Highlights:
- China makes the Covid-era restrictive measures the norm, screening 600 million visitors.
- Rising rates of C-sections in private hospitals: how many are genuinely indicated?
- Parliamentary panel recommends inclusion of HPV vaccine in the UIP, credit goes to Padma Bhushan Bill Gates.
Download: https://uho.org.in/nl/2025-08-29-newsletter.pdf [copy & paste the link]
Website: https://uho.org.in
In this newsletter, Professor Amitav Banerjee, Chairperson of the Universal Health Organisation, addresses three notable public health issues: China’s reactivation of border screening, an alarming rise in cesarean sections in the country, and the recent recommendation for the HPV vaccine to be included in the Universal Immunization Program.
1. China’s Border Screening Resumption
- In response to rising health concerns, China has resumed border screening, claiming to have screened over 600 million visitors and identified 180,000 cases of infectious diseases since implementing these measures.
- This practice has provoked skepticism. Previous WHO guidelines and extensive research indicate that border screening is resource-intensive and yields little benefit. Such measures have historically led to increased public fear and harm to tourism without effectively stopping disease spread.
- The response from other nations, particularly Australia and the UK, reflects a worry that China’s actions may prompt similar responses globally, risking a repeat of the panic and extensive lockdowns seen during the initial COVID-19 outbreak.
2. Rising Cesarean Section Rates
- Recent findings published in Lancet highlight that cesarean sections in the country have surged from 5% in 2000 to over 20% in recent years, breaching the WHO’s recommended limit of 10%.
- The financial burden on patients has escalated, with costs in private hospitals averaging ₹43,000 and ₹8,500 in government facilities. Complications from increased cesarean deliveries are also on the rise, raising concerns about long-term health outcomes for mothers and their children.
- The paper suggests that poor nutrition among women and cultural factors influencing delivery choices may contribute to this trend, emphasizing a need for further research and intervention to address maternal health effectively.
3. HPV Vaccine Rollout
- On August 22, the Parliament approved the addition of the HPV vaccine to the Universal Immunization Program. Initial rollouts have begun in states like Bihar, where significant numbers of girls aged 9-13 have already been vaccinated.
- Despite the push for widespread vaccination, concerns arise regarding the vaccine’s effectiveness, particularly given its timing before individuals are likely to engage in sexually active behavior. The vaccine targets HPV, a primary cause of cervical cancer, but the correlation between vaccination and cancer prevention remains scientifically ambiguous due to the complex nature of virus strains.
- The HPV vaccine’s history includes a troubling past where trials conducted among vulnerable populations faced backlash after incidents of adverse events. Critics call for rigorous follow-up studies to determine the vaccine’s long-term efficacy and safety before large-scale implementation.
The Universal Health Organisation remains committed to scrutinizing these developments, advocating for data-driven approaches to health policy that prioritize patient safety and effective healthcare solutions.
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