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The <keyword id="22366986" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="doctor-population-ratio" source="keywords">doctor-population ratio</keyword> in the country is 1:836, which is better than the <keyword id="20522854" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="WHO-standard" source="keywords">WHO standard</keyword> of 1:1000, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel told the Lok Sabha on Friday. According to the information provided by the <keyword id="20039511" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Medical-Commission" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="National Medical Commission" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="National Medical Commission">National Medical Commission</keyword> (NMC), there are 13,86,136 <keyword id="20522855" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="allopathic-doctors" source="keywords">allopathic doctors</keyword> registered with the State Medical Councils and the National Medical Commission (NMC) as on July, 2024, Patel said in a written reply. "Assuming 80% availability of registered allopathic doctors and around 5.65 lakh <keyword id="20522856" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AYUSH-doctors" source="keywords">AYUSH doctors</keyword>, the doctor-population ratio in the country is around 1:836 which is better than the WHO standard of 1:1000," Patel stated. She also said that there are 731 medical colleges in the country with an annual intake of 1,12,112 <keyword id="20585495" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MBBS-seats" source="keywords">MBBS seats</keyword> as of now. Further, there are 72,627 <keyword id="22645227" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PG-seats" source="keywords">PG seats</keyword> as of date, she said. Measures taken by the government to augment medical education facilities and to improve medical standards include <keyword id="22366985" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Centrally-Sponsored-Scheme" source="keywords">Centrally Sponsored Scheme</keyword> (CSS) for establishment of new medical colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals, under which 157 new medical colleges have been approved and 109 are already functional. Under the CSS, medical colleges have been upgraded to increase the number of MBBS (UG) and PG seats. Support has been provided for an increase of 4,977 MBBS seats in 83 colleges with an approved cost of Rs 5,972.20 crore, 4,058 PG seats in phase-I in 72 colleges with an approved cost of Rs 1,498.43 crore and 4,000 PG seats in phase-II in 65 colleges with an approved cost of Rs 4,478.25 crore. Besides, under "upgradation of government medical colleges by construction of super specialty blocks" component of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), 75 projects have been approved, of which 66 projects are complete. Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved and undergraduate courses have started in 19 of these. Also, DNB qualification has been recognised for appointment as teaching faculty, to take care of shortage of faculty and there has been enhancement of age limit for appointment, extension or re-employment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges up to 70 years. <h2>Claims of Indians being unfit "extrapolated" </h2>Furthermore, Union Health Minister J P Nadda told the Lok Sabha today that WHO's recent report stating that half of India's adult population is physically unfit relied on data collected only from three states and one UT, and the results were extrapolated through a modelling technique indicating inbuilt methodological issues. Responding to a question, Nadda said the WHO defines 'sufficient physical activity' as 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activities per week (brisk walk, lifting light load etc.) or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity per week (running, digging, construction work, outdoor games etc.). The activity level so quantified is based on a self-reported response to questions about physical activity lasting at least for 10 minutes. The National NCD Monitoring Survey of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) 2020 has assessed, inter alia, physical activity amongst Indian adults and found that 58.7% had conformed to the WHO recommendations, Nadda told the Lok Sabha.

