GMC Jammu withdraws Staff Alert Directive amid Cross-border tensions

Srinagar: The Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) Jammu has officially withdrawn a circular it issued on April 25, 2025, which had instructed hospital staff to remain on high alert due to reported cross-border tensions in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. 

The earlier circular, issued by the Medical Superintendent of GMCH Jammu, had directed all staff to remain on high alert and ensure complete preparedness to meet any exigencies that may arise at any time. These measures included keeping essential medicines and critical equipment ready, limiting unnecessary leave, and ensuring uninterrupted patient care.

Also read- Unauthorised Extensions: JnK Govt orders Repatriation of Overstaying Doctors

The circular issued by the medical superintendent of GMCH Jammu on April 25 mentioned, “The Store Officer and Store Keepers, GMCH are requested to keep all essential supplies, emergency medicines, and critical equipment in a state of readiness for immediate use to meet any exigency. All hospital staff are advised to restrict unnecessary holidays and are directed to ensure their presence within the hospital premises during duty hours to maintain uninterrupted and effective patient care. A 24×7 Control Room has been established to coordinate all emergency responses. The control room will function round the clock and may be contacted for any urgent requirement/issues.”

However, yesterday, the Principal and Dean of GMC Jammu, Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, issued another directive formally withdrawing the April 25 circular without explaining the decision. 

“The circular issued by Medical Superintendent GMCH Jammu vide endorsement number GMCH/2025/812 dated 25.4.2025 is withdrawn ab-initio with immediate effect,” reads the latest circular. 

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that a brutal act of terrorism in Pahalgam, which left the nation in mourning and rage, tore a family’s world apart. A Bengaluru-based paediatrician’s husband, a father, a simple man on a family vacation, was mercilessly shot even after he begged for his life. Not for himself, but for his three-year-old son.

But his cries were unheard, and he was lying on the ground, bleeding with bullet holes in his head and body after being shot for three minutes non-stop. In an instant, a child was orphaned, a wife was shattered, and a peaceful holiday turned into a lifelong nightmare.

The deceased man was Bharath Bhushan, a 41-year-old former software professional from Bengaluru, who was mercilessly shot dead by terrorists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on Tuesday in front of his wife, Dr Sujatha, a paediatrician at M.S. Ramaiah Medical College and Hospital and their three-year-old son.

Also read- Pahalgam Terror Attack: Paediatrician’s husband shot dead after revealing Name, Religion

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‘Zombie’ skin cells may be harmful or helpful, depending on their shapes

Senescent skin cells, often referred to as zombie cells because they have outlived their usefulness without ever quite dying, have existed in the human body as a seeming paradox, causing inflammation and promoting diseases while also helping the immune system to heal wounds.

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What to know about processed and ultra-processed food

Take a stroll down the middle aisles of any American grocery store, and you’ll be surrounded by rows of brightly colored packaged macaroni and cheese, instant soups and chips in all forms and flavors—all with long ingredient lists. These and other familiar favorites offer consumers a convenient, tasty and often affordable meal or snack.

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Medical debt tied to higher likelihood of forgone mental health care

More than one in seven adults reported carrying medical debt in 2023, and of these, one in three forwent mental health care in the subsequent year, according to a research letter published online April 18 in JAMA Health Forum.

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Survey reveals women may be experiencing perimenopause in their 40s

Six in 10 women believe they will hit menopause in their 40s, according to survey results released April 8 by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.

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US Preventive Services Task Force recommends counseling to prevent perinatal depression

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends counseling for women at increased risk for perinatal depression (PND). This recommendation forms the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online April 22.

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Punjab set to recruit 1000 Medical Officers

Chandigarh: In a major boost to the state’s healthcare infrastructure, the Punjab Government has decided to recruit 1,000 Medical Officers (MBBS). The decision was revealed during a meeting held between Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare Kumar Rahul, Director Health Services Dr. Hitinder Kaur, Director PHSC Dr. Anil Goyal, and representatives of the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA).

Also Read:Punjab to deploy security guards at all Govt Hospitals, says PCMSA

Talking to Medical Dialogues, Dr. Akhil Sarin, President of PCMSA, stated, “Notably, this is the largest round of recruitment of medical officers held over the last few decades. PCMSA firmly believes that this move will significantly strengthen the general emergency and specialist services alike at various public healthcare facilities of the state.” “It also showcases the persistent positive engagements between the government and PCMSA over the last couple of years on the issue of regular and time-bound recruitment of Medical Officers, effectively aimed at bolstering the public healthcare services of the state,” he added.

