docTLDR

A massive fire in the ICU of Jaipur's SMS Hospital killed six critical patients and left five others in serious condition. The blaze, reportedly caused by a short circuit, highlights urgent gaps in hospital fire safety protocols. Doctors and administrators are urged to review and reinforce emergency preparedness and electrical safety in all clinical settings.

After child deaths linked to contaminated cough syrups in Madhya Pradesh, the Union Health Ministry has directed all states to enforce Revised Schedule M (GMP) norms for drug manufacturers. Doctors are urged to rationalise paediatric cough syrup use, as most coughs are self-limiting. New guidelines for parents, pharmacists, and clinicians are expected soon.

A child's family in Kozhikode has rejected a hospital report that cleared doctors of negligence after a post-fracture amputation. The panel found standard protocols were followed, but the family alleges lapses. The case highlights the need for robust documentation, clear communication, and vigilance for rare complications like vascular compromise after fractures.

ICMR has validated two indigenous TB diagnostic tools—Quantiplus MTB FAST (open-system RT-PCR) and UniAMP MTB Nucleic Acid Test Card (tongue swab)—enabling rapid, affordable, and scalable TB detection. Labs can now use standard PCR machines, cutting costs by up to 80%. Non-invasive tongue swabs simplify testing for children and elderly, supporting India's TB elimination goals.

The Gujarat State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission clarified that hospitals providing free treatment are not exempt from liability for medical negligence. Patients receiving free care are still considered consumers under the Consumer Protection Act, and hospitals must answer for alleged negligence regardless of payment status. This ruling mandates re-examination of cases involving free treatment, reinforcing accountability in both private and charitable healthcare settings.

A large-scale meta-analysis reveals that antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs, including statins and certain antihypertensives, significantly reduce the risk and progression of steatotic liver disease (SLD). The findings suggest these widely used medications may offer dual benefits for cardiovascular and liver health, supporting their use in patients with metabolic comorbidities. This could impact clinical practice for managing SLD, especially in populations with high rates of hypertensi...

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has discontinued all facial QR code-based wall-mounted attendance devices in medical colleges from 1st October 2025. All faculty must now use the FACE-based Aadhaar Authentication App on their smartphones, which verifies attendance via facial recognition linked to Aadhaar and GPS within the campus. This move aims to enhance security, prevent proxy attendance, and ensure transparent, accountable faculty presence. Colleges must ensure 100% compliance and su...

A recent analysis shows that vaginal cervical cerclage significantly modifies uterine artery Doppler parameters, correlating with a reduced risk of small for gestational age (SGA) births. These findings are directly relevant for Indian obstetricians managing high-risk pregnancies, offering a potential intervention to improve neonatal outcomes.

A meta-analysis of 21 randomized controlled trials published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that probiotic supplementation significantly improved cognitive performance in older adults, especially memory, processing speed, and spatial ability. The strongest effects were seen after 12 weeks of daily probiotics (2 × 10¹⁰ CFU), supporting the gut-brain axis theory and suggesting probiotics as a promising, non-invasive strategy to help maintain cognitive health in aging popula...

The Ministry of Health has revised CGHS reimbursement rates, effective October 13, 2025. Super specialty hospitals can now charge up to 15% more than NABH-accredited facilities for select procedures. Rates for consultations, radiotherapy, and minor procedures remain uniform. Cancer surgeries are excluded from this revision.

Researchers at Integra Therapeutics and partners have used generative AI to design synthetic PiggyBac transposases that outperform natural proteins in genome editing. By screening over 31,000 genomes and leveraging protein language models, they created novel enzymes with enhanced activity and precision, compatible with advanced gene-editing platforms. This breakthrough, published in Nature Biotechnology, promises safer, more efficient gene and cell therapies, especially for cancer and rare di...

A major meta-analysis published in JAMA confirms GLP-1 receptor agonists significantly reduce major cardiovascular events in overweight or obese diabetics and offer kidney protection for all, including non-diabetics. The findings support broader use of GLP-1 drugs for both heart and renal risk reduction, marking a shift in clinical management of high-risk patients.

Dr Praveen Soni, a senior paediatrician in Madhya Pradesh, was arrested after 16 children died in Chhindwara and Betul districts following consumption of Coldrif cough syrup. Soni defended his long-term use of the syrup, stating he had prescribed it for over a decade and relied on sealed, ready-to-use medicines. Authorities filed an FIR against him and Sresun Pharmaceuticals under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, amid a statewide crackdown on the implicated product.

A new study from the University of North Carolina reveals that just four days of consuming a high-fat, junk food diet can begin to disrupt memory and brain function in mice, even before weight gain or diabetes develop. The research, published in Neuron, found that saturated fats rapidly reprogram key brain cells (CCK interneurons) in the hippocampus—the brain’s memory center—by impairing glucose uptake, which is essential for memory processing. The good news is that restoring glucose levels t...

India’s current influenza vaccination approach is inadequate due to year-round virus circulation and low uptake, especially among high-risk groups. Experts advocate for a shift to biannual or year-long vaccination using updated Northern and Southern Hemisphere vaccines, targeting vulnerable populations and healthcare workers. Enhanced public awareness, provider advocacy, and policy support are critical to reduce influenza-related morbidity and mortality.