Page 28 - Health Ministry

Health ministry issues office memorandum on task force for medicos' safety

The panel will be headed by Cabinet Secretary, Government of India as its Chairperson has been constituted following the Supreme Court's direction on August 20

Health secretary reviews preparedness to tackle Monkeypox challenge in J&K

Though no case of Monkeypox was reported from anywhere in Jammu and Kashmir, the authorities here on Tuesday reviewed the preparedness of public health agencies to meet the challenge posed by the infectious viral disease in the Union Territory, an official said. Health Secretary Syed Abid Rasheed Shah chaired a meeting of the officers in the light of recent declaration of Monkeypox as an emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), the official said. He said that Shah directed all stakeholders to take proactive measures to ensure full preparedness to handle any situation. All the institutions across Jammu and Kashmir were directed to maintain high vigil for any exigency, the officials said. They said the Health Secretary also asked all heads of departments to conduct mock drills across the Union Territory and to impart training to all the health officials regarding logistics and transportation concerned with potential situations. Shah ordered all the HODs to dedicate isolatio

SC forms 10-member task force to frame protocol, ensure safety of doctors

Health Ministry writes to central govt-run hospitals to ensure doctor's security

Mpox scare: Aiims Delhi issues protocol to handle suspected patients

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency last week. At least 4 cases have been reported in neighbouring Pakistan

Health ministry asks central govt-run hospital to enhance security

The ministry asked all central government-run institutions to provide an adequate number of 'well-secured' duty rooms with basic amenities for female health professionals

Health Ministry writes to Centre-run hospitals heads to enhance security

Ministry further mentioned taking appropriate action including a sufficient number of High-resolution CCTV cameras installed in different areas to address safety issues in govt health organisations

Mpox reaches Pak-occupied Kashmir, total 4 cases; India on alert. Updates

Mpox outbreak: In view of the outbreak, the Centre has directed airport, ports and border authorities to remain vigilant and ensure strict scanning to detect any mpox infection at the earliest

India directs airports, ports, to stay alert as Mpox cases rise globally

Earlier, PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, led a review meeting to assess the nation's preparedness for Mpox

RG Kar Hospital horror: Doctors offer OPD services outside health ministry

The continuation of protests comes two days after IMA held a 24-hour nationwide strike in protest against the incident

Risk of surge in Mpox cases very low in India at present: Official sources

The risk for an upsurge of Mpox, once known as monkeypox, infection is very low in India at the moment and there is no need to panic, sources in the health ministry said in the wake of WHO declaring the disease a public health emergency of international concern. Official sources said the last case of monkeypox in India was reported from Kerala in March this year. According to official data, 30 laboratory confirmed cases of monkeypox since 2022 have been reported in India since 2022. The health ministry might write to points of entry such as airports, seaports to be alert and vigilant and deal with suspected cases of monkeypox as per the guidelines in terms of isolation and treatment, an official source told PTI. "At the moment, the risk of a surge in monkeypox infection is very low in India and there is no need to panic," the official source said. Union Health Minister J P Nadda is likely to hold a meeting with officials from the ministry, NCDC and ICMR on Saturday. On Wednesday

Centre issues '6-hour FIR' order over violence against health workers

Centre's order came amid massive protests in India, calling for justice in the rape-murder of the 31-year-old junior doctor, whose body was found at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last

Doctor Murder: FORDA ends stir after meeting Nadda, others won't relent

The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) on Tuesday said it was calling off its strike over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata as the Union health minister has accepted their demands. However, the medics at the central government-run AIIMS, the Indira Gandhi Hospital and other resident doctors' associations, including the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), said their stir would continue until a central law to curb attacks on medical personnel is implemented and a concrete solution found. A delegation of FORDA met with Union Health Minister J P Nadda at his residence on Tuesday night. The association said the decision to end the strike, effective from Wednesday morning, was taken in the interest of the welfare of patients. In a statement, FORDA said, "A key outcome of the meeting was the health minister's agreement to form a committee with FORDA's involvement to work on the Central Protection Act. The ministry has assured that

Five-member expert team to visit landslide-hit areas in Wayanad today

Expert panel will also recommend suitable land uses for area, Kerala Health Minister Veena George has directed appointment of more psychiatry experts from medical colleges to serve in disaster areas

