BHISHM Cube: AIIMS Rishikesh's Mobile Hospital Ready in 12 Minutes for Disaster Response Content Editor: Dr. Anamika May 28, 2025 at 3:37:41 PM Disaster Response, Mobile Hospitals All India Institute of Medical Sciences ,Rishikesh recently conducted a mock drill of the BHISHM Cube—Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri —a mobile hospital unit under P roject A arogya M aitri by the Government of India. Designed for rapid disaster response , the modular unit can treat up to 200 casualties and integrates artificial intelligence, point-of-care testing (POCT ) and data analytics for real-time monitoring and management. During the drill, the BHISHM Cube was successfully deployed within twelve minutes, demonstrating its preparedness to provide efficient medical care during emergencies. Rapid mobile hospitals could have a great impact in disaster relief across India and developing nations. Previous Next

Revised schedule M for Good Manufacturing Practices Content Editor: Dr. Tanya Tanu January 24, 2024 at 12:30:00 PM Schedule M, Good Manufacturing Practices GMP was first incorporated in Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 , in the year 1988 for pharmaceutical products and the last amendment was done in June 2005. The revised Schedule M was notified on December 28, 2023, to ensure GMP is adhered to, and the requirements of premises, plant, and equipment for pharmaceutical products. The changes in the revised Schedule M include: Introduction of a pharmaceutical quality system. Quality risk management. Product quality review. Qualification and validation of equipment. Computerized storage system for all drug products. To market a finished product by companies only after getting “satisfactory results” on tests of the ingredients. To retain sufficient quantities of the samples of intermediate and final products to allow repeated testing or verification of a batch. https://rajswasthya.nic.in/Drug/ScheduleM Previous Next

India's efforts in ensuring Women’s Dignity and Safety India's efforts in ensuring Women’s Dignity and Safety Content Editor: Dr. Sathya Prashaath January 3, 2025 Press Information Bureau, Government of India (Release ID: 2085610) Swachh Bharat Mission, Menstrual Hygiene Management, Sakhi Niwas Sanitation and Safety : Emphasizing the importance of sanitation for women's dignity and safety, addressing open defecation and the high cost of sanitary napkins. Swachh Bharat Mission : Through a saturation approach, access to safe sanitation through the construction of 11.64 crore household toilets, access to tap water connections for 15.13 crore rural households, and provision of clean cooking gas connections to over 10.3 crore women Community and Public Toilets : Construction of these facilities aids marginalized groups, including women, by reducing health risks and exposure to unsafe public spaces. Swachh Vidyalaya Mission : Ensuring functional toilets for girls in schools, with 97.48% of government schools having separate girls' toilets. Menstrual Hygiene Management : Making sanitary napkins tax-exempt and affordable, promoting menstrual hygiene, and increasing girls' enrollment in educational institutions. Working Women Hostels : Commitment to providing safe and affordable hostel facilities with clean toilets for working women through the "Sakhi Niwas" component of Mission Shakti.

Worrying rise in kidney issues among Andhra Pradesh and Telangana children Worrying rise in kidney issues among Andhra Pradesh and Telangana children Content Editor: Dr. Mohammed Kashif July 15, 2024 BMC Pediatrics Journal Chronic Kidney Disease, Non-Communicable Diseases Chronic kidney disease (CKD), marked by a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and increased urinary albumin excretion, is a significant public health problem affecting both adults and children. A study published in the BMC Pediatrics revealed that 29.6% of children and adolescents in Andhra Pradesh exhibit impaired kidney function (IKF) , while 19.2% face renal issues in Telangana. The study, which utilized data from the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) 2016-18 , involved testing serum creatinine levels in 24,690 children aged 5-19. Living in southern regions of India was more likely to have impaired kidney function (IKF) than in northern regions (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 13.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.3–18.7). Certain regions in Telugu states, particularly Uddanam in Andhra Pradesh, have a history of high CKD rates. The exact cause of CKD in many Telangana and Andhra Pradesh areas remains unknown despite continuous research and speculation among health experts, including concerns about water pollution. Despite its increasing prevalence, CKD is yet to be focused in public health programs, highlighting the need for a national strategy focusing on pediatric CKD. Click here to read more.

Increasing burden of communicable diseases among older children and adolescents Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy August 1, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM Communicable disease, Child health, Adolescent health The Global Burden of Diseases study from 1990-2019 systematically analyzed the communicable disease burden among children and adolescents aged 0-24 years. The salient results of this study were: Reduction in overall burden (DALY) of communicable diseases except HIV. The incidence of rare diseases such as the RHD and the NTD has increased. In 2019, among individuals aged 0-24 years, 3 million deaths and 30 million Years of Healthy life lost to Disability (YLD) were attributable to communicable diseases. This represents 57.3% of the total communicable disease burden across all ages. Among the children and adolescents, 44.1% of the deaths and 16.6% of the total disability were attributable to communicable diseases. This burden disproportionately affected the countries with low sociodemographic development. Their incidence has declined drastically among children <5 years of age, especially in countries with low sociodemographic development. Among children and adolescents, 60% of the burden was attributable to 3 groups- enteric infections, LRTI, and malaria. However, URTI and infectious skin conditions were more prevalent among the countries with high sociodemographic development. Among older adolescents aged 20-24, HIV and TB were the leading causes. The study findings emphasize the need for continued capacity building of the National programs related to communicable diseases, with a focus on adolescents and older children . Click here to read more Previous Next

