31st October 2013 

There is an article on "Uptake of family planning methods in health centre not far from Patna - a cause for concern"  written by Leena Uppal got published in today's Eastern Chronicle. The link is below and please click on page number 7 for the article.

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30th October 2013 

Latest census data on scheduled castes and tribes show that the trend of STs having the best sex ratios and SCs too doing better than the non-SC/ST population continues to hold good. The trend suggests that ‘backwardness’ may actually work in favour of gender justice, presumably by denying access to sex determination techniques.

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New Delhi: 29th October 2013 

Are we approaching the end of the antibiotic era? A statement to this effect by none other than the US’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention has sent shock waves within the medical community here. The bacterial disease burden in India is among the highest in the world. Also, a significantly large population is at risk of secondary infections through non-communicable diseases necessitating antibiotics. This is almost a doomsday scenario.

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Bangalore: 29th October 2013 

Alarmed at 60% infant malnutrition deaths reported in some taluks of Koppal and Raichur districts against the national average of 42%, the Karnataka government constituted an expert committee to look into it.  The committee, led by Dr BS Nanda Kumar, head, department of community medicine, MS Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, will soon visit these districts. “I was informed about it when I was attending a conference in Jodhpur. I’ll meet health minister UT Khader on Tuesday to know the committee’s brief,’’ he said.

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New Delhi: 28th October 2013

Severe undernutrition when diagnosed could mean at least two times higher odds of death in TB patients despite treatment, concluded a recent study which found shocking levels of malnutrition among rural TB patients. The study advocates nutritional support for TB patients, along with treatment to bring down mortality and boost efficacy of treatment.

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Thiruvananthapuram: 28th October 2013

Though the first ever benefit-sharing project to develop a health drug with the help of tribals was shelved in 2008, discussions to revive the project are currently underway. Jeevani — the general health tonic and herbal drug — was developed by the Tropical Botanical Garden Research Institute (TBGRI) in collaboration with Kani tribals. The institute has now mooted a fresh proposal to revive the project. The drug is expected to benefit the Kani tribes here as well as those at Attapadi in Palakkad.

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New Delhi: 27th October 2013 

A 28-year-old pregnant woman from Munirka Village, diagnosed with dengue at a private hospital, died on Friday. Doctors at a city hospital conducted an emergency Caesarian-section to deliver her daughter on Thursday. The newborn, doctors said, is showing symptoms of blood infection and is critical.

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Mumbai: 26th October 2013 

A plummeting child sex ratio is largely to blame for India’s poor performance in the 2013 Global Gender Gap Index released by the World Economic Forum. India ranked a lowly 101st of 136 countries, indicating huge disparity in access of women to economic, political, educational and healthcare opportunities and their participation in such services.

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25th October 2013 

India’s triumph over polio is one of the most inspiring stories in global health. But with three countries still battling the disease, there is no room for complacency, writes Rajashree Birla
In 1988 there were an estimated 350,000 polio cases globally, with the highest concentration in South Asian countries and Africa. Before the polio eradication drive was launched, practically 2,00,000 children would be crippled every year. And India was looked upon as the epicenter of polio. Between 1998 and 2009, India accounted for half of the world’s new polio cases.

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25th October 2013 

After the landmark judgement announcing the highest ever compensation awarded in a medical negligence case, TOI spoke to Dr Kunal Saha

Are you satisfied with the judgement?
Of course I am happy. This is the end of a long personal battle. The court has awarded a compensation of Rs 5.9 crore with a 6% interest that will have to be paid from 1999 when I had filed the case. So, the total amount comes to around Rs 11 crore. 

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