Air pollution back as big health threat in Delhi
NEW DELHI: Ten years after the city's public transport switched to CNG, air pollution has again become a major threat to public health in Delhi, say environmentalists. With 69 lakh vehicles plying on city roads, a growth of about 60 lakh in 20 years, experts say oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) are now at critically high levels.
NOx and PM are known to cause cancer and asthma. Medical experts say signs of deteriorating health are already manifest. The Delhi cancer registry maintained by AIIMS shows a 2-3% rise in lung cancer cases every year.
Dr Vinod Raina, a cancer specialist at AIIMS says till some years ago, 14-15 lung cancer cases were reported for every 1 lakh cancer patients. "Of late, we have been getting about 13,000 new cases of cancer each year, of which 10% come in with lung cancer. And, 30% of lung cancer patients have nothing to do with smoking," he said.
The Centre for Science and Environment says vehicular pollution has returned as a big threat in Delhi. "About 55% of Delhiites stay within a 500m distance from main roads where vehicular pollution is at an all-time high. After public transport was converted to CNG, pollution has become invisible but is still on the rise," said Anumita Roychowdhury, associate director, CSE.
"In the 1990s, when the issue of air pollution was first raised, only particulate matter was being monitored. Now there is also a red alert on NOx and PM. AIIMS has been tracking hospital admissions and has found that they have been rising in winter months when pollution levels rise,"
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Biomedical Journals in India: Some critical concerns
India is increasingly being recognized an emerging power, even in some areas of science and technology. In addition to other recognized parameters, scholarly journals of a country to a great extent reflect the quality of science being done. It is well known and accepted that our science and technology journals are not up the international standard. Medical science is no exception despite Indian doctors excelling both in India and abroad. About 600 biomedical/ life sciences journals are published from India with some serious science content, mostly by learned societies ....
India is increasingly being recognized an emerging power, even in some areas of science and technology. In addition to other recognized parameters, scholarly journals of a country to a great extent reflect the quality of science being done. It is well known and accepted that our science and technology journals are not up the international standard. Medical science is no exception despite Indian doctors excelling both in India and abroad. About 600 biomedical/ life sciences journals are published from India with some serious science content, mostly by learned societies ....
80% of Indians don't use essential drugs
NEW DELHI: An average Indian suffering from heart attack or stroke is seven times less likely to receive the inexpensive aspirin - the most commonly used anti-platelet drug - and 20 times less likely to receive statins than an average Canadian.
In a first-of-its-kind study to quantify use of effective low-cost drug treatments for heart disease and stroke - anti-platelet drugs mainly aspirin, Beta blockers, angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) and statins - scientists have found that four out of five patients from low-income countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan "reported receiving none of these essential drugs". Presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Paris and published in the British medical journal Lancet, the study involved 1, 53, 996 adults from 17 countries .
Around 5,650 participants reported prior coronary heart disease and 2,292 stroke. Around 29,000 Indians were part of the study. It found that the use of preventive drugs was very low. Anti-platelet drugs like aspirin were taken by only a quarter of individuals with cardiovascular disease, beta blockers by 17.4%, ACE inhibitors or ARBs (19.5%) and statins (14.6%). In India, among the participants who was suffering from coronary heart disease (683), only 11.6% were taking anti-platelet drugs, 11.9% were taking beta blockers, 6.4% were in ACE inhibitors, 21% were on blood pressure lowering drugs and less than 5% on statins.
Among those who had suffered a stroke (316), only 3.8% were on anti-platelet drugs, 7% on beta blockers, less than 2% on ACE inhibitors, 11% on BP lowering drugs and less than 1% on statins. Drug use was highest in high-income countries, where about two-thirds of patients were taking anti-platelet drugs.
SOURCE: The Times of India
NEW DELHI: An average Indian suffering from heart attack or stroke is seven times less likely to receive the inexpensive aspirin - the most commonly used anti-platelet drug - and 20 times less likely to receive statins than an average Canadian.
