How concerned should I be about my crusty brown skin patches? Dr Ellie reveals whether you should be worried about cancer
Dr Ellie Cannon replies: It is unlikely. These sound like seborrhoeic keratoses – harmless skin growths that affect around three-quarters of people over 70 and often appear as rough, crusty patches in shades of tan, brown or black that can grow several centimetres wide.
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ITV News
6 minutes ago
- ITV News
UK-India trade deal sparks fears over access to cheap medicines for millions
A newly signed trade agreement between India and the UK has triggered concerns that millions of poor Indians may lose access to affordable life-saving medicines. Civil society groups and health experts say the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), finalised between two countries, tilts the balance in favour of multinational pharmaceutical corporations and threatens to erode long-standing protections that have allowed India to produce low-cost generic drugs. 'This is not just about trade. It's about whether a person living on ₹200 (£2) a day can afford cancer treatment or survive tuberculosis,' said Jyotsna Singh, co-convenor of the Working Group on Access to Medicines and Treatments. At the heart of the controversy are the agreement's intellectual property (IP) provisions, which activists say may restrict the Indian government's ability to issue compulsory licences—legal tools that allow domestic companies to manufacture patented drugs at reduced prices during public health emergencies. India used this provision in 2012 to dramatically cut the price of sorafenib, a cancer drug sold by Bayer under the brand Nexavar. Generic versions slashed the monthly cost by nearly 97%, from ₹2.8 lakh (£2,600) to around ₹8,800 (£80), making it affordable to thousands. 'By discouraging compulsory licensing and promoting voluntary licences, the deal hands over control of access to medicines to the market,' said Prof Biswajit Dhar, a trade expert and former professor at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. 'Voluntary licences often come with strings attached and don't bring the same price reductions.' Weakening India's Patent Safeguards Under the FTA, companies will no longer need to report annually how their patents are being 'worked'—or used—in India. Instead, disclosures can be made every three years, and some information can be kept confidential. Activists say this undermines transparency and makes it harder to prove that a drug isn't available to the public, a key step in applying for a compulsory licence. There are also concerns the deal could open the door to 'evergreening'—a tactic in which companies make minor changes to existing drugs and claim new patents. Indian law currently limits this practice under Section 3(d) of the Patents Act, but experts warn the FTA's emphasis on 'harmonisation' of IP standards with Western countries could override such protections. 'This is effectively a backdoor entry for TRIPS-plus provisions,' said K.M. Gopakumar, co-convenor of the Working Group. 'It would push India to grant unnecessary patents, prolonging monopolies and delaying cheaper alternatives.' The Indian pharmaceutical industry supplies more than 60% of global vaccines and a significant share of affordable generics to low- and middle-income countries. Critics say the FTA may limit this capacity and ultimately have consequences well beyond India's borders. Government response The Indian government has promoted the FTA as a landmark deal that will boost exports and attract UK investment in manufacturing, services, and digital trade. Officials insist that India has preserved its ability to protect public health. But rights groups remain unconvinced. 'You cannot negotiate away access to life-saving drugs in the name of free trade,' said Gargeya Telakapalli, a public health campaigner based in Hyderabad. 'The poorest Indians—those with cancer, HIV, diabetes, or TB—are being quietly sacrificed.' Broader implications The deal follows a similar agreement India signed last year with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which also faced criticism for diluting IP safeguards. Observers say the trend may reflect a shift in India's trade policy as it seeks closer ties with Western economies. But for many in India's healthcare and legal communities, the question remains: how much access to medicine is the country willing to give up for a better trade balance? From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below...
Metro
36 minutes ago
- Metro
Health warning over counterfeit vodka made with medical-grade alcohol
Health officials in Scotland have warned fans of Glen's vodka to keep an eye out for fake half bottles containing medical disinfectant. Scammers have hijacked the popular brand to sell counterfeit products containing the chemical isopropyl, which is typically used in hospital settings or in hand sanitiser. Food Standards Scotland (FSS) say the fake booze will smell and taste 'very different' to the Glen's product people recognise. Even small amounts of isopropyl can result in abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness and headaches, they warned. Severe cases can leave drinkers in a coma or even dead. Genuine bottles of Glen's have a laser-etched code between the rear label and the base of the bottle which the fake bottles will not. More Trending Anyone concerned they might have drunk the counterfeit vodka, and who is experiencing symptoms, is urged to contact NHS 24 on 111 immediately. Glen's, one of the cheaper brands of vodka on the market, is a popular target for scammers. FSS has previously sent investigators to seize dozens of bottles of fake spirit using the same label from a shop in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire. And in September last year, the UK-wide Food Standards Agency sent out a warning about another fraud involving isopropyl alcohol in Glen's bottles. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: The one drink you should never order from a restaurant wine list MORE: How a generation-bending TikTok campaign saved a local boozer MORE: Forget about Prosecco — drink this £6.97 sparkling wine from Asda instead
The Independent
36 minutes ago
- The Independent
NHS: Strike-hit appointments to be rebooked in two weeks but will impact others
NHS England has said hospitals are aiming to reschedule appointments cancelled due to strikes within two weeks, but warned of knock-on impacts for other patients. Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England's co-national medical director (secondary care), said that despite the five-day walkout by thousands of resident doctors in England, which began on Friday, local trusts have managed to maintain services with 'minimal disruption'. She told BBC Breakfast: 'If there's any rescheduling or postponement of surgery or appointments then the hospitals try their upmost best to get that appointment rescheduled within two weeks. 'I know it is distressing and even two weeks is too long for somebody to wait and actually that has an impact on the people who who are then displaced at that two week period.' Prof Pandit said there were three 'derogations' granted on Friday, a process which allows hospitals to request striking doctors return to work if there is a risk to patient safety. Nottingham City Hospital reached an agreement with the British Medical Association (BMA) to exempt one doctor from the strike to work on the neonatal intensive care unit. A derogation was agreed for one doctor in the emergency department and another doctor in the ISGM at the Northern General Hospital. The BMA said it had also agreed a derogation for two anaesthetists to work at University Hospital Lewisham on Saturday to ensure patient safety. It comes as Wes Streeting said 'we are doing everything we can to minimise' patient harm. The Health Secretary condemned the strike as 'reckless' and said the Government would not allow the BMA to 'hold the country to ransom'. Sir Keir Starmer made a last-minute appeal to resident doctors, saying the strikes would 'cause real damage'. He added: 'Most people do not support these strikes. They know they will cause real damage… 'These strikes threaten to turn back the clock on progress we have made in rebuilding the NHS over the last year, choking off the recovery.' The BMA has argued that real-terms pay has fallen by around 20% since 2008, and is pushing for full 'pay restoration'.
