docTLDR

A general physician in Faridabad allegedly impersonated a cardiologist and conducted at least 50 heart surgeries, raising urgent concerns about credential verification and patient safety. The incident, now under ACB and police investigation, highlights the need for stricter compliance and monitoring in both public and private hospitals to prevent similar frauds.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Goa has strongly condemned Health Minister Vishwajit Rane’s public suspension and verbal abuse of a senior doctor at Goa Medical College. The IMA calls this an 'emotional assault' and urges authorities to rescind the suspension, warning that such actions undermine medical morale and set a dangerous precedent for hostility against healthcare professionals.

India’s active COVID-19 caseload has risen to 5,364, with Kerala, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Delhi reporting the most new cases. The NB.1.8.1 variant is under global monitoring. The Centre has directed states to conduct preparedness drills, ensure oxygen and medicine stocks, and remain vigilant, especially as most new cases are mild but comorbidities remain a concern.

India's TB elimination goals for 2025 (80% reduction in incidence, 90% reduction in deaths compared to 2015) are falling short despite improved notification rates. Key challenges include underreporting, under-diagnosis, intermittent drug shortages, and minimal diagnostic investment (just 2.1% of the National TB Elimination Programme budget).

After repeated incidents of violence in government hospitals, Punjab’s health department has ordered all civil surgeons to report on attacks against medical staff over the past two years. The state is preparing to implement the 2008 Act for healthcare worker protection, with proposals for CCTV, trained security, and outsourced guards, aiming for urgent, concrete safety measures.

A pioneering Indian mission is investigating how diabetes patients can safely travel to space, with implications for extreme environment medicine. The study could inform new protocols for glycemic control and monitoring in challenging settings, potentially benefiting patients with complex needs on Earth.

Authorities in Hyderabad have confiscated a substantial quantity of counterfeit drugs from a habitual offender, highlighting persistent risks to patient safety. This action underscores the urgent need for vigilance among clinicians regarding drug authenticity and reinforces the importance of reporting suspected spurious medications in daily practice.

Siddharth Nandyala's Circadian AI app uses a smartphone's microphone to record heart sounds and analyze them with cloud-based machine learning. The app can identify arrhythmias, irregular heartbeats, coronary artery disease markers, and valve abnormalities with over 96% accuracy in clinical trials involving 19,000 patients across the US and India.

Researchers at IIT Guwahati have created a cost-effective method using clay sedimentation to detect SARS-CoV-2. The technique measures how quickly a clay-virus-electrolyte mixture settles, offering a simpler alternative to complex PCR testing. This breakthrough could transform virus detection in resource-limited settings during large-scale outbreaks.

A new BMJ study reveals that head rotation can significantly affect intracranial pressure (ICP). For Indian neurologists and intensivists, this finding underscores the importance of head positioning in managing patients with brain injury or raised ICP, potentially influencing protocols for neurocritical care and trauma management.

A comprehensive BMJ review details the clinical variability and diagnostic challenges of motor neurone disease (MND). Indian neurologists are urged to recognize early signs, such as head drop and bulbar symptoms, to reduce diagnostic delays and optimize care planning for affected patients.

Bihar has achieved 100% coverage of eligible families under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, saving beneficiaries over Rs 1000 crore in out-of-pocket expenses in one year. The scheme now includes 1100+ empanelled hospitals (50% private) and features digital monitoring, robust grievance redressal, regular audits, and awareness drives to ensure corruption-free implementation.