In a first-of-its-kind study to quantify use of effective low-cost drug treatments for heart disease and stroke - anti-platelet drugs mainly aspirin, Beta blockers, angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) and statins - scientists have found that four out of five patients from low-income countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan "reported receiving none of these essential drugs". Presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Paris and published in the British medical journal Lancet, the study involved 1, 53, 996 adults from 17 countries .
Around 5,650 participants reported prior coronary heart disease and 2,292 stroke. Around 29,000 Indians were part of the study. It found that the use of preventive drugs was very low. Anti-platelet drugs like aspirin were taken by only a quarter of individuals with cardiovascular disease, beta blockers by 17.4%, ACE inhibitors or ARBs (19.5%) and statins (14.6%). In India, among the participants who was suffering from coronary heart disease (683), only 11.6% were taking anti-platelet drugs, 11.9% were taking beta blockers, 6.4% were in ACE inhibitors, 21% were on blood pressure lowering drugs and less than 5% on statins.
Among those who had suffered a stroke (316), only 3.8% were on anti-platelet drugs, 7% on beta blockers, less than 2% on ACE inhibitors, 11% on BP lowering drugs and less than 1% on statins. Drug use was highest in high-income countries, where about two-thirds of patients were taking anti-platelet drugs.
SOURCE: The Times of India
Sunday, August 28, 2011
PMO approves draft bill to set up National Council of Human Resource in Health
NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has passed the draft bill on National Council of Human Resource in Health (NCHRH), which is an ambitious project of the Union Health Ministry to create a regulatory body in the sector of medical education.
Now, the draft bill will seek approval of Union Cabinet and after that it will be introduced in Parliament for be passed finally. According to NCHRH scheme, a regulatory authority set up by the Health Ministry will increase the supply of qualified workforce to the healthcare sector in India. The NCHRH also stipulates to set up high standards for making proper planning and development of health educational institutions across the country.
The proposed regulatory authority will monitor the activities of prominent medical educational institutions as well as autonomous authorities such as Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), Dental Council of India (DCI), Medical Council of India (MCI), Nursing Council of India (NCI) and proposed Central Councils for Paramedical and Allied Medical Sciences Education in the country.
SOURCE:http://news.indiamart.com/
NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has passed the draft bill on National Council of Human Resource in Health (NCHRH), which is an ambitious project of the Union Health Ministry to create a regulatory body in the sector of medical education.
Now, the draft bill will seek approval of Union Cabinet and after that it will be introduced in Parliament for be passed finally. According to NCHRH scheme, a regulatory authority set up by the Health Ministry will increase the supply of qualified workforce to the healthcare sector in India. The NCHRH also stipulates to set up high standards for making proper planning and development of health educational institutions across the country.
The proposed regulatory authority will monitor the activities of prominent medical educational institutions as well as autonomous authorities such as Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), Dental Council of India (DCI), Medical Council of India (MCI), Nursing Council of India (NCI) and proposed Central Councils for Paramedical and Allied Medical Sciences Education in the country.
SOURCE:http://news.indiamart.com/
Thursday, August 25, 2011
BASE is one of the world's most voluminous search engines especially for academic open access web resources. BASE is operated by Bielefeld University Library.
As the open access movement grows and prospers, more and more repository servers come into being which use the "Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting" (OAI-PMH) for providing their contents. BASE collects, normalises, and indexes these data. Our OAI-PHM-Blog communicates information related to harvesting and aggregating activities performed for BASE.
BASE is a registered OAI service provider and contributed to the European project "Digital Repository Infrastructure Vision for European Research" (DRIVER) which was successfully completed at the end of 2009.
As the open access movement grows and prospers, more and more repository servers come into being which use the "Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting" (OAI-PMH) for providing their contents. BASE collects, normalises, and indexes these data. Our OAI-PHM-Blog communicates information related to harvesting and aggregating activities performed for BASE.
