TN Super Speciality seat surrender matter raised in Parliament- MoS Health clarifies

New Delhi: The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has the responsibility to conduct counselling for 100% seats of super-speciality courses across the country, the Union Minister of State for Health, Smt Anupriya Patel, informed the Lok Sabha.

MoS Health clarified that the Supreme Court has granted a 50% reservation for the in-service candidates in Tamil Nadu and the counselling for the AIQ seats by MCC and in-service seats by the SSC, Tamil Nadu, is carried out in tandem.

The Minister provided this clarification while responding to the queries raised by Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, who sought to know whether the Government is aware that 145 of the 215 super speciality seats reserved for in-service candidates under the Tamil Nadu State quota were prematurely surrendered to the All India Quota without conducting the mandatory second round of State counselling. 

She further sought to know the reasons for not approving or notifying the Round 2 counselling schedule for Tamil Nadu despite timely requests from the State government, whether this action violated the Supreme Court’s directions regarding the 50% reservation for in-service doctors in super speciality courses. She also asked the Ministry whether the Government is likely to consider restoring the surrendered seats and allow Round-2 counselling in Tamil Nadu, and the steps being taken by the Government to avoid such procedural lapses in future and ensure fair and consistent implementation of the Super Speciality counselling process across all States.

Also Read: TN Doctors Upset with Health Dept’s Decision of Withholding In-Service Quota in Certain Specialties

Responding to these queries, the Minister informed that the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has been entrusted with the responsibilty to conduct counselling for 100% seats of Super Specialty (SS) courses across the country

“In accordance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s order dated 16th March 2022 in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 53 of 2022 titled as N. Karthikeyan & Ors. vs. State of Tamil Nadu & Ors., a 50% reservation for in-service candidates has been granted in the state of Tamil Nadu. The State Selection Committee (SSC) of Tamil Nadu is responsible for conducting counselling for these reserved seats,” further informed the Minister.

“Counselling for All India Quota (AIQ) seats by MCC and in-service seats by the SSC, Tamil Nadu is carried out in tandem, with each round of All India counselling immediately followed by the respective round of in-service counselling,” the Minister added.

Minister Patel further informed that during SS Counselling 2024, after the completion of Round-1 of in-service counselling, the SSC, Tamil Nadu surrendered the unfilled in-service seats to MCC.

“These seats were merged into the AIQ seat matrix for Round-2. After completion of Round-2 of All India counselling, the remaining in-service seats were returned to the State to proceed with Round-2 of inservice counselling. Further, data of candidates made eligible after percentile reduction was also forwarded to the State for conducting stray round of in-service seats,” informed the Minister.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that last year TN Health Department had announced that it would henceforth decide regarding the number of seats to be reserved for them on a year-on-year basis. Issuing a G.O. the State Health Department had mentioned that the number of seats reserved in Postgraduate (MD/MS) admissions for the in-service candidates will be decided dynamically on a year-on-year basis.

The Health Department further stated in the order that for the academic year 2024-2025, the service reservation of PG seats for specialities other than General Medicine, General Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Anaesthesiology, Chest Medicine, Radiology, Community Medicine and Forensic Medicine will be kept in abeyance for a year.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu urges Centre for permission to retain super speciality Seats for In-Service Doctors

Powered by WPeMatico

JIPMER launches Capacity Building Unit under Mission Karmayogi Initiative

Puducherry: The Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER) Puducherry has officially joined the Government of India’s flagship initiative – Mission Karmayogi, by establishing its own Capacity Building Unit (CBU). 

This step aligns with the directives of the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India.

Dr Stuti Verma, Consultant, Capacity Building, Training Division, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, has guided and mentored JIPMER in establishing the JIPMER CBC division and in her note, she said that Mission Karmayogi aims to transform the capacity and mindset of public servants by promoting a citizen-centric, accountable, and service-oriented workforce rooted in Indian values. Dr. Stuti added that CBC at its core, envisions a shift from a rule-based to a role-based approach in training and performance, ensuring that public service delivery becomes more efficient, effective, and empathetic.

