted on Friday following a strike call by Indian Medical Association Karnataka chapter to express solidarity with protesting junior doctors. The junior doctors are up in arms over Kannada activists alleged harassment of their colleague at the government-run Minto hospital. Their agitation entered the seventh day on Thursday. Meanwhile, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, whose activists were allegedly involved in harassing the Minto junior doctor, said that its members will surrender before police on Friday morning in the larger interest of patients. Outpatient departments (OPDs) have been asked to close from 6am Friday to 6am Saturday. Emergency cases will not be affected. "Some 25,000 hospitals will shut down their OPDs," said Madhusudhana Kariganur, president of IMAs Karnataka chapter. "Of 700 postgraduates at BMCRI, some 300 are working to ensure patients dont suffer," said Venugopal S, a striking resident doctor, on Thursday. "However, we decided to intensify our protest since we are yet to get a positive response from the government," he added.

Rajasthan: Hospital fined Rs 50 lakh for patient’s death due to wrong treatment

The Times of India

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission has imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakh on city’s Fortis Hospital, for treating the heart of a patient suffering from a stomach-related illness, leading to the patient’s death. The commission has also asked the hospital to return Rs 2.84 lakh spent in the treatment of the patient with interest. The commission through Kamal Bagri, judicial member and Meena Mehta, member, has asked the Fortis Healthcare Limited to pay a sum of Rs 25 lakh with interest. The commission further stated that for the manner in which a patient who had complained of stomach ache was treated as a heart patient, a separate amount of Rs 25 lakh was imposed on the hospital as punitive damage, since the act of the hospital comes under serious offence.