BASE is a registered OAI service provider and contributed to the European project "Digital Repository Infrastructure Vision for European Research" (DRIVER) which was successfully completed at the end of 2009.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Acute exacerbation of COPD result in frequent visits to physicians’ clinic and emergency rooms and numerous hospitalizations and days lost from work.Coughing up mucus is often the first sign of COPD. To know more read Medline Plus
Acute exacerbation of COPD result in frequent visits to physicians’ clinic and emergency rooms and numerous hospitalizations and days lost from work.Coughing up mucus is often the first sign of COPD. To know more read Medline Plus
Tuberculosis Control programme
In India two deaths occur every three minutes from tuberculosis (TB). But these deaths can be prevented with proper care and treatment.The WHO-recommended Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course (DOTS) strategy for controlling Tuberculosis (TB). It was launched formally as Revised National TB Control programme (RNTCP) in India in 1997 after pilot testing from 1993-1996.
To read more visit the site that provides information about tuberculosis and its control TBC India
In India two deaths occur every three minutes from tuberculosis (TB). But these deaths can be prevented with proper care and treatment.The WHO-recommended Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course (DOTS) strategy for controlling Tuberculosis (TB). It was launched formally as Revised National TB Control programme (RNTCP) in India in 1997 after pilot testing from 1993-1996.
To read more visit the site that provides information about tuberculosis and its control TBC India
Cancer, diabetes, hypertension largest cause of death
DELHI: Lifestyle-related diseases are now killing more Indians than the infectious ones. India's disease pattern has undergone a major shift over the past decade, says the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The latest WHO data paints a worrying picture. At present, out of every 10 deaths in India, eight are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes in urban India. In rural India, six out of every 10 deaths is caused by NCDs....
‘Vital for India to act against NCDs'
NEW DELHI: India has done "insufficient" work in trying to cut alcohol consumption - a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), says the World Health Organisation (WHO).
India must ensure that those suffering from NCDs receive medical care, says Nata Menabde, WHO representative to India, adding that "Many NCD patients can't bear the cost of treatment."
In an exclusive interview to TOI, Dr Menabde said: "It is vital that India puts in place a national protection programme against NCDs. That will boost health systems to provide adequate services to those affected by NCDs."
DELHI: Lifestyle-related diseases are now killing more Indians than the infectious ones. India's disease pattern has undergone a major shift over the past decade, says the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The latest WHO data paints a worrying picture. At present, out of every 10 deaths in India, eight are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes in urban India. In rural India, six out of every 10 deaths is caused by NCDs....
‘Vital for India to act against NCDs'
NEW DELHI: India has done "insufficient" work in trying to cut alcohol consumption - a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), says the World Health Organisation (WHO).
India must ensure that those suffering from NCDs receive medical care, says Nata Menabde, WHO representative to India, adding that "Many NCD patients can't bear the cost of treatment."
In an exclusive interview to TOI, Dr Menabde said: "It is vital that India puts in place a national protection programme against NCDs. That will boost health systems to provide adequate services to those affected by NCDs."
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Scientists move closer to HIV vaccine, isolate antibodies
NEW DELHI: Scientists have isolated the most powerful broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV so far - a major step towards finding an effective vaccine against the deadly virus.
Capable of fighting a broad spectrum of variants of HIV - the virus that causes AIDS - some of the 17 antibodies discovered jointly by The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and The Scripps Research Institute blocked HIV infection of cells as much as 10 to 100 times as potently as the previously discovered bNAbs.
An antibody is an infection-fighting protein produced by our immune system when it detects harmful substances like viruses and bacteria. These HIV neutralizing antibodies are produced naturally by a minority infected with HIV, but who show no symptoms......
NEW DELHI: Scientists have isolated the most powerful broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV so far - a major step towards finding an effective vaccine against the deadly virus.
Capable of fighting a broad spectrum of variants of HIV - the virus that causes AIDS - some of the 17 antibodies discovered jointly by The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and The Scripps Research Institute blocked HIV infection of cells as much as 10 to 100 times as potently as the previously discovered bNAbs.
