Highlights:
- Quality Assurance in MBBS standards deferred for few years
- Reusing of cooking oil a health hazard – NHRC notice a Health Ministry and FSSAI
- Bird Flu alert in Germany – H5N1 again influenza virus outbreak in ducks & chickens
- Telangana aims to invest 1 lakh crores in Life Sciences by 2030
Website: https://uho.org.in
In this newsletter,Dr. Amitav Banerjee, Chairperson of the UHO, covers four main issues affecting the healthcare sector in India. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining quality standards in medical education, addressing public health concerns regarding cooking oil reuse, monitoring a flu outbreak in Germany, and highlighting new investments in life sciences in Telangana. Let’s break these down for easier understanding.
1. Concerns About MBBS Standards and the NEXT Exam
- There’s a growing concern about the quality of MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) education in India. With the rapid increase in the number of medical colleges, varying standards are emerging across institutions.
- The National Medical Commission (NMC) planned to introduce the NEXT exam to provide a uniform assessment for all MBBS graduates across India. This exam was intended to ensure that every graduate meets a baseline standard of knowledge and competency, akin to a factory testing the quality of products before they leave the assembly line.
- Unfortunately, it has been announced that this exam is postponed indefinitely. This means that no standardization will occur anytime soon, raising concerns about the quality of graduates, especially since the NMC has approved many new medical colleges without sufficient oversight.
- Without standard assessments, students from different colleges will have varied qualifications, which could lead to an inconsistency in healthcare services across the country.
2. Reusing Cooking Oil: A Public Health Hazard
- The health risks associated with the reuse of cooking oil in street food and small restaurants. When oil is reused multiple times, harmful trans fats can form, leading to health issues.
- A complaint was filed regarding this practice, urging the National Human Rights Commission to take action. The commission issued notices demanding preventative measures against the reuse of oil, as it poses both health risks and environmental concerns.
- It’s suggested that small eateries should stop reusing oil or should implement purification processes. Raising public awareness about the dangers of eating food cooked in reused oil is also recommended.
3. Flu Alert from Germany
- Germany has reported a rise in poultry cases of H5N1 avian influenza, prompting large-scale culling of infected birds.
- While this situation is concerning, Dr. Amitav reassures that the risk of a pandemic from this strain is low as most human cases have been mild. He encourages monitoring rather than panic.
- There’s also skepticism about the justification for culling so many birds, suggesting that economic motives may be at play rather than purely health concerns.
4. Investment in Life Sciences in Telangana
- The Telangana Minister of IT and Industry has announced a substantial investment of Rs 1 lakh crore (approximately $13 billion) in health-related research and life sciences over the next few years.
- While this investment is a great opportunity for job creation and innovation, Dr. Amitav warns that foreign influence might overshadow local scientific input, likening it to colonial dynamics where foreign powers dictate terms.
- He advocates for that research and development should be conducted independently and ethically, without foreign domination. The focus should be on leveraging India’s own scientific capabilities rather than merely being a testing ground for foreign investors.
Dr. Amitav’s newsletter underscores critical issues facing the medical field and public health in India. By addressing these subjects—education standards for doctors, food safety, public health alerts, and ethical investment in science—he aims to start conversations that promote better healthcare practices and policies in the country.
Also Read: