Gilead Sciences Seladelpar gets positive CHMP opinion for Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Foster City: Gilead Sciences, Inc. has announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion recommending seladelpar for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in adults who have an inadequate response to UDCA alone, or as monotherapy in those unable to tolerate UDCA.

The final European Commission decision is anticipated in the first quarter of 2025. This follows the accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2024.

PBC is a rare, chronic, autoimmune disease of the bile ducts that affects approximately 15 per 100,000 people in Europe, primarily women, and can cause liver damage and possible liver failure if untreated. The most common symptoms of PBC are pruritus (chronic itch) and fatigue, which can be debilitating for some people. The disease currently has no cure and treatment goals for people living with PBC include suppressing liver damage and reducing the symptoms related to cholestasis. The effect of treatment on slowing disease progression is primarily measured by an improvement in liver biochemical tests, including the normalization of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, an important marker of disease progression in PBC.

“This positive opinion from the Committee confirms promising clinical benefit and value of seladelpar, which has been underscored by its differentiated body of data,” said Palak Trivedi, MD, BSc (Hons), MBBS, MRCP (UK), ESEGH, PhD, Associate Professor and Consultant Hepatologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. “After many years of treating people with PBC, I have seen the critical unmet need for additional effective and symptom-directed treatment options. The recommendation of a potential new therapy that can help treat both the disease and improve symptoms that impact quality of life is a significant milestone for the PBC community.”

The positive opinion was supported primarily by data from the pivotal placebo-controlled Phase 3 RESPONSE study. In the study, 62% of participants taking seladelpar achieved the primary endpoint of composite biochemical response at month 12 compared with 20% of participants taking placebo. Treatment with seladelpar led to normalization of ALP values in 25% of trial participants at month 12. This change was not seen in any trial participants receiving placebo. ALP is a cholestatic marker that is a predictor of risk for liver transplant and death. Change from baseline pruritus score at month 6 was a key secondary endpoint; treatment with seladelpar led to a statistically significant reduction in pruritus compared with placebo. Participants entering the study with moderate to severe itch experienced a 3.2-point improvement on a pruritus scale of 0-10 after six months of treatment with seladelpar, compared to a decrease of 1.7 points with placebo.

“We are encouraged by the CHMP’s positive opinion as we are one step closer to providing seladelpar to people living with PBC in Europe,” said Timothy Watkins, MD, MSc, Vice President, Clinical Development of Inflammation Therapeutics, Gilead Sciences. “There are still people living with PBC who do not have an adequate response to current medicines or who are still experiencing symptoms, such as debilitating itch. As a leader in liver disease, Gilead is committed to bringing forth therapies that not only improve markers of disease progression but also help alleviate symptoms which impact the lives of people living with this rare liver condition.”

In addition to Europe, Gilead is working with regulatory authorities on marketing applications for seladelpar in other parts of the world. In August 2024, the FDA granted accelerated approval for seladelpar for the treatment of PBC in combination with (UDCA) in adults who have had an inadequate response to UDCA, or as monotherapy in patients unable to tolerate UDCA. Continued approval of seladelpar for the approved indication may be contingent on verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trial(s).

Read also: Gilead Sciences ropes in Sanofi official Dietmar Berger as new Chief Medical Officer

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UP DGME Releases Seat Matrix for Round 2 DNB Admissions, details

Uttar Pradesh- Uttar Pradesh, Director General, Medical Education and Training (UPDGME) has released the seat matrix for National Eligibility and Entrance Test-Postgraduate (NEET PG) counselling for DNB for the academic year 2024. The seat matrix has been released on the official website of UPDGME, therefore, candidates who have participated in the said counselling can check and download it from there.

As per the seat matrix, a total of 62 seats are vacant across 42 colleges of Uttar Pradesh. The seat matrix has been released in PDF form. Below is the detailed seat matrix-

Also Read: UP NEET PG 2024 Round 2 Counselling to Begin on December 12, Check Complete Schedule Here

SEAT MATRIX

S.NO

INSTITUTE NAME

VACANT NAME

1

AUTONOMOUS STATE MEDICAL COLLEGE, ETAH.

1

2

AUTONOMOUS STATE MEDICAL COLLEGE SOCIETY & SNM DISTRICT HOSPITAL, FIROZABAD.

3

3

AUTONOMOUS STATE MEDICAL COLLEGE, HARDOI.

