docTLDR

Nearly 2 lakh allopathic doctors across Maharashtra, led by the Indian Medical Association, are observing a 24-hour strike from 8 am on September 18 to protest the state government's decision to allow homeopathic practitioners with a short pharmacology course to register and prescribe allopathic medicines. The strike, supported by resident doctors and major associations, will suspend routine and elective services but keep emergency care operational. Doctors argue the move endangers patient sa...

Chronic diseases now account for two-thirds of all deaths in India, disproportionately affecting people in their most productive years. The Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC) urges urgent action, as the economic and health burden is projected to rise, underscoring the need for preventive strategies in clinical practice.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are rapidly advancing cancer therapy by combining targeted monoclonal antibodies with potent cytotoxic drugs, enabling selective tumor cell eradication while minimizing harm to healthy tissue. Innovations such as bispecific ADCs, Probody-drug conjugates, immunostimulatory ADCs, and dual-payload ADCs are overcoming resistance, improving efficacy, and reducing toxicity. These next-generation ADCs are poised to transform treatment for heterogeneous and refractory ...

Around 4,000 medical officers in Maharashtra have joined the IMA and resident doctors in a one-day strike, protesting the registration of BHMS-CCMP doctors under the state medical council. The collective action is expected to halt routine services, postpone surgeries, and severely impact patient care across government and private hospitals.

A 6-year-old boy, initially misdiagnosed with flu after sudden paralysis, was ultimately saved when his mother’s Google search led to the discovery of a rare brainstem cavernous malformation. Her online research connected her with a neurosurgeon specializing in cavernomas, resulting in urgent surgery that restored the child’s mobility and speech. The case highlights the potential life-saving impact of informed patient advocacy and digital health literacy.

The Chhattisgarh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission upheld a compensation of over Rs 16 lakh against a Raipur hospital for gross medical negligence leading to a patient's death. The hospital's contradictory statements and failure to provide medical records were key factors in the ruling. The court criticized the hospital for serious lapses in patient care and deliberate withholding of evidence.

A neurosurgeon recommends the Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) blood test as a promising tool to detect neurodegeneration years before symptoms of brain diseases like Alzheimer's or multiple sclerosis manifest. Elevated NfL levels in plasma can indicate neuronal injury or disease progression, enabling earlier intervention and monitoring. While not disease-specific, NfL is emerging as a minimally invasive biomarker for prognosis and tracking therapy response in various neurological conditions.

A major global study finds that fire-related PM2.5 pollution is surging, reversing clean air gains and driving a rising health burden. From 1990 to 2018, extreme fire-PM2.5 exposure days tripled, with over half the world’s population now experiencing persistent fire pollution. Acute exposure is linked to increased respiratory, cardiovascular, and all-cause deaths, with the highest burden in 2010 (about 120,000 deaths). South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa face growing risks, counteracting progre...

The Karnataka Medical Education Department has suspended Dr. Chaitra M S, Dr. Manjappa C N, and Dr. Ashok Shelke for allegedly accepting bribes while serving as National Medical Commission (NMC) inspection team members. The doctors reportedly issued a favorable inspection report for Chhattisgarh’s Rawatpura Government Institute of Medical Science and Research in exchange for bribes. The CBI registered an FIR and took the doctors into custody, prompting their suspension under service rules.

AIIMS researchers have developed the AMOS and AMES scores, the first indigenous prognostic models for mantle cell lymphoma tailored to Indian patients. These tools outperform global indices by incorporating local clinical and socioeconomic factors, enabling more accurate risk stratification and guiding personalized treatment decisions in Indian oncology practice. Validation in larger cohorts is needed, but immediate adoption can improve patient counseling and management.

RES-010, a first-in-class RNA-based drug, reprograms fat and energy metabolism by blocking miR-22, a master regulator of lipid and mitochondrial function. Unlike GLP-1 agonists, RES-010 induces significant, sustained weight loss in animal models without appetite suppression or lean mass loss. Phase 1 trials in humans began in late 2024, with initial results expected in early 2026.

A new, expert-validated reporting format for endoscopic colonic biopsies has been developed in Rajasthan, addressing the diagnostic needs of Indian gastroenterologists and pathologists. The checklist covers 71 key histological features, improving standardization and accuracy for non-neoplastic colonic diseases. Adoption can reduce diagnostic ambiguity and streamline communication between clinicians and labs.

A new study finds that 4.38% of Indians aged 45+ have asthma and 2.1% have COPD, with prevalence rising sharply in those over 60. Key risk factors include wealth, social group, lack of separate kitchen, open-fire cooking, and passive smoking. Both diseases are strongly linked to geriatric syndromes such as falls and limitations in daily living, highlighting urgent need for targeted interventions and policy reforms for healthy ageing.

At CIDSCON 2025, infectious disease experts called for robust antimicrobial stewardship and strict device hygiene protocols to combat rising AMR in India. Doctors are urged to minimize unnecessary antibiotic use and ensure proper sterilization of medical devices, as poor infection control accelerates resistance and device-related complications in clinical practice.

Mankind Pharma has fully integrated OpenAI’s GPT-5 across its operations, from R&D to field force management. The AI deployment is enhancing clinical insights, real-time sales tracking, and multilingual communication, setting a new benchmark for digital transformation in Indian pharma and promising improved efficiency for healthcare delivery.