Also Read:Over 40 percent faculty posts vacant in AIIMS, 20 percent in JIPMER, 17 percent in PGI: Health Minister in Parliament

Dr. Vir Singh Negi, Director, JIPMER, said that the JIPMER CBU has been set up with the vision to instill a culture of excellence and selfless service (Seva Bhav) among its employees. It is working towards fostering a professional environment where continuous learning, personal development, and leadership are integral. Training initiatives under the CBU are designed to enhance not only professional competence but also personal well-being, including stress management and innovative, solution-driven thinking.

As part of this initiative, Mr. S. Rangabashiam, Deputy Director (Administration), Dr. Kusa Kumar Shaha, Dean (Karaikal), and Dr. Madhusudhanan Ponnusamy, Associate Dean (Academic), recently completed an intensive 5-day Lead Trainer Program conducted by the Capacity Building Commission in Delhi NCR. Following this, they successfully organized a 3-day training session at JIPMER to prepare 32 Master Trainers (Karmayogi Facilitators).

These Master Trainers will now lead a series of one-day Rashtriya Karmayogi programs across JIPMER’s three campuses, with the aim of reaching and empowering all employees to embrace the ethos of Mission Karmayogi — transforming from Karmachari (traditional employee) to Karmayogi (purpose-driven professional).

Dr. Vir Singh Negi, Director, JIPMER, added saying that through the structured implementation of Mission Karmayogi, JIPMER seeks to further augment its institutional ethos of professionalism, empathy, and accountability.

The capacity-building initiatives are envisioned to enhance service delivery by fostering a workforce that not only upholds clinical excellence but also demonstrates a high degree of sensitivity and responsiveness in patient care. This forward-looking approach is expected to reinforce JIPMER’s long-standing commitment to delivering holistic, patient-centered healthcare of the highest standards.

Also Read:JIPMER panel confirms Junior doctors’ harassment by HoD General Medicine, recommends action

Powered by WPeMatico

Mounjaro, Wegovy sales in India double on month in July

Hyderabad: Sales of weight-loss drugs Wegovy by Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk and Mounjaro by U.S.-based Eli Lilly doubled in India in July from a month earlier, according to data from research firm Pharmarack.

The surge reflects rapidly growing demand for these blockbuster anti-obesity treatments in the world’s most populous country,.

Wegovy, which was launched locally in June, saw its sales more than double to 5,000 units or 70 million rupees ($798,230) in July, the data showed.

Mounjaro sales also doubled month-on-month to 157,000 units or 470 million rupees, Reuters reported.
“Though Wegovy has a strong prescriber base because of Rybelsus, substantial promotion may be needed to reach the Mounjaro patient base for the injectable market,” Pharmarack’s Vice President (Commercial) Sheetal Sapale said in a statement.
In India, Novo has been selling oral semaglutide pills under the brand name Rybelsus since 2022 for type 2 diabetes.
Mounjaro’s sales have soared 15 times since March, when the drug was launched in India.

Powered by WPeMatico

Eli Lilly Gets CDSCO Panel Nod for Ixekizumab Safety Label Update

New Delhi: Eli Lilly and Company (India) Pvt Ltd has secured regulatory clearance from the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for updating the package insert of its drug Ixekizumab Solution for Injection 80 mg/mL, in both pre-filled autoinjector and pre-filled syringe formats.

The approval pertains to Package Insert Version 2 dated November 2024, incorporating changes in the sections of Special Warnings and Precautions for Use, Undesirable Effects, Post-Marketing Experience, and Patient Counselling Information. These updates are aligned with the USFDA package insert update approval dated 20th August 2024.

The matter was reviewed during the SEC (Dermatology & Allergy) meeting held on 23rd July 2025 at CDSCO headquarters, New Delhi. After detailed deliberation, the committee “recommended for approval of updated package insert Version 2 dated November 2024 of the said drug product for the proposed changes.”

Ixekizumab, a monoclonal antibody, works by selectively binding to interleukin-17A (IL-17A), a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The drug is indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in patients who may benefit from phototherapy or systemic therapy, and for active psoriatic arthritis, either alone or in combination with other disease-modifying agents such as methotrexate.