1

4

RAJA PRATAP BAHADUR HOSPITAL ALLIED WITH DR SONELAL PATEL AUTONOMOUS STATE MEDICAL COLLEGE, PRATAPGARH.

1

5

AUTONOMOUS STATE MEDICAL COLLEGE & ALLIED PANDIT RAM PRASAD BISMIL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, SHAHJAHANPUR.

3

6

BALRAMPUR HOSPITAL, GOLAGANJ, LUCKNOW.

2

7

DR. RMLIMS, GOMTI NAGAR, LUCKNOW.

1

8

DR. SHYAMA PRASAD MUKHARJEE (CIVIL) HOSPITAL, HAZRATGANJ.

2

9

GOVERNMENT MEDICAL COLLEGE & SUPER SPECIALITY HOSPITAL, CHAKRAPANPUR.

5

10

GOVERNMENT MEDICAL COLLEGE, GUNERA.

2

11

RANI DURGAVATI MEDICAL COLLEGE (GOVERNMENT ALLOPATHIC MEDICAL COLLEGE), BANDA.

3

12

MAHARAJA SUHEL DEV MEDICAL COLLEGE & MAHRISHI BALARK HOSPITAL, BAHRAICH.

2

13

MAHARANA PRATAP DISTRICT COMBINED HOSPITAL, KUTUBKHANA ROAD.

1

14

MAHARSHI VASHISHTHA AUTONOMOUS STATE MEDICAL COLLEGE & OPEC HOSPITAL, BASTI.

2

15

MRA MEDICAL COLLEGE, AMBEDKAR NAGAR.

2

16

P.L. SHARMA DISTRICT HOSPITAL, AHMAD ROAD.

2

17

TEJ BAHADUR SAPRU HOSPITAL, STANLEY ROAD.

3

18

URSALA HORSMAN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, BADA CHUARAHA.

3

19

VEERANGNA AWANTI BAI WOMEN HOSPITAL, GOLAGANJ.

2

29

DISTRICT COMBINED HOSPITAL, SECTOR 23.

1

30

DISTRICT COMBINED HOSPITAL, SECTOR 39.

1

31

DISTRICT MALE HOSPITAL, KOTWALI ROAD.

1

32

DISTRICT MALE HOSPITAL, SAI KA TAKIYA.

1

33

DISTRICT WOMEN HOSPITAL, REKABGANJ.

1

34

DIVISIONAL DISTRICT HOSPITAL, DDU MARG.

2

35

LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI HOSPITAL, RAMNAGAR.

1

36

LOK BANDHU RAJ NARAYAN COMBINED HOSPITAL, LDA COLONY.

1

37

NETAJI SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE DISTRICT HOSPITAL, GORAKHPUR.

2

38

RANA BENI MADHAV SINGH DISTRICT HOSPITAL, NIRALANAGAR.

2

39

SRI RAM HOSPITAL NEAR AYODHYA JUNCTION, AYODHYA.

1

40

SWAMI KALYAN DEV DISTRICT HOSPITAL, LADDHAWALA.

1

41

U.P. UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCE AND RESEARCH, SAIFA.

1

42

AUTONOMOUS STATE MEDICAL COLLEGE, AYODHYA.

5

TOTAL

62

The timetable for online counselling for the 2nd round of admission to postgraduate courses (MD/MS/Diploma and DNB) in Government/Autonomous/private medical colleges/ institutes/ universities/hospitals under medical Health is as follows-

Also Read: UP DGME Begins NEET 2024 Special Vacancy Round Counselling

SCHEDULE

S.NO

DESCRIPTION

DATES

TOTAL DAYS

1

Date of online Registration fee & deposition of Security money.

12th December 2024 (From 11:00 AM) to (Till Midnight 11:59 PM).

01 days

2

Date of Online Choice Filling.

13th December 2024 (From 11:00 AM) to 18th December 2024 (Till 11:00 AM)

05 days

3

Date of Declaration of result of seat allotment.

20th December 2024

01 days

4

Date for downloading allotment letters and admission process

21st,23rd, 24th December 2024 to 26th December 2024 to 28th December 2024

06 days

To view the seat matrix, click the link below

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/62-seats-available-for-neet-pg-2024-for-dnb-2024-updgme-releases-seat-matrix-264881.pdf

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AIIMS Bhopal Ophthalmologist accused of unethical practice

Bhopal: A complaint has been filed against a doctor from the Ophthalmology department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal, accusing him of engaging in unethical practices, including running a private store. 

A written complaint has been filed against the doctor by an individual, alleging that he operates a clinical store in Saket Nagar under his wife’s name and unlawfully conducts Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA) tests at the facility.

Also Read:425 faculty posts at AIIMS Delhi lying vacant: MoS Health

The clinical store also
provides medicines, and contact lenses, leading to questions surrounding
potential conflicts of interest and ethical implications in such practices, stated
the complaint. The complainant demands a complete departmental inquiry into the
issue, reports Daily. 

FFA is a diagnostic procedure
that helps to assess the blood circulation in the eye’s retina and choroid. It
is an angiography for the retinal blood vessels using the Fluorescein dye.
It gives us minute details about the blood supply of the retina. Previously
patients were not able to access these services in AIIMS and had to seek other
options and the necessity of maintaining ethical standards of such tests was
crucial. However, now patients can get access to the test in AIIMS.

The doctor, in a
statement to Free Press Journal, stated that the complaint was made some years
back and it did not come from a patient. He added that AIIMS administration
might not have taken the allegations seriously since they often prioritize
complaints from patients directly and not from other sources considering that
patients are the primary victims in such cases.

Also Read:Supreme Court relief to disabled MBBS aspirant, supernumerary seat to be created

“So if any patient
has any problem, they should complain and not any third person. The complaint was
made when the FFA test was not available at AIIMS. Now, it is available. It is
a tactic to malign my image,” the doctor said.

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NEET PG Admissions in Karnataka: 380 seats up for grabs, check KEA seat matrix

Karnataka- Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has released the Medical Degree & DNB (Primary) Seat Matrix for the academic year 2024-25. The seat matrix has been released on the official website of KEA, therefore, candidates can check and download it from there.

As per the seat matrix, a total of 380 seats are vacant, of these, 354 seats are vacant in Medical Degree & 26 seats are vacant in DNB (Primary). Below is the detailed seat matrix-

Also Read: KEA releases seat matrix for PG medical admissions 2024, details

SEATS AVAILABILITY IN MEDICAL DEGREE

S.NO

COURSES

VACANT SEATS

1

M.D. Anatomy.

13

2

M.D. Physiology.

11

3

M.D. Biochemistry.

12

4

M.D. Pharmacology.

13

5

M.D. Pathology.

20

6

M.D. Microbiology.

13

7

M.D. Community Medicine.

12

8

M.D. Forensic Medicine.

7

9

M.D. Dermatology.

9

10

M.D. Radio Therapy.

2

11

M.D. Paediatrics.

24

12

M.D. General Medicine.

33

13

M.D. Radio Diagnosis.

16

14

M.D. Psychiatry.

8

15

M.D. Respiratory Medicine.

6

16

M.D. Hospital Administration.

1

17

M.D. Emergency Medicine.

3

18

M.S. Ophthalmology.

16

19

M.S. ENT.

15

20

M.S. Orthopedics.

23

21

M.D. Anaesthesia.

39

22

M.S. General Surgery.

30

23

M.S. Obstetrics and Gynecology.

26

24

Diploma in Public Health.

1

25

Palliative Medicine.

1

TOTAL

354

SEATS AVAILABILITY IN DNB-PRIMARY

S.NO

COURSES

VACANT SEATS

1

DNB Paediatrics.

8

2

DNB General Medicine.

4

3

DNB Anaesthesia.

11

4

M.S. Obstetrics and Gynecology.

12

TOTAL

26

Prior to this, KEA has also released the seat matrix for admission to the Medical Post Graduate Degree Courses in Government Medical Colleges & Self Financing Medical Educational Institutions in the State for the academic session 2024-25. As per the seat matrix, a total of 998 seats are vacant, of these, 818 seats are vacant in Category-wise Seat distribution (excluding In-Service/Minority/NRI quota seats) and 180 seats are vacant in Minority and NRI Quota Seats in Self Financing Medical Colleges. 

Karnataka Examinations Authority is governed by the Governing Council headed by the Honourable Minister of Higher Education. The Government of Karnataka established the Common Entrance Test Cell in the year 1994 for conducting entrance tests and determining the eligibility/merit, for admission to the first year or first semester of full-time professional courses for Government share of seats in Medical, Dental, Indian systems of medicine and Homeopathy, B-Pharma, Pharma-D Courses, etc.

