Eilish O'Regan: How weakness in regulation of telemedicine has left the service open to exploitation
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Hindustan Times
32 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Haryana to have over 3,400 MBBS seats by 2029: CM
Jul 02, 2025 08:04 AM IST Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini said on Tuesday that the state government's aim is to increase MBBS seats by over 3,400 in 2029. Stating that medical colleges are being established in every district, he said that there were only six medical colleges in 2014 and the number has now increased to 15 even as nine new colleges are under construction. (HT File) Addressing doctors at an event organised on the occasion of National Doctors' Day, the chief minister said that the state government is consistently working to provide better resources to doctors and quality healthcare services to citizens. Stating that medical colleges are being established in every district, he said that there were only six medical colleges in 2014 and the number has now increased to 15 even as nine new colleges are under construction. 'As a result, MBBS seats have risen from 700 in 2014 to 2,185 currently,' he said and extended greetings and best wishes to all doctors, healthcare workers, and those associated with the medical field. The chief minister said that this year's theme for Doctors' Day is 'Caring for the caregivers behind the mask.' This theme, he said, inspires us to appreciate doctors not only for their professional services but also for their contribution to human welfare. He recalled that during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the entire country was indoors, doctors stood by patients wearing PPE kits while staying away from their families.
Hindustan Times
32 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Govt orders probe into Hassan cardiac deaths, vaccine link under lens
Chief minister Siddaramaiah has directed a panel of medical experts to examine the possible clinical reasons for the sudden surge in deaths due to cardiac arrest among young people with no known comorbidities in Hassan district. Govt orders probe into Hassan cardiac deaths, vaccine link under lens At least 22 people, including five aged between 19 and 25, have died due to heart attacks in Hassan district over the last 40 days, officials familiar with the development said, adding that most of the deaths happened without any visible symptoms, with several collapsing at home or in public spaces. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah said: 'In the past month alone, in just one district of Hassan, more than twenty people have died due to heart attacks. The government is taking this matter very identify the exact cause of these series of deaths and to find solutions, a committee of experts has been formed under the leadership of Dr Ravindranath, Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, and they have been instructed to submit a study report within 10 days.' He added that the same committee was in February tasked with studying rising sudden deaths among young people and assess if Covid-19 or the vaccines administered during the pandemic might have played a role. 'It cannot be denied that the hasty approval and distribution of the Covid vaccine to the public could also be a reason for these deaths, as several studies worldwide have recently indicated that COVID vaccines could be a cause for the increasing number of heart attacks,' he said, adding, 'Before BJP criticises us on this matter, they should ask their conscience.' To be sure, there is no scientific evidence to show that vaccines administered during the Covid-19 pandemic can cause cardiac arrests. Though, there are a range of conspiracy theories. The government's move comes amid growing public anxiety after four more deaths were reported on June 30. The victims include a 50-year-old homemaker from JP Nagar in Belur, a 58-year-old college professor from Holenarasipura who collapsed while having tea, a 57-year-old Group D employee from Channarayapattana, and a 63-year-old man from Rangolihalli colony. A review of records maintained by the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) shows the pattern began in late May. 'Fourteen of the deceased died at home without seeking medical help. Nine were under 30,' said Dr Rajanna B, director of HIMS. Younger victims include Sandhya (20) from Hole Narasipura, Abhishek (19) from Arakalagudu, Kavana (20) from Kelavatti, Naveen Kumar (31) from Arsikere, Yogesh M. (30) from Honnenahalli, and Chetan (38) from Rangolihalli. Names of Sandhya and Abhishek appear twice in records, possibly due to a clerical error, with deaths noted on both May 20 and May 28. According to district health department data, Hassan reported 507 heart attack cases over the last two years, with 190 of them dying. While heart disease is not uncommon in the region, the high number of recent deaths among young and middle-aged people has drawn scrutiny. The expert committee is led by Dr Ravindranath and includes specialists from NIMHANS, St. John's Medical College, BMCRI, Manipal Hospitals, the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, and ICMR-NCDIR. As part of its probe, the panel will look into cases of sudden cardiac arrest, stroke, and neurological conditions to determine trends and recommend preventive steps. The committee is expected to submit its report within 10 days. Siddaramaiah said the government has already rolled out schemes such as Hridaya Jyothi and Gruha Arogya to detect and manage cardiovascular conditions. 'We too value the lives of children, youth, and innocent people who have their entire lives ahead of them, and we share the concerns of their families,' he said. 'As a government, we are making every possible effort to protect the health of the people. I urge everyone to visit the nearest health centre immediately for a check-up if you have symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing. Do not ignore these signs.'
The Star
38 minutes ago
- The Star
Penang sisters find success with Himalayan fruit
JOHOR BARU: A family of six sisters, who wanted to help some villages in a remote part of the Himalayas, are now sourcing a powerful fruit that is used to produce vegan skincare products. Lay Kim Onn, said the venture into the health and beauty business was a coincidence, as four of the sisters had travelled to the Himalayas in 2012 in search of a Buddhist monk who was carrying out social work and helping a rural community there. 'We all grew up in an average family in Penang where we were trained from young to give a portion of our earnings to help the poor. 'All six sisters were graduates holding important positions in healthcare and the corporate world. 'So we wanted to donate the RM10,000 we had collected to this charity organisation in the Himalayas,' said Lay Kim, who is the second child in the family. She said that during their visit, they discovered a fruit known as the Himalayan Apricot, which grows at about 4,500m above sea level. 'This hardy plant is harvested by the women in the villages, who then turn the fruit into oil that is applied on the skin daily,' she said, adding that they noticed the villagers had good skin complexions despite not using any sunscreen, even with the high levels of ultraviolet (UV) rays due to the altitude. She said most of the villagers were very poor, and excess apricots were used to feed livestock. 'We realised its medicinal potential, and in 2013, I decided to carry out more research, including enrolling in a four-year course in organic cosmetic science,' she said, adding that in 2015, they all chipped in some capital and decided to start their company, Onn Natural Enterprise Sdn Bhd (Idemo). She said that the sisters, who started off working part-time in Idemo, took up different roles in the company, and she was in charge of research and development. 'We continued purchasing apricot kernels from the villages for our research, and in fact, we only started marketing our product this year after obtaining all the necessary certifications. 'Earlier, we were carrying out research, and for three years during the Covid-19 pandemic, we had to stop to care for our ailing mother,' she said, adding that their skin cream helped with their mother's bedsores and promoted a healthy complexion. Lay Kim said they now have a factory in Penang and have diversified from one product to seven, comprising oils, creams, and gels. 'This year, we also won two awards, – Best Vegan Natural Skincare Brand 2025 and the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2025 – Britain,' she said. Their products are currently being exported to the Middle East, Europe, and Indonesia and they now plan to attract more investors to expand production and market their products in China and across Malaysia.
