Will make future diagnosis of rare genetic disorders easier

A global team of researchers has identified the gene behind a rare brain disorder in a four-year-old boy from Punjab who has not been able to walk or sit without support since he was born. His condition, undiagnosed till now, has been attributed to mutations in DARS gene which scientists discovered through newly developed genome sequencing technologies that make it possible to strike at the root of rare diseases.

Slum-dwellers in cities will now be able to avail health facilities

Urban poor, especially those living in slums, will now have access to primary healthcare services in cities and towns with the Cabinet recently approving the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) to function as a sub-mission under the overarching National Health Mission which also caters to rural populations.
To be implemented in 779 cities and towns with over 50,000 population, the NUHM aims to cover 7.75 crore people. Meant for the urban poor, it will primarily target the urban slum population of 68 million (6 crore) as revealed by the 2011 Census.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified anti- malarial resistance in four countries of South East Asia and launched an emergency response to prevent resistant strains of the malarial parasites from spreading further.

On the occasion of World Malaria Day today, the WHO has also cited concerns over resistance emerging to insecticides which countries like India and sub-Saharan Africa are using to treat mosquito nets for the purpose of vector control. The advice for such countries is — develop new insecticides.

Funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) are now being put to a strange use - building walls around government forests!

In a letter addressed to chief ministers of states, Tribal Affairs Minister KC Deo has lamented the development saying it’s ironic how MNREGA funds were being used in states to build “high stone walls around government forests” thereby denying tribals and traditional forest dwellers access to their own land and produce.

Forms four expert panels to draft permission guidelines

Following more than 2,200 deaths in clinical trials in the past five years, the government has finally set up four expert committees to streamline approvals and evolve standard operating procedures for marketing of drugs in India, which are discovered abroad. The move comes following Supreme Court's observation that the Ministry of Health was watching meekly as the unregulated clinical trial sector played "havoc" with the people.

In a move that will go a long way in ensuring the safety of subjects who participate in clinical trials in India, the government has notified procedures whereby compensation will be awarded in case of death or injury suffered by persons participating in the trials.

Hitherto, there was no rule under the law to provide for compensation in case of serious adverse events or injuries to subjects in clinical trials. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), the highest drug regulator, approves the conduct of clinical trials under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules. But these rules have no procedures or even a mention of compensation to be given in case a participant in a trial suffers injury, disability or death.

On the eve of the first ritual bath of Mahakumbh, which started over a week ago, a group of pilgrims from Bangalore spot a body in the Ganga where it meets the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati.

“It was a grim sight ahead of the Mahakumbh. We looked the other way. What could we do?” said Santosh Lal, on her third Kumbh visit. Another body was fished out of the river at another spot the same day.