Put a Stop to Seat Leaving Bond Penalty: Maharastra Resident Doctors Urge NMC

Mumbai: Referring to the National Medical Commission’s statistics regarding the number of medical students who committed suicide and dropped out of institutes in the last five years, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has urged the Commission to put a stop to Seat Leaving Bond penalty in any way or form.

According to NMC data, 153 MBBS and 1120 doctors pursuing PG medical courses dropped out of their institutes in the last five years. Apart from the dropouts, at least 122 medical students, 64 in MBBS and 58 in post-graduate courses died by suicide between 2018 – 2023.

Central MARD opined that these statistics are “extremely alarming considering the fact that doctors are National asset and their well-being is of paramount to the Nation’s health profile.”

The association claimed that several doctors resorted to suicide because of the exbortitant and unreasonable seat leaving bond penalty. Writing to the NMC Chairman, the association added, “Central MARD was the first Resident doctors Association in the Nation who had highlighted the harmful impact of seat leaving bond penalty on young Doctor’s minds. After conducting our research, we found out that there were innumerable instances where doctors resorted to suicide due to the unreasonable and exorbitant bond penalty that exists in varying magnitude and forms throughout the Nation.”

Also Read: 64 MBBS, 58 PG Medicos Committed Suicide in Last Five Years, reveals NMC Data

As per the existing rules, the resident doctors in Maharashtra are currently required to pay a penalty of Rs 20 lakh if they leave their seats. Due to the heavy penalty, the doctors are forced to continue their work as resident doctors even if it raises their mental health concerns.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that last year, the Maharashtra DMER was planning to ask the State Government to waive the penalty after it took note of the mental health concerns among post-graduate medical students.

The data from the Maharashtra State Medical Education Department revealed that nationally, Maharashtra ranked sixth with 85 postgraduate medical students dropping out in the past five years. Apart from this, the State also recorded 11 suicides among the PG medical students in the same period. This is the second highest in the country and in this respect, Maharashtra shares the second position with Gujarat.

Previously, the issue concerning the mental health crisis among the resident doctors was raised by the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) as well. The association had approached the Governor of Maharashtra in this regard and pointed out that 15 medical students committed suicide in the State in the last five years and out of them 11 were PG medical students.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, NMC took cognisance of the matter and wrote to the Principal Secretary of Health and Medical Education of all States and Union Territories asking them to review the seat-leaving bond police, and preferably do away with the same.

The Apex Medical Commission issued this direction after the Anti-Ragging Committee of NMC held a meeting on 9th January 2024 to address the mental health concerns of PG medical students and recommended the State/UT to review the seat leaving policy in medical colleges and to do away the same. As an alternative, they recommended that the States may consider debarring the students for admission in their States for the next one year.

In its letter directed to the top medical regulator, MARD acknowledged that the NMC Anti-ragging committee heard their concerns and decided to take necessary action and intervene promptly to resolve the issue. Central MARD further highlighted the latest development where NMC decided to set up a Task Force to review the details of every issue leading to compromised mental health status of resident doctors across the Nation. This Task Force of NMC will submit its report in May.

Lauding the NMC for acknowledging the critical issue of Mental health crisis among resident doctors across the country, the association requested NMC to put a stop to the Seat Leaving Bond penalty in any way or form, highlighting that “…the bond service is not just a draconian rule that is imposed upon young Doctors but it’s also unreasonable and a significant contributor to the Dangerous statistics of countless lives of resident doctors being lost to Suicides.”

“We hope NMC will address this critical issue and work for the betterment of the resident doctors of the country and built a cohesive atmosphere for the next generation of doctors who are in line to serve the future of our Nation,” the association further mentioned in its letter dated 16.03.2024.

Also Read: 122 Suicides, 1270 Drop-Outs in Last 5 Years: NMC Constitutes National Task Force to address mental health concerns of medicos

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Swallowable sensors could pinpoint gut movement problems for patients

Scientists have developed an ingestible capsule dotted with sensors that can detect pressure in a patient’s guts and detect points of failure.

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Rheumatic diseases associated with childbearing problems

A new paper in Rheumatology finds that rheumatic diseases can lead to reproductive problems, though some conditions have more detrimental effects than others.

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Pay Stipend As per NMC Rules: DMER Haryana directs Private Medical Colleges

Rohtak: Taking cognisance of the complaints regarding the payment of stipends to medical students, the Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER) has issued directions to all private medical colleges across the State to pay stipends to their interns and PG medical students as per the National Medical Commission (NMC) rules and also in compliance with the government notifications issued from time to time in this respect.

