Latest news with #PRs
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Day 4: Protesting FMGs taken away to police stations, detained for nearly 5 hours
Once again, Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs), who had gathered outside the gates of Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences on Thursday demanding answers from A.P. Medical Council Chairman and Registrar on the status of Permanent Registrations (PRs), were taken away to different police stations. On the fourth day of the protest, around 100 graduates came for the protest, at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada. Later, around 2 p.m., they came to the university and waited for the APMC Registrar to come outside. When he did not come, the graduates tried to seek answers from the APMC Chairman D. Sreehari Rao, who had just arrived at the university. As the students tried to stop his car, one of them was injured. The boy was later taken to the hospital. The other protestors were detained at different police stations for almost five hours. Deploring the ill-treatment of graduates by the police, they said that all they wanted was answers from the APMC Chairman and Registrar on why, even after one year, they do not have answers in regards to their PRs. Meanwhile, the issue has acquired a political turn with former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy putting out a post on social media supporting the FMGs. The graduates clarified that they are not associated with any party and only hoped that more academic years are not wasted. Many have been waiting for PRs since May 2024. When asked about why the police personnel were present near the university, APMC Chairman, Mr. Sreehari Rao, said that the police arrived on the spot to avert any incident at the time of the Chief Minister's convoy passing. He also added that the involvement of student unions, including All India Students' Federation and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, escalated the matter. Regarding the status of PRs, the Chairman said that the government is in favour of the FMGs, and that the APMC members would be going to New Delhi next week to get clarity from the National Medical Commission (NMC) regarding the duration of the internship.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
FMGs Foreign Medical Graduates continue protest seeking permanent registration
Even as the protest by Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) seeking to expedite the issuance of Permanent Registrations (PRs) entered the third day here Wednesday (July 2), Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav discussed the issue with A.P. Medical Council (APMC) members and called for a quick resolution. In a meeting with Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences(Dr. NTRUHS) vice-chancellor P. Chandrasekhar, APMC chairman D. Sreehari Rao, registrar I. Ramesh, Director of Medical Education (DME) D.S.V.L. Narasimham at the university in Vijayawada on Wednesday, the Minister asked the APMC chairman and registrar to inform the National Medical Commission (NMC-New Delhi) about the issue and find a way to resolve it. According to a press release from the department, the Minister also directed the duo to get clarity on the duration of the internship to be allotted for graduates who studied a part of their course online during the pandemic. The APMC informed the Minister that graduates who sent an application before 2021 have been granted PRs. Meanwhile, the graduates, who have been staging protests for the past two days, were denied permission to continue the protest at the university on Wednesday. Following this, many went to Dharna Chowk in the city. Madhavi (name changed), one of the protesters, said: 'We did not do sloganeering. We did not create any law and order issue, but we were whisked away by the police on Tuesday night. On the one hand, people celebrated National Doctors' Day, and on the other, we were humiliated in every possible way.' Madhavi, who passed the Foreign Medical Graduate Exam and appeared for counselling in May 2023, was allotted a two-year internship. 'While some other people from my batch were allotted a one-year internship, I was asked to undergo a two-year internship. No explanation was given by the APMC back then,' said Madhavi, who was in India for a duration of 10 months during the pandemic. She has a compensation certificate from her university. The graduates, who have been staging protests now and then since July 2024, are wondering how many more days they would have to wait. 'Our batchmates in other States are laughing at our situation. It has been three-four years since we completed our medical courses, equivalent to MBBS, in other countries. Many of us are waiting to pursue postgraduation, which is another 3-year course. When will we get PRs and when will we write NEET-PG? We are in our late 20s now,' said another graduate.
