Push to create cadre of family doctors for rural India

In an effort to address the need for middle-level doctors in rural areas, the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) will soon submit the recommendations of its task force on promoting the discipline of family medicine. NHRSC is the  technical support institution for government's flagship rural health programme, the National Rural Health Mission.

Big promises to curb hypertension, but no funds

The theme of the World Health Day 2013 is high blood pressure, responsible for life threatening conditions like cardiovascular diseases and associated comorbidities such as strokes.

Allocate 3 per cent of GDP to healthcare, says Indian Medical Association

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has released its recommendations for the health component of the Union Budget 2013-14. Its key demands include increasing budget allocation for healthcare, increasing the tax rebate for preventive health check-ups, and the promotion of public-private partnership (PPP) programmes.

Will appellate body uphold grant of compulsory licence to cancer drug?

CAG finds lapses in dental education

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has criticised the Union health ministry for allowing 13 new dental colleges to start functioning despite the statutory body for dental education recommending against it. Dental Council of India (DCI), the statutory body, had rejected licences of 13 new dental colleges after conducting inspections across the country. These colleges did not have enough medical, dental and paramedical staff and lacked infrastructure like college buildings, libraries, hospitals and clinical equipment like dental chairs.

Health ministry invites bids for plastic-wrapped mosquito nets

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has invited bids for supply of about 10 million mosquito nets under its National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme. Environmentalists are protesting a requirement specified in the tender: the nets are to be wrapped in plastic sheets at the time of supply.

Rising trend

One of the biggest killers of modern times, hypertension has silently rooted itself in rural India, where 71 per cent of the country’s population resides.