In this regard, the DMER has asked the principals of all the medical colleges to ensure compliance with these directives. The office of the Director-General has recently sent a letter regarding this to MM College of Medical Sciences, Mullana (Ambala), SGT Medical College and Research Institute, Budhera, Gurugram, Adesh Medical College and Hospital, Shahabad (Kurukshetra), Al-Falah Medical College, Dhouj (Faridabad), NC Medical College, Israna (Panipat), World College of Medical Science, Jhajjar, Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College, Sadopur (Ambala) and Amrita School of Medicine, Faridabad.

This comes after, the DMER received complaints alleging that some of the medical colleges were violating the NMC guidelines and the State Government rules regarding the payment of stipend to the MBBS interns and PG resident doctors, sources informed The Tribune.

Also Read: Revise Stipend as per NMC Rules: Gujarat Resident doctors urge Authorities

One such complaint, which was submitted to the CM Window portal, alleged that three private medical colleges having the affiliation with Pt BD Sharma University of Health Sciences (UHS), Rohtak, were paying only Rs 40,000 per month to its MD/MS students when the State Government was paying almost double.

As per the latest media report by The Tribune, the complainant claimed that as per the guidelines, the monthly stipend paid to the PG resident doctors at government medical colleges is Rs 86,170 for the first year, Rs 88,781 for the second year, and Rs 91,392 for the third year. However, violating the guidelines, the private medical colleges were paying only Rs 40,000 per month.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that recently releasing the final Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (PGMER 2023), which were published in the official Gazette on 29.12.2023, the National Medical Commission (NMC) introduced uniformity in the amount of stipend paid to the PG medicos in a particular State/UT.

The Commission specified that the PG medicos who are pursuing degree, diploma or super-speciality courses should be paid a stipend at par with the stipend being paid to the PG students of Government institutes, in that particular State/UT.

In fact, through a notification dated August 9, 2023, the State Government also clearly stated that all PG students irrespective of specialities of MD/MS course were to be paid stipend on par with the stipend paid by the government to the PG students, the complainant highlighted.

Meanwhile, another complainant highlighted how his daughter was getting only Rs 40,000 as stipend from a private medical college. He mentioned, “Besides the government, the NMC notification dated December 29, 2023, also states that the PG students of all institutes will be paid stipend on a par with the government- run medical colleges in the state concerned but the guidelines are not being followed by the private colleges.”

Commenting on the matter, the Director-General (DMER) Dr. Saket Kumar confirmed that directions have been issued to the medical colleges asking them to pay stipend as per the NMC and the government notifications.

Also Read: Uniform Stipend for all PG Medicos in a particular State, UT: NMC

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Atezolizumab addition to chemotherapy after surgery does not improve survival for triple negative breast cancer: Study

Patients with triple-negative breast cancer do not benefit from the addition of atezolizumab to their post-surgery chemotherapy treatment, according to the results of a large phase 3 clinical trial presented at the 14th European Breast Cancer Conference.

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People who are ‘double jointed’ may be at heightened risk of long COVID, says study

People who are “double-jointed,” a condition formally known as generalized joint hypermobility, may be at heightened risk of long COVID, suggests a case-control study published in the open access journal BMJ Public Health.

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Air quality around planned new schools in England ‘alarmingly poor,’ says study

The air quality around planned new schools in England is “alarmingly poor,” with 86% of sites exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) targets on major air pollutants, reveals an analysis published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

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Aurobindo Pharma bags USFDA nod for Mometasone Furoate Monohydrate Nasal Spray

Hyderabad: Aurobindo Pharma Limited has announced that the Company has received final approval from the US Food & Drug
Administration (USFDA) to manufacture and market Mometasone Furoate Monohydrate Nasal Spray, 50
mcg/spray.

The product is bioequivalent and therapeutically equivalent to the reference listed drug (RLD), Nasonex
Nasal Spray, 50 mcg/spray of Organon LLC.

Mometasone Furoate Monohydrate Nasal Spray, 50 mcg/spray, is indicated for the treatment of the nasal symptoms of seasonal allergic and perennial allergic rhinitis, in adults and paediatric patients 2 years of age and older.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis, known as hay fever, arises from allergens like pollen, causing sneezing, congestion, and itchy eyes during specific seasons. Perennial allergic rhinitis, persistent year-round, is triggered by indoor allergens such as dust mites and pet dander, leading to similar symptoms. Proper management involves medication, allergen avoidance, and sometimes immunotherapy.