The Star
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
S'poreans can test for genetic condition causing high cholesterol levels under new programme
The new genetic testing programme for familial hypercholesterolaemia comes amid broader efforts to enhance preventive care in Singapore. - AFP SINGAPORE: Eligible Singapore residents will be able to screen for a genetic condition which causes high cholesterol levels at a subsidised rate as part of a nationwide programme launching on June 30. In a statement on June 19, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that the new genetic testing programme for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) comes amid broader efforts to enhance preventive care in Singapore. The initiative aims to identify individuals with FH early and reduce the risk of premature heart disease with timely interventions. FH is a hereditary condition that impacts the body's ability to process cholesterol, affecting roughly 20,000 people in Singapore. People with the condition are up to 20 times more likely to experience heart attacks at a younger age compared with the general population. In a Facebook post on June 19, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that the Government is looking to expand preventive care based on genetic testing to more diseases beyond FH. 'It is part of our longer term effort to develop predictive preventive care under Healthier SG,' he said. As part of this effort, the ministry aims to open three genomic assessment centres (GACs) to ensure effective, efficient and sustainable delivery of genetic testing services within each healthcare cluster. Genetics testing for FH at these centres will be subsidised for eligible Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PRs). They can also tap on MediSave to offset the cost. Those referred to GACs will undergo: Pre-test genetic counselling to understand potential outcomes and benefits before consenting to the test Blood drawing and the genetic test Post-test genetic counselling, to understand the implications of the results The first GAC will be operated by SingHealth and located at the National Heart Centre. It will start accepting referrals from June 30. This centre will serve all Singapore residents until additional centres open. GACs operated by National Healthcare Group and National University Health System will subsequently open to cater to residents' needs. Immediate family members of those found with the condition are at risk and encouraged to undergo genetic testing, MOH said. Known as cascade screening, this process enables early detection of FH within families. It also allows for more timely intervention and treatment, such as advising them to adopt healthier lifestyles or starting on cholesterol-lowering therapies. Under the programme, Singapore citizens and PRs with abnormally high cholesterol levels may be referred by their doctors for genetic testing. Eligible Singaporeans and PRs can receive subsidies of up to 70 per cent for the costs, which include the genetic tests, pre-test and post-test counselling, and phlebotomy services. Seniors from the Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation are also eligible for additional subsidies. After subsidies, referred patients can expect to pay between US$117 (US$91.06) and US$575. Those eligible for cascade screening can expect to pay between US$53 and US$253 after subsidies. The MediSave500 and MediSave700 scheme can be used to further offset the cost of the genetic test after subsidies. Patients who are 60 years old and above may also use Flexi-MediSave to further defray out-of-pocket costs. Under a moratorium on genetic testing and insurance introduced by MOH and the Life Insurance Association Singapore (LIA) in 2021, life insurers here are banned from using predictive genetic test results in assessing the outcome of insurance applications, unless certain criteria are satisfied. Insurers are also not allowed to use genetic test results from biomedical research or direct-to-consumer genetic test results. MOH said it has worked with the LIA to amend the moratorium to disallow life insurers in Singapore to use the results of all genetic tests conducted under the national FH genetic testing programme. They may, however, continue to request for individuals to disclose existing diagnosed conditions and family history. The amended moratorium will take effect from June 30. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
19-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
S'poreans can test for genetic condition causing high cholesterol levels under new programme
The new genetic testing programme for familial hypercholesterolaemia comes amid broader efforts to enhance preventive care in Singapore. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG S'poreans can test for genetic condition causing high cholesterol levels under new programme SINGAPORE - Eligible Singapore residents will be able to screen for a genetic condition which causes high cholesterol levels at a subsidised rate as part of a nationwide programme launching on June 30. In a statement on June 19, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that the new genetic testing programme for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) comes amid broader efforts to enhance preventive care in Singapore. The initiative aims to identify individuals with FH early and reduce the risk of premature heart disease with timely interventions. FH is a hereditary condition that impacts the body's ability to process cholesterol, affecting roughly 20,000 people in Singapore. People with the condition are up to 20 times more likely to experience heart attacks at a younger age compared with the general population. In a Facebook post on June 19, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that the Government is looking to expand preventive care based on genetic testing to more diseases beyond FH. 