An antibody is an infection-fighting protein produced by our immune system when it detects harmful substances like viruses and bacteria. These HIV neutralizing antibodies are produced naturally by a minority infected with HIV, but who show no symptoms......
Planning Commission frames universal health insurance plan
The Planning Commission said it is framing up a blue print for a universal health insurance scheme which would provide a minimum cover to everyone in the country. "I think we do want a universal cess system. But whether it will be free for everybody...and free means Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY). The RSBY today is (available) for all BPL and for additional categories. It is quite possible that it can be expanded," Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said. Under RSBY, below poverty line households are provided health insurance cover, which entitles them to hospitalisation coverage of up to Rs 30,000. Beneficiaries under RSBY need to pay only Rs 30 as registration fee, while the central and state governments pay the premium to the insurer.
Read more :eHealhthonline.org
The Planning Commission said it is framing up a blue print for a universal health insurance scheme which would provide a minimum cover to everyone in the country. "I think we do want a universal cess system. But whether it will be free for everybody...and free means Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY). The RSBY today is (available) for all BPL and for additional categories. It is quite possible that it can be expanded," Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said. Under RSBY, below poverty line households are provided health insurance cover, which entitles them to hospitalisation coverage of up to Rs 30,000. Beneficiaries under RSBY need to pay only Rs 30 as registration fee, while the central and state governments pay the premium to the insurer.
Read more :eHealhthonline.org
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
A train ride to cancer care
BATHINDA: Jasbir Kaur waits with her husband at the railway station's dimly-lit platform number one. The station, like the city, is unremarkable. Like dozens others here, they will catch the passenger train to Bikaner at 9.15 pm, from Abohar to Jodhpur.
Jasbir does not find it eerie that her train is called the 'Cancer Train', a name it earned over the last decade as it has daily ferried people with cancer from Bathinda to Bikaner for cheap treatment of the deadly disease. On any given night, there are about 70 to 100 cancer patients on this platform, says a station attendant. "Everyone knows it's the train for those with cancer," shrugs Jasbir, the cancer in her mouth slurring her speech.........
BATHINDA: Jasbir Kaur waits with her husband at the railway station's dimly-lit platform number one. The station, like the city, is unremarkable. Like dozens others here, they will catch the passenger train to Bikaner at 9.15 pm, from Abohar to Jodhpur.
Jasbir does not find it eerie that her train is called the 'Cancer Train', a name it earned over the last decade as it has daily ferried people with cancer from Bathinda to Bikaner for cheap treatment of the deadly disease. On any given night, there are about 70 to 100 cancer patients on this platform, says a station attendant. "Everyone knows it's the train for those with cancer," shrugs Jasbir, the cancer in her mouth slurring her speech.........
US vaccine offers hope to treat Chikungunya
Kounteya Sinha, TNN Aug 15, 2011, 05.30am ISTTags:University of Wisconsin|University of Texas
NEW DELHI: The world could soon have an effective vaccine against Chikungunya — the viral disease characterized by high fever lasting between seven and 10 days and excruciatingly painful joints for over three months. India has been seeing explosive outbreaks of this mosquito-borne disease which came to the country in 2006 after a gap of 32 years.
Researchers from the University of Texas, Colorado, the University of Wisconsin, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of Alabama have successfully created a new experimental vaccine against the Chikungunya virus.
A single dose of the experimental vaccine protected lab mice from infection with the virus, according to a paper published online in the journal PLoS Pathogens. Currently, there is no treatment or vaccine for Chikungunya and it has to be tackled with paracetamol and fluids.
Kounteya Sinha, TNN Aug 15, 2011, 05.30am ISTTags:University of Wisconsin|University of Texas
NEW DELHI: The world could soon have an effective vaccine against Chikungunya — the viral disease characterized by high fever lasting between seven and 10 days and excruciatingly painful joints for over three months. India has been seeing explosive outbreaks of this mosquito-borne disease which came to the country in 2006 after a gap of 32 years.
