• India's National Medical Commission (NMC) released the NMC Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) Regulations, 2023.         

• This includes 

1. Code of Ethics 

2. The Geneva Declaration, known as the "Physician's Pledge,"

• The ethical principles included in the code of ethics are: 

1. Beneficence 

2. Non-maleficence 

3. Empathy 

4. Respect for patient's autonomy and confidentiality 

5. Integrity 

6. Honesty 

7. Justice

• It was emphasized that these aren't laws but are standards that a physician is expected to practice as a medical professional.

• Under the code of ethics, there is a set of "must" follow guidelines and a set of "shall/should" follow guidelines. 

• The Regulations also included the Physician's Pledge, a part of the Geneva Declaration. 

• However, another release by the NMC clarified that these Regulations aren’t operative and effective until further notification is issued.

• A notification regarding setting up the horizon for emission of Hydrogen gas has been issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on Saturday (less than 2 kg CO2 per kg of Hydrogen).

• The interventions include:

1. Measurement

2. Reporting

3. Monitoring

4. On-site verification

5. Certification of Hydrogen Gas

• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) shoulders the task of authenticating the agencies meant for the above functions.

• The National Green Hydrogen Mission includes 

1. The task of producing 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen per year

2. The task of keeping a renewable energy capacity of about 125 gigawatts (GW) by 2030

• Within a budget of 19,744 crores, the program aims to increase domestic production of electrolyzers and hydrogen gas to make India the ‘green hub.’

• A meeting to curb the anticipated wave set by the newer variants of SARS-CoV-2 was held under Dr. P. K. Mishra, along with a review of the current scenario. 

• As per the meeting’s statistics: 

1. Globally, a total of 2,96,219 new cases have been reported in the past 7 days 

2. India's total new case tallied to 223 in the past week.

3. The daily average of new cases is less than 50 

4. The weekly test positivity rate is less than 0.2%. 

• Dr. P. K. Mishra has emphasized, that while the COVID situation is under control, there is a  need for:

1. Perpetual monitoring of ILI/SARI cases 

2. Regular testing along with boosting Whole Genome Sequencing 

3. Guarding against the new variants

• The CDC has reinforced strategies for preventing insect bites.

• The small steps but a giant leap to protect mankind from these not-so-mellifluous malicious arbovirus carriers are:

1. Use of insect repellent- DEET, Picardin, Oil of lemon eucalyptus, etc.

2. Loose-fitting, long-sleeved outfits

3. Use 0.5 % Permethrin for clothes and gear

4. Correct installation of mosquito nets

5. Create Awareness among travelers to arbovirus disease-prone areas.

6. Use of screens over windows and doors

7. Use air conditioning

8. Clear all the stagnant water sources and prevent stagnation

• For Babies and Children:

1. Full dressing, covering arms and legs

2. Cover strollers.

3. Baby carriers with mosquito nets

4. Avoid the use of insect repellents

• An 18-year-old from Michigan with respiratory illness was confirmed to have novel influenza variant H1N2 by the US CDC on 4 August 2023. 

• There was a history of swine exposure, but no human-to-human transmission was identified.

• Non-seasonal/ zoonotic influenza is acquired through direct or indirect contact with infected animals. 

• Since 2005, 37 human infections with H1N2 have been reported in the US. 

• Active surveillance by public health officials ensures that no cases go missing. 

• WHO advises practicing hand hygiene, and avoiding contact with sick or dead animals. 

• Collaboration with animal and human sectors along with Global surveillance to detect virologic, epidemiologic, and clinical changes is essential to prevent a pandemic.

• A ministerial meeting with the Health ministers of the member states of the WHO South-East Asian Region (SEAR) took place in Gandhinagar. 

• The meeting- Sustain, Accelerate and Innovate to End TB in SEAR was co-chaired by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, WHO. 

The Gandhinagar declaration was signed at the meeting, which includes the following key points: 

1. It commends the initiatives to increase community participation such as the use of Nutritional baskets. 

2. It also expresses confidence that the member states will be able to end TB by 2030 by continued efforts in the right direction. 

3. Dr. Mandaviya reiterated India’s commitment to eliminating TB from India by 2025, five years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goals. 

4. The Health Minister also emphasized the various initiatives undertaken by the country- including increased involvement of the private sector, the Nikshay Mitras, and the Nikshay Poshan Yojana initiative. 

• India has achieved a 13% reduction in TB incidence and a 15% decrease in mortality from 2015 to 2022.

• The United Nations Project Fund (UNPFA ) is conducting a 4-month long project in Rajasthan. 

• The project aims to promote gender equality and end gender-based discrimination in the state. 