Also Read: Pfizer Gets Expert Panel Nod to Update Etanercept Pre-Filled Injection Label

Powered by WPeMatico

CDSCO Panel Approves New Indications for Novo Nordisk’s Semaglutide, Mandates PMS Study

New Delhi: Recommending to conduct post marketing surveillance (PMS) study in India, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) functional under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has granted approval to the drug major Novo Nordisk India for the additional indication of the drug Semaglutide Injection 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg.

The additional indications stated that Semaglutide injection is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus:

• To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease.

• To reduce the risk of sustained eGFR decline, end-stage kidney disease, and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease.

This came after the drug maker Novo Nordisk India presented the proposal for the grant of approval of additional indications of the drug Semaglutide Injection 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg based on the data generated from Phase III Global Clinical Trials, where India was part of the study.

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analog used to manage type 2 diabetes along with lifestyle changes, such as dietary restrictions and increased physical activity. Semaglutide was developed by Novo Nordisk and approved by the FDA for subcutaneous injection in December 2017.

Also Read:Semaglutide and Liraglutide linked to Elevated Risk of Optic Nerve Damage in Seniors With Type 2 Diabetes: JAMA

Semaglutide works by binding to and activating the GLP-1 receptor, thereby stimulating insulin secretion and reducing blood glucose. GLP-1 is a physiological hormone that promotes glycemic control via several different mechanisms, including insulin secretion, slowing gastric emptying, and reducing postprandial glucagon secretion. The homeostasis of glucose is dependent on hormones such as insulin and amylin, which are secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas.

Semaglutide is 94% similar to human GLP-1. Analogs of this hormone, such as semaglutide, stimulate the synthesis of insulin by stimulating pancreatic islet cells and reducing glucagon secretion. They directly bind with selectivity to the GLP-1 receptor, causing various beneficial downstream effects that reduce blood glucose in a glucose-dependent fashion.

At the recent SEC meeting for endocrinology and metabolism, the expert panel reviewed the proposal presented by drug maker Novo Nordisk for the grant of approval of additional indications of the drug Semaglutide Injection 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg.

The committee noted that the proposed indication is approved in the USA and the EU.

After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended the grant of approval for the proposed additional indication with a condition to conduct a post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study in India.

In view of the above, the expert panel suggested that the firm shall submit the India-specific PMS protocol to CDSCO within 03 months of the grant of permission for this additional indication.

Also Read:Novo Nordisk Appoints Mike Doustdar as New CEO Amid Executive Reshuffle

Powered by WPeMatico

ESIC Medical College Hospital Chennai unveils Rs 4.03 crore Cath Lab facility

Chennai: ESIC Medical College and Hospital, KK Nagar, Chennai, marked a significant milestone in its journey towards enhanced healthcare delivery with the inauguration of the Cath Lab services. 

This facility is set to significantly improve cardiac diagnostic and interventional services for ESI beneficiaries in the region.

The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Shri Ashok Kumar Singh, Director General, ESIC, in the esteemed presence of Ms. T.L. Yaden, Finance Commissioner, ESIC, and Dr. Deepika Govil, Medical Commissioner (Medical Education/Services), Dr Kamlesh Harish, Medical Commissioner (Medical Administration), Dr. Ashit Mullick, Medical Commissioner (AYUSH & South Zone), and Dr Rachita Biswas, Medical Commissioner (Procurement).

The newly commissioned Cath Lab is procured at a cost of Rs. 4.03 crores and fulfilling the ‘Make in India’ initiatives. The Cath Lab is having 3 years of Warranty and 7 years of CMC thereafter. Marking a promising beginning, two successful Coronary Angiography (CAG) procedures were conducted immediately after the inauguration, showcasing the readiness and operational efficiency of the newly commissioned Cath lab facility.

Also Read:All 200-bed ESIC Hospitals to be upgraded with Medical Colleges: Dr Mansukh Mandaviya

During the inauguration, a presentation on the Services at ESIC Medical College and Hospital, KK Nagar, Chennai was done by Dr. Kalidas Dattatraya Chavan, Dean followed by live streaming of the new Cath Lab.

The Director General, ESIC and all dignitaries congratulated the team of ESIC Medical College and Hospital KK Nagar Chennai for the endeavour. The ceremony was attended by the Heads of the departments and Faculty from Broad specialties and Super specialties along with Officials and the Nursing officers of ESIC Medical College and Hospital Chennai.