Researchers from the University of Texas, Colorado, the University of Wisconsin, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of Alabama have successfully created a new experimental vaccine against the Chikungunya virus.
A single dose of the experimental vaccine protected lab mice from infection with the virus, according to a paper published online in the journal PLoS Pathogens. Currently, there is no treatment or vaccine for Chikungunya and it has to be tackled with paracetamol and fluids.
Brain drain
767 docs flew out till July 27
NEW DELHI: Brain drain continues to cripple India's medical sector. According to the Medical Council of India (MCI), till July 27, 2011, as many as 767 doctors may have left India for foreign shores.
These are all doctors who asked the MCI to issue them Good Standing Certificates (GSC) - a mandatory requirement for doctors going to work in hospitals abroad. The MCI issued 1,264 GSCs in 2010, 1,386 GSCs in 2009 and 1,002 in 2008.
Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "GSCs give us a rough estimate of the doctors migrating to other countries. However, it does not reflect the absolute number. No centralized data is maintained for doctors and nurses migrating to other countries."
Prof Ranjit Roychoudhury, former member of MCI's board of governors, told TOI, "A GSC is mandatory for all doctors going abroad for clinical work. A GSC is required once a person has got an offer to work in a foreign hospital."
Prof Roychoudhury added, "It is not for doctors changing jobs within India. For such people, the new employers just check with the MCI to see if he is a registered doctor and that his name has not been struck out. That's all."
According to the health ministry, such a large number of doctors going abroad to work is bad news for India. The country has just one doctor for every 1,700 people. In comparison, the doctor-population ratio globally is 1.5:1,000. Somalia has one doctor for 10,000 population. China's doctor population ratio stands at 1:1063, Korea 1:951, Brazil 1:844, Singapore 1:714, Japan 1:606, Thailand 1:500, UK 1:469, US 1:350 and Germany 1:296.
MCI is now trying to reduce the gap to 1 doctor for 1,000 population by 2031. According to the Planning Commission, India is short of six lakh doctors, 10 lakh nurses and two lakh dental surgeons. The commission estimates that Indian doctors who have migrated to developed countries form nearly 5% of their medical workforce. Almost 60,000 Indian physicians are estimated to be working in countries like US, UK, Canada and Australia alone.
A recent paper in the Lancet said India had eight healthcare workers, 3.8 allopathic doctors and 2.4 nurses per 10,000 population. When compared to other countries, this is about half the WHO benchmark of 25.4 workers per 10,000 people.
According to MCI's Indian Medical Register that was last updated in April 2011, the nation supposedly boasts of 840,678 registered medical practitioners. However, the data includes names of doctors who were registered way back in 1933. Chances of these doctors being alive is dim, admits MCI.
India, meanwhile, is all set to produce over 4,400 more doctors every year. The MCI, looking at India's medical manpower shortage, has increased the number of seats for undergraduate medical education by 4,452 from this academic session (2011-12).
767 docs flew out till July 27
NEW DELHI: Brain drain continues to cripple India's medical sector. According to the Medical Council of India (MCI), till July 27, 2011, as many as 767 doctors may have left India for foreign shores.
These are all doctors who asked the MCI to issue them Good Standing Certificates (GSC) - a mandatory requirement for doctors going to work in hospitals abroad. The MCI issued 1,264 GSCs in 2010, 1,386 GSCs in 2009 and 1,002 in 2008.
Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "GSCs give us a rough estimate of the doctors migrating to other countries. However, it does not reflect the absolute number. No centralized data is maintained for doctors and nurses migrating to other countries."
Prof Ranjit Roychoudhury, former member of MCI's board of governors, told TOI, "A GSC is mandatory for all doctors going abroad for clinical work. A GSC is required once a person has got an offer to work in a foreign hospital."
Prof Roychoudhury added, "It is not for doctors changing jobs within India. For such people, the new employers just check with the MCI to see if he is a registered doctor and that his name has not been struck out. That's all."