• The UNFPA in lieu with the Haridev Joshi University of Journalism, conducted a 2-day workshop related to the same. 

• The workshop included capacity building of the students on topics such as- 

1. Gender norms 

2. Sexual violence 

• Gender rights experts from Population First, UNFPA, and the Jaipur-based Lok Samvad Sansthan addressed the workshop. 

• The project will enable the youth to challenge the social norms promoting discrimination and gender disparity, and play a meaningful role in women’s empowerment.

• The CDC and public health officials are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella across 11 different states in the United States of America.

• The variants of Salmonella involved are S. stanley and S. pomona. As of August 18th, a total of 26 individuals had been infected, with 24 of them infected with S. stanley and only 2 with S. pomona. These outbreaks have been linked to small turtles with shell sizes under 4 inches. 

• Due to a similar history in the past, the sale and distribution of these turtles have been banned however, these have been found online illegally. 

• The CDC has issued a list of dos and don'ts related to the same, which includes:     

1. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water

2. Play safely around the turtle       

3. Do not eat//drink around the turtle

4. Do not snuggle/kiss the turtle 

5. Call your healthcare provider if you have any symptoms of salmonella.

• Under NMHP -Outpatient services, assessment, counseling/ psycho-social interventions and support for people with severe mental disorders, and other services are available through the DMHP at the CHC and PHC levels. 

• The tertiary care component of the NMHP has sanctioned 25 COEs to boost the admission of students in PG departments and has helped 19 government medical colleges strengthen 47 postgraduate departments in mental health specializations.  

• Efforts are being taken to make resources available in vulnerable areas by providing training to healthcare personnel 

• Additionally, mental health treatments have been included in the Comprehensive Primary Health Care package under the Ayushman Bharat - HWC Scheme.

• The government has begun a "National Tele Mental Health Program" to expand access to excellent mental health counseling from October 2022. 

• 42 Tele MANAS Cells have been established by Aug 2023 and are providing tele-mental health services having received almost 1,94,000 calls.

• Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd from Pune have announced an updated funding agreement to expedite the advancement of their self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) platform for generating vaccine candidates against unknown pathological threats, referred to as Disease X. 

• CEPI will provide up to $3.6 million to optimize the saRNA-platform technology, manufacturing processes, and production output. 

• The upcoming focus will involve the creation of a vaccine candidate targeting the rabies virus, which will then undergo preclinical assessments. 

• The funding forms a part of CEPI's initiative to back pioneering RNA vaccine platform technologies designed for emerging infectious diseases and specific prevalent conditions. 

• These methods may provide significant advantages over traditional mRNA procedures, including multivalency, greater immunogenicity, upgraded storage and stability, higher yield, quicker response times, and cost-efficiency. 

• The saRNA vaccine platform created by Gennova might be one of the CEPI-endorsed RNA technology lineups that could enable rapid responses to future epidemics and pandemic dangers, possibly within 100 days of identification.

• In order to boost the completion of ABDM integration, NHA and IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) organized a 3-day workshop from August 10 to 12 in New Delhi, which witnessed over 150 participants.

• This workshop was also conducted to enhance the Health Claims Exchange (HCX) specifications and e-claim standards for insurance companies and Third-Party Administrators

• As per the orders of IRDAI, all insurance companies are supposed to collect the ABHA numbers so as to ensure an affordable healthcare environment for the common man.

• It has also advised to join the National HCX, which will provide information regarding insurers, TPAs, claimants, etc.

• NHA and CDAC, Pune, provided technical assistance to help them achieve their goals.

• This intervention is believed to drink from the nectar of partnership and teamwork to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem.

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• According to the INDIA-WORKS report, healthy measures at the workplace can help employees reduce their blood sugar levels, lose weight, and maintain their blood pressure levels.

• This report was conducted in collaboration with Emory and Harvard Universities by PHFI (Public Health Foundation of India) and MDRF( Madras Diabetes Research Foundation).

• Around 547 of the 2,108 individuals achieved a normal HbA1c level (<5.7%) by-

1. A structured lifestyle modification program

2. Improved food quality that encourages healthy food choices in workplace canteens

3. Higher physical activity levels

• Despite the effects of COVID-19, the levels have remained consistent for the last two years.

• The INDIA-WORKS study measured critical factors such as:

1. HbA1c

2. Waist circumference

3. Blood pressure

4. Blood cholesterol

5. Weight

• Obesity was identified in 9/10 participants in the study, indicating a significant risk of acquiring diabetes and hypertension.

• The study's goal was to build healthier workplaces and show how initiatives can prevent disease among workers through long-term lifestyle changes.