Doctor-population ratio in India better than WHO standard, says Govt

After the Supreme Court ruled on June 10 that a <keyword id="20100511" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Muslim-woman" source="keywords">Muslim woman</keyword> is entitled to claim <keyword id="22407616" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maintenance-after-divorce" source="keywords">maintenance after divorce</keyword>, <keyword id="20066703" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Commission-for-Women" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="National Commission for Women" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="National Commission for Women">National Commission for Women</keyword> (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma welcomed the decision and stated that all <keyword id="20013419" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="personal-laws" source="keywords">personal laws</keyword> related to women should be equal across all religions. Speaking to ANI, Rekha Sharma said, "I always say that <keyword id="19927138" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="womens-rights" source="keywords">women's rights</keyword> should be universal and not determined based on <keyword id="19969367" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="religion" source="keywords">religion</keyword>. All personal laws related to women should be equal across all religions. Under the Hindu Marriage Act, you get alimony after divorce, so why should a Muslim woman not get it? I welcome what the Supreme Court has said." The Supreme Court on June 10 ruled that a divorced Muslim woman is entitled to seek maintenance from her husband under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), asserting that any discrimination against Muslim women in matters of alimony under the secular laws of the country would be regressive and against <keyword id="20809677" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gender-justice" source="keywords">gender justice</keyword> and equality. Earlier, the <keyword id="20066702" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NCW-chief" source="keywords">NCW chief</keyword> wholeheartedly welcomed the Supreme Court's landmark ruling, stating that the decision is a significant step towards ensuring <keyword id="20250318" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gender-equality" source="keywords">gender equality</keyword> and justice for all women, regardless of their religion. The NCW Chairperson emphasised that the decision reinforces the principle that no woman should be left without support and protection under the law. The NCW remains committed to advocating for women's rights and ensuring that justice prevails for every woman in India, she emphasised. Rekha Sharma also addressed the "lewd" comment incident that occurred earlier regarding a picture of the widow of Kirti Chakra recipient Captain Anshuman Singh. NCW chief Rekha Sharma said, "It was a very derogatory comment that we saw on social media, and we immediately took suo motu cognizance of it. The police have filed an FIR against this person. However, the individual is most likely from Pakistan." "Many such comments are being made, and we are taking those comments very seriously and urging the police to file FIRs in those cases as well," she added. Delhi Police acknowledged the National Commission for Women's (NCW) letter to the Delhi Commissioner of Police, demanding the arrest of the man and submission of a detailed report to the panel within three days. The police said a complaint was received from the National Commission for Women, alleging that a social media user had made an extremely lewd and derogatory comment on a picture of the widow of a late soldier. Taking cognizance of the complaint and after a preliminary examination of its contents, a case FIR under Sections 79, BNS-2023, and Section 67 of the IT Act 2000 has been registered at the Police Station Special Cell, and an investigation is underway. Captain Anshuman Singh, a doctor, was posted with the 26 Punjab as a medical officer in the Siachen Glacier area. On the night of July 19, 2023, there was a fire incident at an Indian Army ammunition dump at the camp where he was posted. Captain Singh saw a fibreglass hut engulfed in fire and immediately acted to rescue four to five individuals trapped inside. He went inside the medical investigation room, which was also on fire, to retrieve the critical medical aid box but could not make it out due to heavy fire amid strong winds. He was awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously. Captain Singh's wife, Smriti, and his mother received the award from President Droupadi Murmu.

All personal laws related to women should be equal across all religions: NCW chief Rekha Sharma

The <keyword id="22200485" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NEET-PG-2024" source="keywords">NEET-PG 2024</keyword> entrance examination will be held on <keyword id="22298192" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="August-11" source="keywords">August 11</keyword> in two shifts, the <keyword id="20270021" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Board-of-Examinations-in-Medical-Sciences" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences">National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences</keyword> announced on Friday. The <keyword id="19957604" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="exam" source="keywords">exam</keyword> was earlier scheduled to be held on June 23. "In continuation of NBEMS notice dated 22.06.2024, the conduct of NEET-PG 2024 examination has been rescheduled. It will now be conducted on August 11 in two shifts. The cut-off date for the purpose of eligibility to appear in the NEET-PG 2024 shall continue to be August 15, 2024," the Board said. The <keyword id="19897332" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Health-Ministry" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Union Health Ministry" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Union Health Ministry">Union Health Ministry</keyword> on June 22 postponed the NEET-PG entrance examination, scheduled to be held on June 23, as a "precautionary measure" in the wake of allegations on the integrity of certain competitive exams. Several meetings since then have been held with officials from the Union Health Ministry, National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) along with its technical partner Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), National Medical Commission (NMC) and Cyber Cell officials to evaluate the "robustness" of the system for the conduct of the exam, sources said. The Ministry of Health had decided to undertake a thorough assessment of the robustness of processes of the NEET-PG entrance examination. The National Eligibility Entrance Test-Postgraduate (NEET-PG) entrance examination is conducted by NBEMS along with its technical partner TCS for medical students. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-july-2024/slidelist/111304902.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-july-2024/slidelist/111304902.cms" target="_blank">Upcoming smartphones launching in India in July 2024</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/hp-envy-x360-14-review/articleshow/111407165.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/hp-envy-x360-14-review/articleshow/111407165.cms" target="_blank">HP Envy x360 14 review – feature-packed laptop with a sleek design</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/motorola-razr-50-ultra-flip-phone-launched-in-india-for-99999/slidelist/111504950.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/motorola-razr-50-ultra-flip-phone-launched-in-india-for-99999/slidelist/111504950.cms" target="_blank">Motorola Razr 50 Ultra flip phone launched in India for ₹99,999</a>