The state-of-the-art facility is expected to strengthen the hospital’s capacity to perform advanced cardiac procedures, reducing dependency on external referrals and offering timely care to insured persons and their families. This development reaffirms ESIC’s unwavering commitment to modernizing its medical facilities and delivering world-class healthcare to its beneficiaries.

The successful implementation of the Cath Lab project stands as a testament to the continuous efforts of the ESIC Medical College & Hospital KK Nagar Chennai to move towards a comprehensive health care delivery to ESI beneficiaries in a stakeholder friendly manner.

Also Read:Dr Mansukh Mandaviya to Inaugurate 220-bed ESIC Hospital in Ranchi

Powered by WPeMatico

Intas Pharma Gets Expert Panel Nod For PMS Data On Tofacitinib Ointment In Atopic Dermatitis

New Delhi: Intas Pharma has received approval from the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for the results of its Post-Marketing Surveillance (PMS) study on Tofacitinib 2% w/w ointment in adult patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, including those experiencing flare-ups.

The update was discussed during the SEC’s 7th meeting held on 23rd July 2025 at the CDSCO headquarters in New Delhi. The firm presented the report of an active PMS study, which was conducted to assess the real-world effectiveness and safety of the topical Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor formulation.

The PMS study focused on adult patients diagnosed with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, particularly those suffering from flare-ups of the condition. The firm submitted its findings before the committee for evaluation, which included real-world data collected under post-marketing conditions.

After a comprehensive review and detailed deliberation, the committee acknowledged the results submitted by the company and recommended acceptance of the data presented in the PMS study.

Tofacitinib, a JAK inhibitor, is more commonly used in oral form for autoimmune conditions. However, its topical formulation for dermatological use in atopic dermatitis represents a growing area of interest in India, especially for patients seeking localized and non-systemic treatment options.

The committee’s acceptance of the PMS study results reflects regulatory confidence in the product’s post-marketing safety and real-world efficacy in the Indian population. This could pave the way for broader clinical adoption of Tofacitinib 2% ointment as a therapeutic option in dermatology.

“After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended to accept the results of active PMS study presented by the firm.”

Also Read: Health Ministry Notifies Cosmetics Rules 2025, Empowers States To Suspend Licences

Powered by WPeMatico

CM Siddaramaiah pays surprise visit to Victoria Hospital, calls for expansion

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pays a surprise visit to the government-run Victoria Hospital on Wednesday. He stressed the urgent need to expand the capacity of the hospital, amid the growing number of patients arriving from across the country.

He paid a surprise visit to the hospital along with Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil after his tour to Koppal and Raichur was cancelled due to bad weather.

The CM interacted with the patients, including a few from Bihar. 

“People from across the country come to Victoria Hospital. There is overcrowding. So there is a need to increase its capacity,” Siddaramaiah told reporters, news agency PTI reported.

The CM said that he has asked the medical team to treat patients with compassion.

Also Read: Govt Organ Transplant and Retrieval Centre to come up in Bengaluru

“Since people are getting free treatment here, there will be too much pressure on the doctors. I have told them to be patient,” Siddaramaiah said.

He further said that he had given strict instructions that no one should take even a rupee from patients.

“I noticed that liver transplant in private hospitals costs about Rs 40 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, but here it is done free of cost. The demand is to increase the capacity,” Siddaramaiah said.

According to the CM, presently, there are 120 beds available in the gastroenterology department. There is a proposal to make it a 300-bed facility, which the government will consider, he added.

Siddaramaiah said during his interaction, patients told him that the doctors took good care of them and proper food was given to them.

When reporters highlighted that private ambulance drivers are running a racket here since government ambulances are not available, Siddaramaiah said by dailing 108, people can avail the government service.

The 108 services will be restarted, Minister Patil said, without elaborating further.

The CM said he also visited the Vani Vilas Hospital. More than 40 deliveries take place daily, he said.

Also Read:Karnataka Plans Organ Transplant Centres in 22 Medical Colleges

Powered by WPeMatico

Genomics-guided tool helps guide immunotherapy choices for advanced kidney cancers

A study led by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center helps explain why a rare and hyper-aggressive subtype of kidney cancer is susceptible to immunotherapy—information that helped researchers create a first-of-its-kind tool to guide treatment decisions for advanced kidney cancers.