To view the seat matrixes, click the link below 

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/seat-matrix-1-264908.pdf

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/seat-matrix-2-264909.pdf

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TN Hospital Fire: CM announces Rs 3 lakh ex-gratia for Victims’ Families

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday expressed his condolences over the tragic fire at a private hospital in Dindigul district, which claimed the lives of seven people, including a minor girl. In response, the Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 3 lakh each to the families of the deceased.

According to the PTI report, the CM expressed his sympathies with the families of the victims that included a minor girl. Two other deceased persons hailed from the Theni district.

In a statement, Stalin announced a sum of Rs three lakh from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund (CMPRF) to the families of the victims.

He also extended assistance of Rs one lakh each to those under treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) with serious injuries and Rs 50,000 to persons with simple injuries.

Medical Dialogues yesterday reported that a fire at a private orthopaedic hospital in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, late on Thursday night, claimed the lives of seven people and left several others injured. More than three fire engines and over 10 ambulances were deployed to rescue the patients trapped inside the hospital in the Gandhi Nagar area near the Dindigul-Trichy highway, a senior official said.

The incident took place on Thursday night at the City Hospital on Trichy Road in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. 

Also Read:7 killed after massive fire breaks out at Tamil Nadu Hospital

He further said he has directed that the best medical treatment be provided to those admitted in nearby government and private hospitals.

Official sources in Dinidgul said three persons were currently under treatment in ICU, added PTI.

On Thursday, around 9.30 pm, a blaze erupted in the private hospital, leaving six dead. The victims were found unconscious in a lift and were declared dead by doctors at a hospital.

They had suffocated to death, police and fire officials said.

Also Read:Tamil Nadu CM to invite President Murmu to inaugurate 1000-bedded Kalaignar Memorial hospital

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AbbVie concludes acquisition of Aliada Therapeutics

North Chicago, Ill: AbbVie has announced that it has completed its acquisition of Aliada Therapeutics. With the completion of the acquisition, Aliada is now a part of AbbVie.

Aliada’s lead investigational asset is ALIA-1758, an anti-pyroglutamate amyloid beta (3pE-Aβ) antibody, which is in development for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial. ALIA-1758 utilizes a novel blood-brain barrier (BBB)-crossing technology that enhances delivery of targeted drugs into the central nervous system (CNS).

“Alzheimer’s disease poses a significant public health challenge, impacting millions worldwide and is becoming more prevalent as populations age,” said Dawn Carlson, M.D., M.P.H., vice president, neuroscience development at AbbVie. “With the acquisition now complete, we look forward to advancing potentially disease-modifying therapies such as ALIA-1758 for Alzheimer’s disease and bolstering our neuroscience discovery and development efforts by leveraging Aliada’s novel CNS drug delivery platform.”

Read also: AbbVie, FutureGen ink pact to develop Next-Generation Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain, leading to cognitive decline, memory loss, and changes in behavior and personality. It is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of cases.

Read also: AbbVie seeks USFDA accelerated approval for telisotuzumab vedotin for previously treated non small cell lung cancer

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that AbbVie had received marketing authorization from the European Commission (EC) for ELAHERE (mirvetuximab soravtansine) for the treatment of adult patients with folate receptor-alpha (FRα) positive, platinum-resistant high grade serous epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer who have received one to three prior systemic treatment regimens. ELAHERE is a folate receptor alpha (FRɑ)-directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC) medicine approved in the European Union (EU), as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Northern Ireland.

Read also: AbbVie gets European Commission nod for Elahere for Platinum-Resistant ovarian cancer

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Healthcare Initiatives for Elderly under NPHCE, Ayushman Bharat: MoS Health informs Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched several initiatives to cater to the specific healthcare needs of senior citizens. These programs focus on making healthcare services accessible, affordable, and specialized, covering preventive, curative, and rehabilitative care. The initiatives aim to provide comprehensive healthcare across all levels, from primary to tertiary care, ensuring the well-being of elderly citizens.

The National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) is one of the key initiatives aimed at improving healthcare for senior citizens in India. The program was specifically designed to create a comprehensive healthcare setup that caters to the needs of the ageing population.

Also Read: Bonds for PG medical admissions- Not NMC, Only States can provide in-service reservation: MoS Health in Parliament

In addition to the NPHCE, the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) is another important initiative that benefits senior citizens, particularly those aged 70 years and above.

Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare was responding to questions posed by Shri Jose K. Mani. During the Rajya Sabha Session, he asked about the type of initiatives in place to improve access to healthcare for senior citizens; about the details of specific programs to provide free or subsidized healthcare for elderly citizens under the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE); and

Furthermore, he was inquired about the type of provisions made to ensure home-based care for senior citizens in remote areas.