According to the health ministry, such a large number of doctors going abroad to work is bad news for India. The country has just one doctor for every 1,700 people. In comparison, the doctor-population ratio globally is 1.5:1,000. Somalia has one doctor for 10,000 population. China's doctor population ratio stands at 1:1063, Korea 1:951, Brazil 1:844, Singapore 1:714, Japan 1:606, Thailand 1:500, UK 1:469, US 1:350 and Germany 1:296.
MCI is now trying to reduce the gap to 1 doctor for 1,000 population by 2031. According to the Planning Commission, India is short of six lakh doctors, 10 lakh nurses and two lakh dental surgeons. The commission estimates that Indian doctors who have migrated to developed countries form nearly 5% of their medical workforce. Almost 60,000 Indian physicians are estimated to be working in countries like US, UK, Canada and Australia alone.
A recent paper in the Lancet said India had eight healthcare workers, 3.8 allopathic doctors and 2.4 nurses per 10,000 population. When compared to other countries, this is about half the WHO benchmark of 25.4 workers per 10,000 people.
According to MCI's Indian Medical Register that was last updated in April 2011, the nation supposedly boasts of 840,678 registered medical practitioners. However, the data includes names of doctors who were registered way back in 1933. Chances of these doctors being alive is dim, admits MCI.
India, meanwhile, is all set to produce over 4,400 more doctors every year. The MCI, looking at India's medical manpower shortage, has increased the number of seats for undergraduate medical education by 4,452 from this academic session (2011-12).
Sunday, August 14, 2011
AIIMS to build databank of patients; to set up Rs 50cr knowledge hub
NEW DELHI: To encourage clinical research and map the prevalence of diseases across the country, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is going to build an extensive databank of patients who are treated there. The institute, which is visited by up to 10,000 patients everyday, is going to build a new unit - Convergence Centre - for promoting academic work.
The foundation for the Rs 50.85 crore project was laid by Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday.
Institute director Dr R C Deka said, "The Convergence Centre will house the knowledge centre meant for creating database for various research activities, including clinical experiences at AIIMS and also the additional facilities for the departments of anatomy, pathology, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology and microbiology. It will serve as a knowledge hub." The Centre, he said, is a part of the Moily Committee's recommendations for augmentation of infrastructure at AIIMS for which the Central government has allocated Rs 750 crore. It will have a covered area of 18,618 sq m, nine floors and two basements.
Read More @ TOI
NEW DELHI: To encourage clinical research and map the prevalence of diseases across the country, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is going to build an extensive databank of patients who are treated there. The institute, which is visited by up to 10,000 patients everyday, is going to build a new unit - Convergence Centre - for promoting academic work.
The foundation for the Rs 50.85 crore project was laid by Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday.
Institute director Dr R C Deka said, "The Convergence Centre will house the knowledge centre meant for creating database for various research activities, including clinical experiences at AIIMS and also the additional facilities for the departments of anatomy, pathology, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology and microbiology. It will serve as a knowledge hub." The Centre, he said, is a part of the Moily Committee's recommendations for augmentation of infrastructure at AIIMS for which the Central government has allocated Rs 750 crore. It will have a covered area of 18,618 sq m, nine floors and two basements.
Read More @ TOI
Thursday, August 11, 2011
The Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (regulation and prevention of misuse) act, 1994 (PCPNDT) and amendments is an Act to provide for the prohibition of sex selection, before or after conception, and for regulation of prenatal diagnostic techniques for the purposes of detecting genetic abnormalities or metabolic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities or certain congenital malformations or sex-linked disorders and for the prevention of their misuse for sex determination leading to female foeticide; and, for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Read more :http://pndt.gov.in/index2.asp?slid=49&sublinkid=31
Read more :http://pndt.gov.in/index2.asp?slid=49&sublinkid=31
Urban India pips rural in sex-selection test
NEW DELHI: The world's largest sample survey has confirmed that sex-selection test is more common among India's educated urban population compared to their rural counterparts.
Union health ministry's annual health survey 2010-11 - carried out in nine states with a sample size of 18.2 million - has found that sex ratio at birth, under 0-4 years and in all ages in rural areas is better than in urban areas....