Powered by WPeMatico

Walking Faster and Farther Reduces CV Risk among People with High Blood Pressure: Study

Analysis of over 36,000 people with high blood pressure has shown that taking more steps, even below the recommended daily target of 10,000 steps, and walking faster, is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of major problems of the heart and blood vessels.

The study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, found that compared to a daily step count of 2,300 steps, every extra 1,000 steps was linked to a 17% reduction in the risk of developing a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), up to 10,000 steps. Additional steps above 10,000 were associated with a lower risk of stroke.

Approximately 1.28 billion people worldwide are living with high blood pressure, and it places them at increased risk of heart disease (49% increase), stroke (62% increase) and heart failure (77-89% increase). Until now, it has been unclear how much people with high blood pressure need to increase their physical activity in order to see a reduction in their risk of MACE.

Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, Director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub at the University of Sydney, Australia, who supervised the study, said: “This study is one of the first to demonstrate a dose-response relationship between daily step count and major problems of the heart and blood vessels. In a nutshell, we found that, if you live with high blood pressure, the more you walk with greater intensity, the lower your risk for future serious cardiovascular events.

“These findings support the message that any amount of physical activity is beneficial, even below the widely recommended daily target of 10,000 steps.”

The study analysed data obtained from 32,192 people who had enrolled in a sub-study of the UK Biobank study. They had been diagnosed with high blood pressure and agreed to wear an accelerometer on their wrist for seven consecutive days to measure how far and how fast they walked. Data from the accelerometers was collected between 2013 and 2015. The average age was 64 and the participants were followed up for nearly eight years, providing the researchers with data for 283,001 person-years. During this time 1,935 cases of heart problems or stroke occurred.

In addition to a 17% reduction in overall risk for every extra 1,000 steps a day, the researchers found a 22% reduction in heart failure, 9% reduction in risk of heart attack, and 24% reduction in risk of stroke. This means that every increase of 1,000 steps a day was associated with:

• an average reduction in the absolute risk of MACE of 31.5 events per 10,000 person-years

• an average reduction in the absolute risk of 7.2 heart failure events per 10,000 person-years

• an average reduction in the absolute risk of 9.9 myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) per 10,000 person-years

• an average reduction in the absolute risk of 10.4 strokes per 10,000 person-years.

The average (mean) intensity of the 30 minutes of fastest walking per day was 80 steps a minute and this was associated with a 30% reduced risk of MACE. There was no evidence of harm in people whose 30 minutes of fastest walking or running was over 130 steps a minute. [2]

The researchers found similar results when they looked at 37,350 people without high blood pressure. Every 1,000-step increase in daily step count led to an average lower risk of MACE, heart failure, myocardial infarctions and stroke of 20.2%, 23.2%, 17.9%, and 24.6%, respectively.

Prof. Stamatakis said: “Our findings offer patients accessible and measurable targets for heart health, even below 10,000 steps daily. Clinicians should promote physical activity as standard care, especially in patients with high blood pressure. Our results can inform new, tailored public health recommendations for these patients. Future recommendations on walking in people with high blood pressure could consider promoting higher stepping intensity.”

Strengths of the study include the large number of patients, the use of accelerometers to provide detailed information on numbers of steps and speed, and the use of data from national records in England, Wales and Scotland on deaths and causes of death.

Limitations include the fact that physical activity was measured only when people first joined the study and did not include any subsequent changes in behaviour. In addition, the researchers point out that their findings can show only that there is an association between walking further and faster and better health outcomes, not that it causes these better outcomes. However, they conducted extensive analyses to minimise the risk of what is called ‘reverse causation’ (in which, in this case, health problems could be causing both a reduction in physical activity and an increase in heart disease events). Most UK Biobank participants are White, are less likely to be obese, to smoke or drink alcohol, and to be better educated, and so they may not be representative of the general UK population.

Reference:

Sonia Wing Mei Cheng, Prospective associations of daily step count and stepping intensity with overall and type-specific major adverse cardiovascular events in people with hypertension, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf441.

Powered by WPeMatico