Economic Survey 2024-25: Mental Well-Being Key to Productivity and Growth Economic Survey 2024-25: Mental Well-Being Key to Productivity and Growth Content Editor: Dr Anamika March 1, 2025 Press Information Bureau of India Mental Well-Being, Productivity, Economic Growth The Economic Survey 2024-25 defines mental well-being as critical for navigating challenges and maintaining productivity. It highlights the impact of lifestyle choices, workplace culture, and family dynamics on mental health and economic productivity. The rising mental health issues among youth are linked to excessive internet and social media use. Regular consumption of junk food (HFSS), lack of exercise, and weak family connections worsen mental well-being. Hostile work cultures and long desk hours are identified as detrimental to mental health and economic growth. The Survey calls for school, family, and societal interventions to improve mental health outcomes and ensure sustainable economic growth.

TB Mukt Panchayat: Helping India eliminate tuberculosis TB Mukt Panchayat: Helping India eliminate tuberculosis Content Editor: Dr. Anamika June 11, 2024 The Lancet Regional Health: Southeast Asia Tuberculosis, Government Initiative Realizing the importance of community engagement in disease control, the government launched ‘TB Mukt Panchayat’ (TB-free village council) on March 24, 2023. The first two indicators are mandatory for a village to obtain a ‘TB-free’ certification valid for one year, and in the rest, three out of four should be achieved in more than 80% of geographical units. Recently, a published review gave a detailed idea of how this initiative could help the country eliminate TB. Some of this initiative's strengths include its facilitation of multisectoral collaboration, incorporation of local self-government schemes , and focus on health promotion , not just treatment. However, some of its weaknesses include a lack of regular monitoring, overemphasizing certification, neglecting sustainability, and lacking TB surveillance data at the panchayat level. A few of the recommendations to strengthen this initiative include: Regular training and capacity building. Use of weighted process indicators. Incorporation of this data into the Nikshay portal. Local adaptation of the strategies to cater to specific populations. This initiative is key to shaping our country’s future, and implementing it correctly can help achieve the End TB goals . Click here to read more.

Delhi's sex ratio at birth declines 3rd consecutive year- An increase in prenatal sex testing? Content Editor: Dr. Shubham September 13, 2024 at 4:25:00 AM Population, Demography, Sex Ratio, Infacticide, PCPNDT For the third year in a row, Delhi's birth rate has decreased: from 929 in 2022 to 922 females for every 1,000 males in 2023. While the death rate in Delhi climbed little from 6.07 to 6.16, the birth rate improved from 14.24 per thousand in 2022 to 14.66 in 2023. The sex ratio had improved significantly in the past, reaching 1004 females per 1000 males in 2008, but has been declining since 2020. This trend about the decline in the sex ratio has alarmed health experts, suggesting an increase in prenatal sex determination tests and calling for stricter enforcement of related laws. In the last three years, just 19 cases have been filed under the PCPNDT Act. Experts have also raised concern and the high number of deaths due to septicaemia, urging stricter health policies to be implemented. Together, the rates of maternal and infant mortality declined marginally in 2023, reaching 23.61 and 23.61 per 1,000 live births, respectively. Previous Next

Butyl mercaptan leak occurred from a gas pipeline in Kochi, Kerala Content Editor: Dr. Sangya Chaudhary April 12, 2023 at 11:24:34 PM Man-Made Disasters, Chemical Pollution Butyl mercaptan, which is an odorant used in natural gas leak occurred on 1st April 2023, from a gas pipeline in Kochi, Kerala. The leak happened during maintenance work on the pipeline. Residents in nearby areas like Kalamassery, Kakkanad, Edappally, and CUSAT regions of Ernakulam district complained about the strong smell, similar to rotten eggs, and inhalation of chemicals. As per the company's claims, the chemical is not toxic but, prolonged inhalation can cause skin and eye irritation, a rash, breathing problems, weakness, nausea, dizziness, headaches, and confusion can be caused by high concentrations of the gas. Previous Next

Next chapter in Atmanirbhar Bharat: Indigenous Paracetamol production Next chapter in Atmanirbhar Bharat: Indigenous Paracetamol production Content Editor: Dr. Subhana Siyad January 18, 2025 Press Information Bureau Drug Production Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh unveiled the indegenously produced medication "Paracetamol" by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on the 40th Foundation Day of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. In line with the goal of "Self-Reliant India," this invention by CSIR, which is affiliated to the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, intends to make India self-reliant in the production of paracetamol by lowering reliance on imported chemicals. Satya Deeptha Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a company based in Karnataka, will use this innovation to manufacture reasonably priced paracetamol domestically.