Read also: Aurobindo Pharma bags USFDA okay for Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug Deflazacort

The product will be launched in Q1FY25.

The approved product has an estimated market size of US$ 44.5 million for the twelve months ending January
2024, according to IQVIA. Aurobindo now has a total of 507 ANDA approvals (488 Final approvals and 19
tentative approvals) from USFDA.

Read also: Aurobindo Pharma arm announces successful Phase 1 clinical study outcome of their BP11 product

Aurobindo Pharma Limited is an integrated global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Hyderabad, India. The Company develops, manufactures, and commercializes a wide range of generic pharmaceuticals, branded specialty pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients globally in over 150 countries. The company has 25 manufacturing and packaging facilities that are approved by leading regulatory agencies including USFDA, UK MHRA, EDQM, Japan PMDA, WHO, Health Canada, South Africa MCC, Brazil ANVISA. The company’s product portfolio is spread over 7 major therapeutic/product areas encompassing CNS, AntiRetroviral, CVS, Antibiotics, Gastroenterological, Anti-Diabetics and Anti-Allergic, supported by a strong R&D set-up.

Read also: Aurobindo Pharma bags USFDA nod for Fingolimod Capsules for multiple sclerosis

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Ghazibad doctor accuses 42-year-old man of rape charges on pretext of marriage

Ghaziabad: In a shocking incident, Ghaziabad Police have arrested a 42-year-old man on charges of raping a 32-year-old doctor, who runs a clinic in a colony in Teela More police station. 

The accused has been identified as Mintoo alias Sunil (42) who allegedly sexually, financially exploited the doctor and made false promises of marriage to her.

Shalimar Garden ACP Siddhartha Gautam said that Sunil had visited the woman’s clinic two years ago and befriended her. 

The woman in her complaint to the police on Saturday said that Sunil had promised to tie the knot with her. On this pretext, Sunil sexually and financially exploited her, the ACP said, citing the complaint lodged by the woman.

Also Read:Gotri Medical College Intern arrested for allegedly raping 2nd-year MBBS medico

The complaint lodged by the victim states that during this period, Sunil not only subjected her to sexual exploitation but also captured objectionable videos and photos. He allegedly used this to threaten the doctor, coercing her into compliance by threatening to release them on social media platforms.

According to PTI, on Saturday night, Sunil reached her flat and forcibly raped her. When the woman’s daughter opposed his bid, he molested and thrashed her, police said.

Acting on the complaint, police arrested Sunil, the husband of Bhedapur village head of Baghpat district, on Sunday.

A case has been registered against the accused under sections 376 (punishment for rape), 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, as confirmed by the police.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that in a shocking incident, an intern at the GMERS (Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society) Gotri Medical College was arrested for allegedly raping a junior MBBS student at Vadodara Gotri Hospital.  

Also Read:AIIMS Doctor Rape Case: Magistrate to decide on sending to sessions court for trial

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Obstructive sleep apnea closely associated with bladder pain syndrome: Study

A recent study explored a potential connection between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) in women. The findings published in the Sleep and Breathing Journal underline the importance of understanding the interplay between sleep disorders and urological conditions.

This study investigated the frequency of BPS/IC in women diagnosed with OSA when compared to those without OSA. A total of 92 women participated, where 46 were diagnosed with OSA and an equal number serving as the control group. Various assessments including the Berlin Questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI) and Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index (ICPI) were evaluated in all participants.

The results revealed that women with OSA expressed higher scores on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale which indicates increased daytime sleepiness, while there were no significant differences in age and body mass index between the two groups. Also, the measures of BPS/IC symptoms (ICSI) and associated daily life disruptions (ICPI) were significantly increased in the OSA group when compared to controls.

The ICSI symptoms and subsequent problems in daily life caused by the symptoms (ICPI) were experienced at a higher rate in patients with OSA than in the control group by emphasizing the observed relationship between BPS/IC and OSA.

These findings add to the growing body of research which highlights the intricate relationship between sleep disorders and urological conditions. The recent studies suggest potential pathways that involve in neurogenic inflammation and disrupted sleep architecture, while the exact mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear.

Understanding the link between OSA and BPS/IC is pivotal to improve patient care and management strategies. Overall, findings like these pave the way for more targeted interventions and tailored treatment approaches that can ultimately enhance the well-being of individuals with obstructive sleep apnea.

Reference:

Çoşğun, İ. G., & Gürel, A. (2023). Obstructive sleep apnea and bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis in women. In Sleep and Breathing. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-023-02967-1

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