NEW DELHI: The world's largest sample survey has confirmed that sex-selection test is more common among India's educated urban population compared to their rural counterparts.
Union health ministry's annual health survey 2010-11 - carried out in nine states with a sample size of 18.2 million - has found that sex ratio at birth, under 0-4 years and in all ages in rural areas is better than in urban areas....
Saturday, August 6, 2011
65% new global leprosy cases from India
NEW DELHI: India, which has supposed to have eliminated leprosy seven years ago, still records the highest number of fresh cases globally.
According to the World Health Organization, 65% of all new cases of leprosy globally are from India.
The Union health ministry's latest data shows that between April, 2010, and March, 2011, India recorded 126 , 800 fresh cases of leprosy of which 12, 463 were children under the age of 15. Around 4,000 of these patients had disabilities due to leprosy.
The ministry on Thursday called a meeting of all states to discuss these high numbers. Though most of India eliminated the disease in 2005 (elimination is less than 1 case per 10,000), as many as 209 districts still record more than 10 cases per 10,000, which is tremendously high. These districts are mainly in Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Dadar & Nagar Haveli.
NEW DELHI: India, which has supposed to have eliminated leprosy seven years ago, still records the highest number of fresh cases globally.
According to the World Health Organization, 65% of all new cases of leprosy globally are from India.
The Union health ministry's latest data shows that between April, 2010, and March, 2011, India recorded 126 , 800 fresh cases of leprosy of which 12, 463 were children under the age of 15. Around 4,000 of these patients had disabilities due to leprosy.
The ministry on Thursday called a meeting of all states to discuss these high numbers. Though most of India eliminated the disease in 2005 (elimination is less than 1 case per 10,000), as many as 209 districts still record more than 10 cases per 10,000, which is tremendously high. These districts are mainly in Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Dadar & Nagar Haveli.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Immunization in India
Delivering effective and safe vaccines through an efficient delivery system is one of the most cost effective public health interventions. Immunization programmes aim to reduce mortality and morbidity due to Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs), particularly for children. India's immunization programme is one of the largest in the world in terms of quantities of vaccines used, numbers of beneficiaries, number of immunization sessions organized and the geographical area covered. Under the immunization program, vaccines are used to protect children and pregnant mothers against six diseases. They are:
* Tuberculosis
* Diphtheria
* Pertussis
* Polio
* Measles
* Tetanus
The Hepatitis B vaccine is also included in the Universal Immunization Programme in a phased manner.
Delivering effective and safe vaccines through an efficient delivery system is one of the most cost effective public health interventions. Immunization programmes aim to reduce mortality and morbidity due to Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs), particularly for children. India's immunization programme is one of the largest in the world in terms of quantities of vaccines used, numbers of beneficiaries, number of immunization sessions organized and the geographical area covered. Under the immunization program, vaccines are used to protect children and pregnant mothers against six diseases. They are:
* Tuberculosis
* Diphtheria
* Pertussis
* Polio
* Measles
* Tetanus
The Hepatitis B vaccine is also included in the Universal Immunization Programme in a phased manner.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Don't ignore headache
You're sitting at your desk, working on a difficult task, when it suddenly feels as if a belt or vice is being tightened around the top of your head. Or you have periodic headaches that occur with nausea and increased sensitivity to light or sound. Maybe you are involved in a routine, non-stressful task when you're struck by head or neck pain.
Sound familiar? If so, you've suffered one of the many types of headache that can occur on its own or as part of another disease or health condition.
Read more: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
You're sitting at your desk, working on a difficult task, when it suddenly feels as if a belt or vice is being tightened around the top of your head. Or you have periodic headaches that occur with nausea and increased sensitivity to light or sound. Maybe you are involved in a routine, non-stressful task when you're struck by head or neck pain.
Sound familiar? If so, you've suffered one of the many types of headache that can occur on its own or as part of another disease or health condition.
Read more: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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