Public Health Headlines  23rd February, 2023

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has warned the Punjab government from rebranding Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Center (AB-HWC) to Aam Aadmi Clinics. 

According to MoHFW, the Punjab government has violated the National Health Mission MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between the Union government and states which prescribes a standard design for AB-HWC. 

MoHFW has asked the Punjab government to restore the standard design of all AB-HWCs (yellow and brown buildings with red NHM logo) by February 28, otherwise, the Union government will stop its share of funding (60%) under the National Health Mission.

Countries need a fertility rate of 2.1 to maintain a stable population, in the absence of immigration. But, the fertility rate or the average number of children expected per woman in South Korea fell to 0.78 in 2022 – down from 0.81 the previous year. 

The country recorded more deaths than births for the first time in 2020, a trend that has continued since. Similar demographic declines are being seen in several other Asian countries including Japan and China, raising concerns there will be too few people of working age to support the ballooning elderly population. 

The South Korean government has spent more than $200 billion trying to boost the population over the past 16 years. 

It also introduced various initiatives such as extending paid paternity leave, offering monetary “baby vouchers” to new parents, and social campaigns encouraging men to contribute to childcare and housework. But despite the economic factors at play, throwing money at the problem has proved ineffective.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) held interviews for the appointment of the DCGI in January. The top contenders for the post were Dr. VG Somani, Dr. Rajeev Raghuvanshi, and Dr.Jai Prakash. 

On January 30, the UPSC communicated its decision to the Health Ministry and recommended Raghuvanshi for the country's apex drug regulator post. 

Former Ranbaxy, DRL exec Rajeev Raghuvanshi is appointed as new DCGI with effect from the date of his assumption of charge of the post till his attaining the age of superannuation on 28.02.2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. 

Dr Raghuvanshi had joined the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission as the Secretary-cum-Scientific Director on February 16, 2021. He completed his bachelor's and Masters's from IIT-BHU (formerly IT-BHU), Varanasi, and his Ph.D. from the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi. 

SIGNIFICANCE: DCGI heads the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), which is responsible for ensuring the quality of drug supply across the country. 

DCGI has the authority to approve new drugs and regulate clinical trials in India. 

His appointment comes at a time when India's pharma regulatory landscape is under the scanner after multiple reports of sub-standard and toxic drugs exported to various countries in the globe began doing the rounds last November-December.

The government of India is focusing on the production of high-value pharmaceuticals and high-end medical devices through indigenous production, with the vision of reducing import dependency. 

Under the Atmanirbharta initiative of the Government, the Department of Pharmaceuticals launched the Product Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for pharmaceuticals in 2021. 

The financial outlay under this PLI scheme is Rs.15,000 Cr over a period of six years. 

3 different categories of products are being supported under the scheme, viz, 

The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) released the first tranche of incentives under the Product Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme of pharmaceuticals amounting to Rs 166 crore to four selected applicants on 21st February 2023.