The association was briefed on several key developments following comprehensive discussions among Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, and Kumar Rahul. As part of efforts to strengthen security at health institutions, the Finance Department has approved the hiring of security guards through PESCO, an ex-servicemen organisation. Security personnel will be deployed round the clock at all District Hospitals, Sub-Divisional Hospitals, and Community Health Centres offering 24×7 medicolegal services. Morning-hour security coverage will be ensured at the remaining CHCs and Employees’ State Insurance hospitals. The proposal is expected to be formally sent to the Finance Department within the next few days, with approval likely in the next two to three weeks. 

Also Read:Over 2500 Punjab Govt doctors to resume strike on January 20 over unmet demands

PCMSA has praised the government’s proactive response to the long-pending security concerns and expressed hope that adequate arrangements will be in place within a few weeks. In addition to recruitment and security measures, several administrative reforms were discussed. These include a speaking order on the rationalisation of postgraduate allowance for pre-2016 batches, early clearance of pending Modified Assured Career Progressions (MACPs), issuance of MACP letters for batches from 2020–21 onwards, and finalisation of the postgraduate policy by the end of the month. The letter regarding leave rules for Senior Medical Officers and above ranks has also been reverted, offering further relief to senior personnel.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that 2,500 doctors in the state started their agitation on January 20th, urging the government to fulfill its time-bound commitments. This came after talks between the finance department and the PCMSA, but no significant outcomes were achieved. Finally, with the new recruitment, PCMSA acknowledged these initiatives as crucial steps toward strengthening the healthcare delivery system.

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Aurobindo Pharma arm CuraTeQ Biologics gets positive opinion for breast cancer drug Dazublys from EMA

Hyderabad: CuraTeQ Biologics s.r.o., a wholly owned step-down subsidiary of Aurobindo Pharma Limited, has announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion recommending marketing authorisation of Dazublys (150
mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion), its trastuzumab biosimilar, for the treatment of
HER2-positive metastatic and early breast cancers.


Trastuzumab specifically binds and inhibits the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)
protein, which is over-expressed on certain types of solid cancers such as breast and gastric
cancer. By binding to the extracellular domain of HER2, trastuzumab disrupts its ability to signal,
leading to cell cycle arrest, reduced tumor growth, and potentially immune system activation to
destroy cancer cells.

Commenting on the update, Dr. Satakarni Makkapati, Director of Aurobindo Pharma and CEO Biologics,
Vaccines and Peptides stated, “The CHMP’s positive opinion is based on demonstrating comprehensive
analytical similarity and clinically no meaningful differences between Dazublys and the reference biologic
product Herceptin in terms of pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), efficacy, safety, and
immunogenicity. Upon European Commission approval that is expected in July, Dazublys will be available
for use across EU member states. This marks our third biosimilar to receive CHMP’s endorsement and the
fourth overall in the EU, alongside the approval of Bevqolva (a bevacizumab biosimilar) by the MHRA in
November 2024. Biosimilars are playing an important role in improving cancer care, and we remain
committed to expanding our biosimilars portfolio to address the unmet needs of patients.”

Aurobindo Pharma’s Vice Chairman and Managing Director Mr. Nithyananda Reddy said, “The CHMP’s
positive opinion of a third biosimilar from our portfolio in a five-month time period underscores our
extensive efforts in building biosimilars as one of the core businesses at Aurobindo. By 2030, we are
committed to launching at least 10 biosimilars across oncology and immunology therapy segments,
furthering our mission to serve patients with high-quality, cost-effective therapies.”

CuraTeQ Biologics Private Limited, a subsidiary of Aurobindo Pharma Limited, is a global
biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Hyderabad, India. The company is focused on developing biosimilars for the treatment of various cancers
and autoimmune diseases. CuraTeQ’s pipeline consists of fourteen biosimilars, primarily targeting the
immunology and oncology segments. It has end-to-end capabilities in producing a full range of products
from bulk drug substance to fill-finish and packaged drug products.

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Bengaluru Doctor accused of throwing stray dog to death from third floor

Bengaluru: A Bengaluru-based doctor has been booked for animal cruelty after allegedly killing a stray dog by throwing it from the third floor of his apartment building in Adugodi on April 22.  