Also Read: MoS Health Apprises Lok Sabha on Initiatives to Expand Hospital Network Under AB PMJAY

MoS Health informed that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India had launched the National Programme for Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE) in 2010-11 to ensure comprehensive health care set up dedicated and tuned to the needs of the elderly. The interventions are designed to capture the Preventive, Curative, and rehabilitative aspects of geriatric healthcare. The program aims to provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality long-term, comprehensive, and dedicated care services to the aging population of the country.

The benefits of the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY) have been extended to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above.

The scheme’s mandate is to provide free treatment benefits of up to ₹ 5 lakh per year on a family basis to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socioeconomic status. Senior citizens are issued a separate Ayushman card as Ayushman Vay Vandana among senior citizens.

There is a provision under the NPHCE to provide accessible and free healthcare services to the elderly at all the levels of public healthcare system, primary, secondary, and tertiary levels through the following components of the Programme:

1. National Health Mission (NHM) component: Works towards improving access to dedicated Geriatric Out Patient services, Physiotherapy services, and IPD services at Ayushman Arogya Mandir-Health & Wellness Centres (AAM-HWC), Primary Health Centres (PHC), Community Health Centres (CHC) & District Hospitals throughout the country.

2. Tertiary Component: Under this component, the Govt. of India has established 2 apex National Centres for Ageing (NCAs) at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and Madras Medical College (MMC), Chennai, and 17 Regional Geriatric Centres (RGCs) for delivery of specialized geriatric tertiary care services across the country.

The following provisions are made, under the NPHCE to ensure home-based care for senior citizens:

At the level of Sub Centres – Domiciliary visits for attention and care to home-bound / bedridden elderly persons and provide training to the family care providers in looking after the disabled elderly persons.

At the level of Community Health Centres – Domiciliary visits by the rehabilitation worker for bedridden elderly and counselling of the family members on their home-based care, added the Minister.

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PGI Chandigarh sanctions Rs 22.57 Crore to Settle Outsourced Workers’ Arrears

Chandigarh: The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh authorities have sanctioned a sum of Rs 22.57 crore to the contractor to clear the pending arrears of outsourced hospital attendants. This amount covers the arrears from November 2018 to December 2023 and is set to be disbursed soon into the salary accounts of the concerned workers.

The decision came after the Hospital Attendants Contract Workers Union (HACWU), which represents the outsourced workers, had staged a week-long strike starting October 10, 2023, to demand the clearing of their pending dues. This strike which has disrupted the essential services of the hospital ended on October 17 after the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which instructed the workers to return to their duties.

Also Read: PGI resident doctors hold 12-hour hunger strike in support of West Bengal doctors

Following the end of the strike on October 17, Vikramjit Singh, president of the PGI All Contract Workers Union, along with Rajesh Chauhan, president of HACWU, and Gurdeep Kaur, president of the Mahila Contract Workers Union, pursued the matter with PGI authorities. In a positive turn of events, the PGI administration sanctioned Rs 22,57,73,572 in favour of BVG Indian Ltd. Singh and the other presidents expressed gratitude to the PGI administration for meeting their demands before the year’s end, and conveyed that the amount would be disbursed in a matter of days. 

As per the recent media report by Tribune India, Singh added, “This fight for arrears would have not been incomplete without the support of sanitation attendants, kitchen bearers, and laundry technicians as they came out in support of our fellow outsourced workers.”

Also Read: PGI Chandigarh’s SFC approves Faculty recruitment, Infrastructure Enhancement

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the 130th meeting of the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) Chandigarh was convened in New Delhi. During the meeting, the committee approved several key initiatives to enhance infrastructure and academic excellence at the institute.

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MP Medical Council to Renew Doctors’ License Every 5 Years

Bhopal: To keep the medical registry updated, the Madhya Pradesh Medical Council is going to introduce a system for renewing the doctors’ registration every five years, ETV Bharat has reported.

Even though the Council has 63,423 doctors registered to date, the records are outdated due to a lack of verification at regular intervals. Therefore, neither the State Government nor the Medical Council has much information on how many registered doctors are working in the State and how many left the State, retired, or passed away.

Two years ago, a verification drive was conducted in the State and back then, it was found that only 24,000 doctors out of 63,000 responded. Therefore, now the Council is drafting a proposal to implement mandatory renewal. After being ready, the proposal will be sent for cabinet approval.

