Public Health Headlines  20th February, 2023

• According to the Ministry of External Affairs, in 2022, almost 2.25 lakh Indians renounced their citizenship, the highest since 2011. 

• The move is especially seen among HNI (high net-worth individuals). HNI are those who have a wealth of more than 8.2 crores. This reflects a worrying situation wrt emigration of the country.

• The trend also raises a question, "is the wealth not translating into the higher quality of life in India they seek, ultimately forcing them to move out"?

• Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare organized National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) Scientific Dialogue 2023 on Sunday. 

• Union Health Secretary Shri Rajesh Bhushan congratulated everyone for an annual increase of 27% in transplant numbers in India (2022) after a dip during COVID-19. He said “despite having 640+ medical hospitals and colleges, transplants remain a specialized service limited to some hospitals only and highlighted the need for capacity building of our medical institutions.

• There is also a need to identify high case load institutions and bring them under the network NOTT program. 

• He suggested that consultations and discussions can lead to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and consequentially, the creation of a Centre of Excellence at the state and regional levels where these specialized services can be provided to the needy.

• NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel asked the Delhi government to pay the fine of ₹2,232 crore government for damage caused to the environment due to improper solid and liquid waste management.

• The compensation pattern in respect of other States (at the rate of ₹2 crores per million liters per day of untreated sewage and ₹300 per tonne of untreated legacy waste), compensation of ₹2,232 crores is liable to be levied on Delhi govt as per NGT order.

• Currently, National Green Tribunal across the country works on the “Polluter Pays Principle” as it is mentioned in its governing law: National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. 

• “Polluter Pays Principle” means that the absolute liability for harm to the environment extends not only to compensate the victims of pollution but also to the cost of restoring the environmental degradation.

To know more about CPCB, Waste Management Guidelines - Click here

• In Punjab, Subsidiary Health Centre (SHC) is the first point of contact for patients in rural areas that caters to 5,000 to 10,000 population. 

• Recently Punjab government opened 400 AACs on January 27, the clinic offers around 100 lab tests and medicines free of cost.

• The matter of concern is now  doctors and other staff working in already existing SHCs & PHCs were deputed to newly opened AACs. 

• Public Civil Medical Services(PCMS) Association said this expansion of the public health delivery system is welcomed but not at the sacrifice of the existing health system which has served for years.