docTLDR

A major international study found disorders of gut-brain interaction, including IBS and functional dyspepsia, rose sharply after the COVID-19 pandemic. Prevalence increased from 38.3% to 42.6%, with IBS up 28% and functional dyspepsia up 44%. Long COVID patients faced even higher risks and worse mental health, highlighting urgent need for updated care models.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of the Philippines has confirmed that its MD programs now fully comply with India's National Medical Commission (NMC) norms. Indian graduates from CHED-accredited Philippine medical schools are now eligible to sit for the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) and the upcoming National Exit Test (NExT), paving the way for medical practice in India. The 54-month English-medium MD program covers all NMC-mandated subjects and includes a one-year in...

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has suspended two doctors and four other staff members following complaints of medical negligence, including a woman's death and unethical practices such as black marketing of medicines. The action underscores the state's ongoing crackdown on healthcare malpractice, with hospitals sealed and further investigations ordered.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping patient care by enabling earlier disease detection, personalized treatment, and streamlined clinical workflows. AI-driven tools now assist clinicians in diagnosis, triage, and administrative tasks, improving efficiency and patient outcomes. However, experts emphasize the need for robust safeguards to address risks such as data bias, privacy concerns, and the potential for misleading outputs. Building trust and ensuring equitable access remain criti...

India achieved a historic high of 18,900 organ transplants in 2024, ranking third globally. Despite this leap, a significant gap persists between patients needing transplants and available donors. The government now offers up to Rs 15 lakh for poor patients and post-transplant support, with kidney transplants covered under Ayushman Bharat. Doctors are urged to promote awareness and preventive lifestyle changes.

Clinicians are seeing a spike in hepatitis A due to monsoon-related contamination. Experts recommend CBC, liver enzymes, CRP, and differential diagnosis for dengue, malaria, and typhoid. Paracetamol is preferred for symptom relief; NSAIDs and antibiotics should be avoided. Vaccination is advised for children, hostel residents, frequent diners, and immunocompromised patients. Early intervention is crucial for high-risk groups.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in consultation with the Ministry of Ayush, has published an official list of Ayurvedic foods. This move provides regulatory clarity for practitioners and the food industry, supporting safe integration of traditional products into clinical and dietary practice. Doctors can now reference standardized guidelines for recommending or advising on Ayurvedic foods.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reports that India now offers 115,900 MBBS seats across 780 medical colleges, reflecting a significant expansion in undergraduate medical education. This increase aims to address the country's doctor shortage and improve healthcare access, especially in underserved regions. Practicing doctors should anticipate a larger influx of medical graduates in coming years, impacting workforce dynamics and training opportunities.

The Indian Health Ministry has amended the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, introducing detailed provisions for the cancellation and suspension of cosmetic manufacturing licences. This move aims to enhance regulatory oversight and ensure higher safety standards for products in the Indian market, directly impacting dermatologists and prescribing clinicians.

A recent study highlights that seniors with type 2 diabetes prescribed semaglutide or liraglutide face a significantly increased risk of developing nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a potentially blinding optic nerve condition. The findings suggest that semaglutide use more than doubles the five-year risk of NAION, emphasizing the need for clinicians to monitor visual symptoms in patients on these GLP-1 receptor agonists.

The Supreme Court has directed the Army College of Medical Sciences to pay stipend arrears of ₹25,000 per month to 2022 MBBS interns within eight weeks, after criticizing the college for making interns work 18–19 hours daily without pay. The Court emphasized that all interns, including previous batches, are entitled to equal compensation, ensuring parity with subsequent batches who already receive the stipend.

A newly developed compact surgical robot integrates internal visual feedback for autonomous motion correction, enabling micron-level accuracy in delicate procedures. This is the first system of its kind to use built-in feedback for real-time, self-correcting precision, potentially transforming microsurgery by reducing reliance on external sensors and enhancing reliability in minimally invasive interventions.

The appointment of faculty with distance PhDs and non-MBBS backgrounds in Indian medical colleges is eroding clinical teaching standards. Experts warn that such practices compromise hands-on clinical training, dilute academic rigor, and may ultimately affect patient care quality. Regulatory loopholes and a shortage of qualified MBBS-trained teachers are driving this trend, raising urgent concerns about the future competence of India’s medical graduates.

Dr Tanmay Motiwala, a paediatric surgeon in Chhattisgarh, was deeply moved after receiving handmade wedding gifts from Khushi, a young cancer survivor he once treated for a chest wall tumour. Unable to attend his wedding, Khushi sent a surprise package, symbolizing their enduring doctor-patient bond. Dr Motiwala shared that Khushi taught him resilience and that their relationship extends far beyond medical care, inspiring many online.

A major study led by the MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, and published in The Lancet Planetary Health, has found that prolonged exposure to air pollutants such as PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, and soot significantly raises the risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. The research highlights inflammation and oxidative stress as key mechanisms and calls for urgent policy interventions to reduce air pollution and its growing burden on public health.