Also Read: MoS Health Counts 13 lakh Allopathic Doctors, 36.14 lakh Nursing Personnel in India, Check Details

As per the latest media report by ETV Bharat, since its formation, no strict rule was laid down by the Madhya Pradesh Medical Council for periodic renewal of registrations. Due to this, the records are outdated and addresses of about 70% of registered doctors remains unverified.

Emphasizing the need for reform, the Chief Convener of the Government Autonomous Doctors Federation, Dr. Rakesh Malviya told ETV, “Periodic renewal is essential to maintain an updated database of doctors. It will help track how many are still in the state, how many have moved abroad, and how many passed away.”

Recently, the Federation submitted a proposal to the State Government, requesting to implement a five-year renewal rule. Referring to this, Dr. Malviya added, “This will not only improve governance but also ensure greater accountability among medical practitioners.”

Meanwhile, the Medical Council has commenced the process of electing new members after almost a decade. To prepare for the election, the Council started verifying the addresses of registered doctors on December 5 and by now 945 doctors have updated their details.

Last time, around 15,000 doctors participated in the election. This highlighted a low level of engagement among the registered medical practitioners. The process to verify the current address of the doctors will continue till January 6, 2025.

Also Read: 837 Seats Available For MP Medical Council FMG Clinical Clerkship, Internship Counselling, check Details

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Nursing college scam: MP High Court orders removal of Nursing Council chairman, registrar

Bhopal: Observing that the presence of questionable officers could lead to evidence tampering, the Madhya Pradesh High Court recently ordered the removal of MP Nursing Registration Council (MPNRC) Chairman and Registrar, from their posts for their alleged involvement in nursing college scam. 

Medical Dialogues had reported last year how the Madhya Pradesh Nursing Council, Bhopal had cancelled the affiliation of 19 nursing colleges for several allegations of irregularities including the appointment of fake teachers.

Last year, the CBI submitted its report on the alleged Nursing Colleges scam case to the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Submitting the report, CBI mentioned that 50 per cent of the colleges were found to be operating fraudulently. Further, the report also contained information about 140 out of 271 Nursing Colleges in the State. 

Also read- MP nursing college scam: CBI teams allegedly took bribes of Rs 2-10 lakh from each institute

“We cannot allow such officers who were involved in the earlier process of granting recognition to hold such important posts in as much as there is every likelihood that such officers would, not only try to save their skin but also of other functionaries, try to tamper with the material. We despise such effort and find that it is nothing but an attempt to foil the endeavours made by the court for obviating the irregularities and illegalities in the process of granting recognition,” observed the division bench of Justice Sanjay Dwivedi and Justice A K Paliwal as reported by TOI. 

This comes after advocate Vishal Baghel, the petitioner in this case filed two applications before the court alleging that Chand used to be a member of an inspection committee that submitted a false report, on the basis of which, one R.K.S. Nursing College in Bhopal was granted recognition, although it was later cancelled. 

Similarly, he said that Jiten Chandra Shukla was the director of MPNRC when several irregularities were committed in granting recognition to the nursing colleges. Therefore, he sought the removal of these two individuals from the key positions in MPNRC as they could tamper evidence against the erring officers, who had committed illegality.

When the court directed the state government orally to remove these duo from their positions, it also asked why such persons were placed in important posts of registrar and chairman, MPNRC. In response, the respondents showed a copy of an order dated Dec 2, 2024, issued by the directorate of medical education, wherein, a committee consisting of three members had been constituted to inspect and submit a report after analysing the complaints made against Anita Chand and inspecting the nursing colleges.

Dissatisfied with the constitution of the committee, the bench directed the Principal Secretary of the Public Health and Medical Education to remove Chand from the post of registrar and Shukla from the post of MPNRC chairman, and to instead “appoint some responsible officers, having unblemished service career, in their place”.

“In view of the above, we direct the principal secretary of public health and medical education to forthwith remove Anita Chand from the post of registrar and Dr Jiten Chandra Shukla from the post of chairman of MPNRC and instead appoint some responsible officers, having unblemished service career, in their place. The chief secretary is also directed to take cognizance in the matter and ensure compliance of the order of this court. The office of advocate general is directed to immediately communicate a copy of this order to the principal secretary, public health & medical education and to the chief secretary for compliance,” said the bench. 

Also read- MP Nursing College Affiliation Scam: HC Allows Affected Students to Appear in Exams

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