The police have registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by Ayush Bhattacharjee, a student and resident of the apartment complex. The doctor has been charged under Section 325 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to mischief committed by killing, poisoning, or rendering an animal useless.

According to the news reports, the doctor, a neurosurgeon, is a resident of Brindavan apartment at Lakkasandra and was reportedly unhappy with the presence of a stray dog named Scooby, which had been taken in and cared for by other residents. The incident allegedly occurred in February 2025, when the doctor is accused of throwing the dog from the third floor of the building. 

The complainant noticed the dog bleeding and writhing in pain and took it to a hospital for treatment. The dog had sustained an injury to the spinal cord and was under treatment for two months. After recovery, the dog was brought back to the apartment and placed under the residents’ care.

However, on April 20, a disturbing incident occurred when the residents heard a loud sound. Upon checking, they found that the dog had fallen onto a car parked on the roadside, damaging its windshield. The car owner subsequently filed a complaint against the doctor for the damage to his property.

Also Read: Amritsar based doctor leaves pet dogs home alone for 6 months without food, booked

As per the recent media reports by The Hindu, some residents of the apartment allegedly noticed Dr. Ballal going inside his apartment and slamming the door shut. Some residents went to question him while others rushed the dog to a hospital, where the animal succumbed to its injuries.

Further investigation into the doctor’s background revealed a potentially alarming pattern. In 2022, while pursuing his PG in surgery in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, the doctor was allegedly involved in the death of another stray dog. The incident occurred on August 7, 2022, and was brought to the attention of the police by an NGO, People for Animals, after CCTV footage showed Dr. Ballal grabbing a dog by the neck.

Also Read: Viral Video: Jodhpur Plastic Surgeon booked for dragging dog along road

According to TNIE, the Madhya Pradesh High Court, however, quashed the FIR against him on April 26, 2024, on the grounds that the FIR was filed only on the basis of apprehension and “not on the basis of any concrete evidence”.

The Adugodi police have registered an FIR and stated that they will summon the doctor for questioning.

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Orissa HC imposes Rs 10,000 fine on doctor for false claim of Padma Shri award

Cuttack: Observing that the writ petition unnecessarily wasted valuable time of the court, the Orissa High Court dismissed a petition filed by a doctor, also a writer who claimed that he was unfairly denied the country’s fourth highest civilian honour- Padma Shri Award in the field of literature and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 for wasting the court’s time. 

The petitioner claimed that another person with the same name from Dhenkanal district falsely claimed to be the Padmashri Awardee, which was meant to be his award, as his name was included in the Padma Shri awardee list declared on January 25, 2023. 

He told the court that he had received a phone call from the Ministry of Home Affairs informing him about his selection for the award. He also said he had written 29 books in Odia and deserved the recognition, while the other person, who is a journalist, had not written any books.

Also read- Padma Awards in Medicine 2025: Here are this year’s Padma Vibhusan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri recipients

However, the court found that Mishra failed to provide any proof showing he was selected for the award. Despite being given time, he could not submit any official documents or confirmation.

Single bench of Justice S.K. Panigrahi observed, “Considering the facts and submissions made, this Court is of the view that the Petitioner has approached this Court on the basis of some phone calls from somebody stating that he is the recipient of the “Padmashri Award” for the year 2023 in the field of Literature. Despite a few adjournments were granted to the Petitioner to place on record all the documents which embolden his claim, the Petitioner has failed to submit any document where his name has been figured as a “Padmashri Awardee”. This shows that the Petitioner has unnecessarily created controversy and also demeaned the prestige of the award and tried to malign the image of the Opposite Party No.2.” 

Dismissing the petition, the court imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the petitioner and asked him to pay the amount to the Orissa High Court Bar Association, Cuttack within a period of 10 days. The money will be used for purchasing books by the Bar.

“In such view of the matter, this Court deems it appropriate to impose a cost of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand Only) on the Petitioner for unnecessarily wasting the valuable time of this Court. The same shall be paid to the Orissa High Court Bar Association, Cuttack for purchasing of books within a period of ten days from today,” concluded the court. 

To view the official order, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/orissa-high-court-order-284435.pdf

Also read- Renowned Gynaecologist, AIIMS Former HOD, Dr Neerja Bhatla conferred with Padma Shri

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