'It is part of our longer term effort to develop predictive preventive care under Healthier SG,' he said. As part of this effort, the ministry aims to open three genomic assessment centres (GACs) to ensure effective, efficient and sustainable delivery of genetic testing services within each healthcare cluster. Genetics testing for FH at these centres will be subsidised for eligible Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PRs). They can also tap on MediSave to offset the cost. Those referred to GACs will undergo: Pre-test genetic counselling to understand potential outcomes and benefits before consenting to the test Blood drawing and the genetic test Post-test genetic counselling, to understand the implications of the results The first GAC will be operated by SingHealth and located at the National Heart Centre. It will start accepting referrals from June 30. This centre will serve all Singapore residents until additional centres open. GACs operated by National Healthcare Group and National University Health System will subsequently open to cater to residents' needs. Immediate family members of those found with the condition are at risk and encouraged to undergo genetic testing, MOH said. Known as cascade screening, this process enables early detection of FH within families. It also allows for timelier intervention and treatment, such as advising them to adopt healthier lifestyles or starting on cholesterol-lowering therapies. Referral criteria and charges Under the programme, Singapore citizens and PRs with abnormally high cholesterol levels may be referred by their doctors for genetic testing. Eligible Singaporeans and PRs can receive subsidies of up to 70 per cent for the costs, which include the genetic tests, pre-test and post-test counselling, and phlebotomy services . Seniors from the Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation are also eligible for additional subsidies. After subsidies, referred patients can expect to pay between $117 and $575 . Those eligible for cascade screening can expect to pay between $53 and $253 after subsidies. The MediSave500 and MediSave700 scheme can be used to further offset the cost of the genetic test after subsidies. Patients who are 60 years old and above may also use Flexi-MediSave to further defray out of pocket costs. Protection of genetic information Under a moratorium on genetic testing and insurance introduced by MOH and the Life Insurance Association Singapore (LIA) in 2021, life insurers here are banned from using predictive genetic test results in assessing the outcome of insurance applications, unless certain criteria are satisfied. Insurers are also not allowed to use genetic test results from biomedical research or direct-to-consumer genetic test results. MOH said it has worked with the LIA to amend the moratorium t o disallow life insurers in Singapore to use the results of all genetic tests conducted under the national FH genetic testing programme. They may, however, continue to request for individuals to disclose existing diagnosed conditions and family history. The amended moratorium will take effect from June 30. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Pak hikes defence spending by 20% in budget amid tense relations with India
Pakistan on Tuesday increased its defence budget by 20 per cent, allocating PRs. 2,550 billion (USD 9 billion) for the fiscal year 2025-26, amid tensions with India. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the PRs. (Pakistani Rupees) 17,573 billion worth federal budget for the fiscal year 2025–26 in the National Assembly. He also presented the budget document as a finance bill in the National Assembly. In his speech, the minister said that the government has 'decided to allocate PRs. 2,550 for the defence of the country'. He didn't provide any further details about the defence spending as traditionally the defence budget is not discussed by the parliament. Last year, the government allocated PRs. 2,122 billion for defence, reflecting a 14.98 per cent increase over PRs. 1,804 billion budgeted for the fiscal year 2023-24. 'This budget is being presented at a historic time when the nation showed unity [and] determination,' the minister said at the start while mentioning the recent Pak-India conflict. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. The on-ground hostilities from the Indian and Pakistan sides that lasted for four days ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10. The defence sector expenses are the second-biggest component of the annual expenditure after the debt payments. The government allocated PRs. 8,207 billion for debt servicing, which constitutes the single biggest expense. The increase in the defence expenditure is expected to get the broad support of the lawmakers during the budget debate and voting on the finance bill. Aurangzeb also announced a 4.2 per cent GDP growth target for the economy which is higher than the 2.7 per cent achieved in the current year ending on June 30. He said that debt and interest servicing would cost PRs. 8,207 billion. Other key expenses include PRs. 971 billion for civil administration, PRs. 1,186 billion for subsidies, PRs. 1,055 billion for pensions and PRs. 1,000 billion for the Public Sector Development Programme. He said that the target for inflation was 7.5 per cent and the fiscal deficit target was 3.9 per cent as the government also announced to contain the deficit and achieve a primary surplus. The minister said that the government has set an ambitious tax collection target for the Federal Board of Revenue at PRs. 14,131 billion, an 8.95 per cent increase from last year's goal. Aurangzeb said that the main success of the government was that inflation was reduced to 4.7 per cent in the outgoing fiscal whereas it was 29.2 per cent two years ago, while the government achieved a current account surplus of USD 1.5 billion. He said the forex reserves will touch USD 14 billion by the end of the year and remittances were expected to reach USD 38 billion.
