Rwanda avoids US-style opioids crisis by making own morphine

It was something, the silence.Nothing but the puff of her breath and the scuff of her slip-on shoes as Madeleine Mukantagara walked through the fields to her first patient of the day.

BUSHEKELI, Rwanda - It was something, the silence. Nothing but the puff of her breath and the scuff of her slip-on shoes as Madeleine Mukantagara walked through the fields to her first patient of the day. Piercing cries once echoed down the hill to the road below. What she carried in her bag had calmed them.

For 15 years, her patient Vestine Uwizeyimana had been in unrelenting pain as disease wore away her spine. She could no longer walk and could barely turn over in bed. Her life narrowed to a small, dark room with a dirt-floor in rural Rwanda, prayer beads hanging on the wall by her side. ....read more

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Healthcare News Monitor

Study claims neurologists took pharma sponsored trip with South Indian actresses, Medical Council asks WHO?

Medical Dialogues

Taking strict cognizance of unethical claims of a survey report that specifically mentioned about three neurologists from Mumbai, who were allegedly sponsored by a pharma company for a foreign trip with two South Indian actresses, the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has recently sought details of the three doctors from the authors of the survey report. New Delhi: Accounting for the intensity of claims made in the report that might harm the repute of the medical fraternity, the council has initiated an inquiry seeking details of the doctors from Mumbai as mentioned in the report. Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported about a report that was prepared following a study conducted by NGO Support for Advocacy and Training to Health Initiatives (SATHI). The study was qualitative in nature and “50 In-depth interviews” were conducted with various key informants in six selected cities across the country. The study primarily focused on interviewing medical representatives with the assumption that they are the ones who are involved as front-line key persons on the actual field to promote drugs to doctors. Thereafter a report was authored by Dr Arun Gadre and Dr Archana Diwate under the title Promotional practices of the pharmaceutical industry and implementation status of related regulatory codes in India. The report mentioned; However, it was repeatedly emphasized that not every doctor or every company indulged in such practices; there were good doctors and some companies that followed ethical practices, the report added.

Right before Christmas, 10 infants die in Rajasthan hospital over the span of 48 hours

Daily News & Analysis

In what comes as a shocking and tragic incident, as many as ten infants died at a hospital in Rajasthan within the span of just 48 hours, two days before Christmas. A three-member inquiry committee has been formed to look into the matter on an immediate basis, according to Hospital Superintendent Dr. HL Meena. The incident in question took place over December 23-24 at the JK Lone Hospital in Kota, Rajasthan, where the infants were admitted in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Of the ten infants who saw the most unfortunate and untimely death, four were aged 1-4 days, three were aged between one-and-a-half to five months, and the rest two infants were aged nine months and one year, respectively. Six of them died on December 23, while the rest four passed away on December 24. The causes of their death are still unknown. To ascertain the causes of death, a three-member committee constituted by the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) has reached Kota, informed the hospital administration, adding that the matter is being pursued on an immediate basis as even the media reported the incident late on Thursday night. In what comes as a shocking and tragic incident, as many as ten infants died at a hospital in Rajasthan within the span of just 48 hours, two days before Christmas. A three-member inquiry committee has been formed to look into the matter on an immediate basis, according to Hospital Superintendent Dr. HL Meena. The incident in question took place over December 23-24 at the JK Lone Hospital in Kota, Rajasthan, where the infants were admitted in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Of the ten infants who saw the most unfortunate and untimely death, four were aged 1-4 days, three were aged between one-and-a-half to five months, and the rest two infants were aged nine months and one year, respectively. Six of them died on December 23, while the rest four passed away on December 24. The causes of their death are still unknown. To ascertain the causes of death, a three-member committee constituted by the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) has reached Kota, informed the hospital administration, adding that the matter is being pursued on an immediate basis as even the media reported the incident late on Thursday night.

Ward Boy Held For Molesting Girl At Private Hospital In Jodhpur

Republic- PTI

A ward boy was arrested on Friday for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old girl at a private hospital in Rajasthans Jodhpur, police said. According to a complaint lodged by the girls father, the minor was admitted to the hospital on December 22 and remained there till December 24. On Tuesday morning when the girl met her father, she told him that the accused, Shyam Singh, came to her room in the night, forcibly removed her clothes and molested her, the complaint said. A case was registered under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC and provisions of the POCSO Act, SHO of Nagori Gate police station Jabbar Singh said. The accused was produced before a court on Friday, which sent him to judicial custody, the SHO said, adding that statement of the girl would be recorded before the magistrate on Monday.

From NMC Act to doctor protests, how 2019 panned out for the healthcare industry

The Week- Namita Kohli

If 2018 was all about the launch of the governments flagship health scheme Ayushman Bharat, 2019 will be seen as one where the government initiated a major reform in the medical education sector. This year, the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, was passed in the Parliament. With it, the process of replacing the tainted Medical Council of India has officially begun. The challenge is huge—apart from setting up the core body, the Act also provides for four autonomous boards to regulate medical education and ethics, as well as conduct a national exit exam for MBBS students which will double up as an entrance test for PG courses. The Act also allows the NMC to regulate the fee structure for private medical colleges in the country. Sections of the medical fraternity and students were up in arms against the law, arguing particularly against the NMCs fee regulation for only 50 per cent of the seats, and the common exit exam. Protests against the law were quelled after negotiations, and “assurances” were given by Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan himself. However, conducting a common exit exam that includes both theoretical and practical aspects for around 70,000 students in the country will be a herculean task, health ministry officials concede.