New Delhi: 23rd November 2013

The Union Health Ministry has made audio-visual recording of the informed consent of each subject mandatory in a clinical trial. This is in addition to obtaining his/her written consent. This decision comes in the wake of the Supreme Court pulling up the Ministry for lack of transparency in clinical trials.In its October 21, 2013, order on a writ petition filed by an NGO, the Swasthya Adhikar Manch, Indore, the court said with respect to five global clinical trials, which was approved by the Drugs Controller-General of India (DCGI) office from January 1, 2013, to August 31, 2013, an appropriate provision should be made or administrative direction issued, ensuring that audio-visual recording of the informed consent process was done and the documentation preserved, adhering to confidentiality principles.

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New Delhi: 23rd November 2013

The government is making modifications to the draft Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2013, to accommodate suggestions made by different Ministries and departments. The concerned departments and Ministries have reverted with their comments to the draft Cabinet note and the draft ART (Regulation) Bill. “Currently, the Department of Health Research is examining and evaluating the comments and [accordingly], clarifications, modifications, deletions and additions to the draft Bill would be made,” an officer of the Department of Health Research said. 

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Hyderabad: 22nd November 2013

A nationwide research and action programme will be launched in 200 backward districts to gather data on malnutrition, Director General of Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and Secretary for Health Research, V.M. Katoch, said on Thursday.The pilot project for the programme, involving Central institutions like National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and local medical colleges and agricultural universities, will be launched in Karimnagar soon.

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New Delhi: 22nd November 2013

Cadila Pharmaceuticals, on Thursday, launched a new lung cancer drug, Mycidac-C. The drug is priced at Rs.40,000 for a 10-course injection, much cheaper than the drugs manufactured and sold in the market by multinational companies at present. The drug, which will be available in the market in India early next month, has been developed by Cadila after 15 years of research. The new drug has been licensed and approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).

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Bhubaneswar: 22nd November 2013

A woman died of excessive bleeding after a family planning operation at a camp in the Bargarh district headquarters hospital, around 350 km from here. Her family members lodged a police complaint at Bargarh town police station, alleging negligence, while the hospital has ordered an inquiry.

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Chandigarh: 21st November 2013

Soon health workers of Haryana would be trained over mobile phones. There would be no need for hiring teachers, infrastructure and tests as health workers would be trained in different modules of medicines and diseases by using a speech-based service that is being provided by a Tamil Nadu-based start-up.

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New Delhi: 20th November 2013

A significant progress has been seen in a number of countries in Asia and the Pacific in reducing new HIV infections by over 50 per cent since 2001, but the impact appears to be slowing down with overall numbers across the region remaining largely unchanged in the past five years, a latest UN report has said. It also warns of emerging epidemics in some countries, including Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines.

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New Delhi: 19th November 2013

With over 100 cases detected in the city in the past few days, the number of dengue patients this year crossed 5,000, following a lull over the past two weeks. Till November 16, there were 5,115 dengue cases in the capital, according to data collected by Delhi's civic officials.

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New Delhi: 19th November 2013

Karnataka has topped the first ever ranking of state governments on the basis of their performance and implementation of the midday meal scheme with a total score of 77.79 per cent, followed by Punjab (76.81 per cent), Daman & Diu (71.40 per cent) and Himachal Pradesh (71.31 per cent). Bihar, where a number of children died after a midday meal earlier this year, came fifth with 70.36 per cent.

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Bagalkot: 18th November 2013

For the last one year, Mahesh Sankinmath and his wife Geeta have been running from pillar to post seeking justice after losing their five-day-old baby in a private hospital here. The couple have accused doctors at Telsang Maternity Hospital of negligence resulting in the death of their second child, born after seven years of their first son.

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