Doctors' strike to continue as meeting with health ministry inconclusive

The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association on Monday announced the extension of its indefinite strike to protest the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata after their meeting with officials from the Union health ministry here failed to bring out any resolution. Resident doctors of government hospitals across the country went on an indefinite strike on Monday to protest the gruesome incident at the RG Kar Medical College, paralysing elective services including OPDs and non-emergency surgeries. The stir was in response to a call from the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA). "Despite extensive discussions with the Union (health) minister's team, no concrete resolution was reached, leading to the continuation of the strike," a statement released by FORDA here on Monday night said. FORDA President Dr Aviral Mathur said the strike will continue on Tuesday. "I, along with the association members and doctors, met with the Union health minister's team on Monda

Ukraine penetrates Russia's southern border, triggering fierce clashes

Russia's health ministry said 31 civilians, including six children, had been wounded. Smirnov said on Tuesday that five people had been killed

Indian spices not banned by Singapore, Hong Kong, says MoS Anupriya Patel

Indian spices have not been banned by countries like Singapore and Hong Kong, the Ministry of Commerce informed Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Specific batches of a few spice mixtures exported from India were recalled by the food safety authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore due to the presence of ethylene oxide (EtO) above permissible limits, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel said in a written reply. As part of its import surveillance, the Singapore Food Agency placed the consignments of spices from the associated brands under Hold-and-Test regime for a period of one month. The Spices Board, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has taken various steps to meet the varying EtO limits of the importing country. They include mandatory pre-shipment testing of spices being exported to these destinations and issuance of comprehensive guidelines to be followed by exporters to prevent possible EtO contamination at all stages such as procurement of raw

Govt reconstitutes NIPCCD's Executive Council, General Body after 5 decades

The Ministry of Women and Child Development said on Monday it has reconstituted the Executive Council and General Body of the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) after more than five decades. The reconstitution was approved during a meeting held here under the chairpersonship of WCD Minister Annpurna Devi. NIPCCD, an autonomous organization under the WCD Ministry, was initially established in 1966 under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. The reconstitution reduces the size of the General Body from 94 to 22 members and the Executive Council from 21 to 13 members, creating a leaner and more efficient structure. The General Body is responsible for formulating overall policies, while the Executive Council manages the administrative affairs of the institute. According to an official statement, Devi emphasized the need for NIPCCD to lead in training field functionaries of the ministry, conducting research and documentation on women and child

Health Minister Nadda urges states to spend more on health infrastructure

Health Minister J P Nadda on Monday urged state governments to spend more on improving healthcare infrastructure and dismissed opposition allegations on reduction of allocations under the PM-Ayushman Bharat Healthcare Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM). Replying to the debate on the demand for grants for the health and family welfare ministry in the Lok Sabha, Nadda listed the increase in number of medical colleges, steps taken for the reduction of out of pocket expenses on healthcare and initiatives for early screening of diseases such as cancer and sickle cell anaemia as achievements of the government. "We don't believe in just making announcements. We believe in effective planning, ensuring last mile delivery, identifying bottlenecks in last mile delivery and taking steps to remove them," the minister said. Nadda dared Trinamool Congress members, who were protesting, to tell the House why the West Bengal government had not shared the dengue registry with the Centre. On opposition

Centre issues first-ever guidelines for seamless transport of human organs

The Union Health Ministry has come out with its first-ever SOPs for seamless transport of human organs through various modes of travel, which will allow airlines carrying them to request the Air Traffic Control for priority take-off and landing and also arrange front-row seats. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for organ transplant will serve as a guiding document for those involved in organs transplants across the country and are aimed at ensuring maximum utilisation. "By streamlining organ transport process, we aim to maximise the utilisation of precious organs and offer hope to countless patients awaiting life-saving transplants.These SOPs are a roadmap for organ retrieval and transplant institutions across the country ensuring adherence to best practices and quality standards," Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra said. A live organ needs to be transported between hospitals when both the organ donor and the organ recipient are in different hospitals either within the same

Govt agencies conducting risk-based inspections of pharma units: Nadda

Over 400 drug manufacturing units, including MSMEs, inspected after high frequency of NQS reports