{"id":55431,"date":"2018-12-31T09:21:56","date_gmt":"2018-12-31T03:51:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/?p=55431"},"modified":"2018-12-31T19:55:24","modified_gmt":"2018-12-31T14:25:24","slug":"revisiting-2018-a-roundup-of-top-health-stories-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/revisiting-2018-a-roundup-of-top-health-stories-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Revisiting 2018- A roundup of Top health stories in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Dr KK Aggarwal, Padma Shri Awardee<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2018 has been an eventful year for the country, especially in the medical arena. A lot has happened and it has left all of us in anticipation of the coming year 2019.
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MBBS curriculum revised after more than two decades \u2026 an ambitious target for complete elimination of TB from the country by 2025\u2026 legislations have been passed \u2026. some only by the Lower House\u2026.some have been tabled in the Parliament and are yet to be discussed before they can be enacted \u2026 outbreaks\u2026.natural calamities\u2026.These were but few of the stories that made headlines this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India took a step closer to universal health coverage with the launch of Ayushman Bharat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, perhaps the most momentous of all events this year was the dissolution of autonomy of medical profession and replacement of the Medical Council of India (MCI) with a Board of Governors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at some of the top health stories in India in 2018. These have been listed in no specific order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical Council of India dissolved and so was the autonomy of the medical profession<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Medical Council of India (MCI) was dissolved with immediate effect on Sept. 26, 2018 and superseded by a Board of Governors after the Govt. brought an Ordinance called the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 to set up a committee to run the MCI until Parliament passes the National Medical Commission (NMC).  A 7-member Board of Governors was announced with   Dr. VK Paul as its chairman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New MBBS curriculum<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MBBS curriculum was revised. In November, the new undergraduate curriculum was finalized by the MCI BoG. It will be implemented in the 2019-20 academic session. The \u201cCompetency-based UG Curriculum for the Indian Medical Graduate\u201d focuses on medical ethics, better doctor-patient relationship and outcome-based learning. Another new feature is the introduction of elective subjects. Now students can pick up subjects of choice and dedicated time has been allotted for self-directed learning and co-curricular activities. The new MBBS curriculum has a course called Attitude, Ethics and Communication (AETCOM) which will run across years. Students will be assessed for how they communicate with patients; how they counsel people for organ donations or other challenging procedures; how sensitively do they offer care and obtain consent. All these things will count along with competencies and skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Medical Commission Bill 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government is hoping to pass the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill. The bill is currently pending in Parliament and will be first taken up in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to replace the MCI with a National Medical Commission as a regulatory body for medical education and practice in the country. Among other provisions, the Bill establishes four autonomous Boards under the supervision of the NMC:  Under-Graduate Medical Education Board, Post-Graduate Medical Education Board, Medical Assessment and Rating Board and Ethics and Medical Registration Board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Dec. 29, 2017; it was referred to a Standing Committee on January 4, 2018 on account of opposition from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to certain provisions of the Bill. The Standing Committee submitted its report on March 20, 2018 following which the Union Cabinet approved certain official amendments to the NMC Bill. It is unlikely to get passed seeing the tough stand taken by the IMA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana launched<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, the world\u2019s largest government funded healthcare program was launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Ranchi, Jharkhand on Sept. 23, 2018. It provides a cover of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year, at any government or empanelled private hospital, for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. More than 10 crore vulnerable entitled families – approximately 50 crore beneficiaries – will benefit from the scheme. The amount of 5 lakh would cover all investigations, medicine, pre-hospitalization expenses etc. All pre-existing conditions are covered. There is no restriction on family size, age or gender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

India sets a target for complete elimination of TB by 2025 at the Delhi End TB Summit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIndia is determined to address the challenge of TB in mission mode. I am confident that India can be free of TB by 2025. The global target for eliminating TB is 2030, but today I announce that the target for India to eliminate TB is 2025, five years before the global target,\u201d<\/em> said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he inaugurated the Delhi End TB Summit and launched the TB Free India Campaign on March 13, 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Delhi End TB Summit was jointly organized by the Government of India, Stop TB Partnership and WHO South East Asia Regional Office (SEARO).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supreme Court\u2019s allowed \u201cLiving Will\u201d in a landmark decision<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of India allowed an individual to draft a living will specifying that they not be put on life support if they slip into an incurable coma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The order was passed by a five judge Constitutional bench comprising Chief Justice of India, which said \u201cHuman beings have the right to die with dignity.\u201d Though the judges gave four separate opinions, all of them were unanimous that a Living Will should be allowed, because an individual should not be allowed to continue suffering in a vegetative state when they don\u2019t wish to continue living, and know full well that they will not revive. However, the Apex Court has set forth strict guidelines on how to execute the mandate of the living will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2018 passed by the Lok Sabha<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2018, which had been introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2016, was passed by the Lower House on Dec. 19, 2018. The Bill is to be debated in the Rajya Sabha and passed by the Upper House before it can be enacted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bill prohibits commercial surrogacy, and allows altruistic surrogacy. Altruistic surrogacy does not involve any monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage during the pregnancy. The intending couple must be Indian citizens and married for at least five years with at least one of them being infertile.  The surrogate mother has to be a close relative who has been married and has had a child of her own. Only Indian citizens can avail surrogacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undertaking or advertising commercial surrogacy, exploiting the surrogate mother and selling or importing human embryo or gametes for surrogacy have been considered offences under the Bill with a penalty of 10 years and a fine of up to 10 lakh rupees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consumer Protection Bill 2018 passed by the Lok Sabha<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Consumer Protection Bill 2018 was passed by the Lok Sabha on Dec. 20, 2018. The bill, among other things, proposes setting up of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and forums at the District, State and National levels to examine and decide on consumer complaints. Appeals from the District Commissions will be heard by the State Commission and from the State Commission by the National Commission. Appeals from the National Commission will be heard by the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bill has also defined the pecuniary jurisdiction of the three disputes redressal agencies, which have been substantially increased from those provided in the present Consumer Protection Act 1986.<\/p>\n\n\n\n