New dates announced for NEET-PG 2024, exam to be held on August 11

Expanding the scope of its hearing in the <keyword id="19980518" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Patanjali" source="keywords">Patanjali</keyword> Ayurved case, the <keyword id="19895345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Supreme Court" meta.hostid="266" meta.entityid="Supreme Court">Supreme Court</keyword> on Tuesday took a stern view of <keyword id="20610549" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="misleading-advertisements" source="keywords">misleading advertisements</keyword> by FMCG firms and asked three Union ministries to inform it about the steps they have taken to curb the practice which takes "public for a ride" and adversely affects their health. The court passed the order after Yoga guru Ramdev and his aide Balkrishna of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. told a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah that they have issued unqualified public apology in as many as 67 newspapers over misleading advertisements and are willing to issue additional advertisements expressing their contrition. The bench said the public apology published in newspapers were not on record and asked those to be filed within two days. It posted the matter for April 30 for further consideration. While hearing the Patanjali case, the apex court said the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Consumer Protection Act and the related rules also needed a closer examination. It said the issue was not limited to Patanjali but extended to all Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) firms which have been issuing "misleading advertisements and taking the public for a ride, in particular affecting the health of babies, school-going children and senior citizens who have been consuming products on the basis of the said misrepresentation". "We must clarify that we are not here to gun for a particular party or a particular agency or a particular authority. This is a PIL, and in the larger interest of the consumers, public should know which way they are going and how and why they can be misled, and how authorities are acting to prevent it," the bench said. The court asked the Union ministries of consumer affairs, information and broadcasting, and information technology to explain what action they have taken to prevent the misuse of consumer laws. It also sought an explanation from the Centre over an August 2023 letter issued by the Ministry of Ayush to the licencing authorities of all states and Union Territories and drug controllers of Ayush asking them to not initiate any action under rule 170 of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. The bench also asked the <keyword id="20083252" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Medical-Association" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Medical Association" meta.hostid="266" meta.entityid="Indian Medical Association">Indian Medical Association</keyword> (IMA), the petitioner in the Patanjali advertisements case, to "put its house in order". It said several complaints have been made about alleged unethical acts by members of the IMA who prescribe highly expensive medicines and line of treatment. The bench also ordered impleading the National Medical Commission (NMC) as a respondent in the matter for effective assistance to the court. At the outset, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd managing director Balkrishna, told the bench they have issued on Monday unqualified apology for the "lapses" on their part. "Where? Why it is not filed?" the bench asked. Rohatgi said it was issued on Monday in 67 newspapers across the country. When the court asked the senior advocate why did the respondents wait for a whole week before publishing the public apology, Rohatgi said, "Its language had to be changed". The court also quizzed him about the size of advertisements. "Is it the same size of advertisements that you normally issue in newspapers?" it asked Rohatgi, who submitted "It costs tens of lakhs (of rupees)". The bench ordered that the apology published be filed on record and added it wanted to see the actual advertisement published in newspapers. "The said advertisements are not on record. It is submitted that the same have been collated and shall be filed in the course of the day with copies to counsel for the parties. Needful shall be done within two days with copies to counsel for the parties," it said. The counsel said additional advertisement shall be issued by Ramdev and Balkrishna tendering unqualified apology for the lapses on their part. The bench said it was necessary to implead the three central ministries in order to examine the steps taken to prevent the abuse of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act and rules, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Consumer Protection Act. It said these ministries shall file affidavits enunciating the action they have taken to prevent the misuse/abuse of these statutes along with the relevant data since 2018. The bench said licencing authorities of all states and UTs shall also be impleaded as co-respondents in the matter. The bench told the IMA's counsel that while they are pointing fingers at Patanjali, "the other four fingers are also pointing at you (IMA)". On April 16, the apex court had warned Ramdev and Balkrishna against any attempt to "degrade allopathy" and permitted them to tender a "public apology and show contrition" within a week in the contempt proceedings in the misleading advertisements case against Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. The apex court is hearing a plea filed in 2022 by the IMA alleging a smear campaign against the Covid vaccination drive and modern systems of medicine. Ramdev and Balkrishna had earlier tendered an "unconditional and unqualified apology" before the top court over advertisements issued by the firm making tall claims about the medicinal efficacy of its products. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-8a-may-be-more-expensive-than-its-predecessor-as-per-a-new-leak/articleshow/109499394.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/google-pixel-8a-may-be-more-expensive-than-its-predecessor-as-per-a-new-leak/articleshow/109499394.cms" target="_blank">Google Pixel 8a may be more expensive than its predecessor, as per a new leak</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/best-smartphones-under-25000-in-india/slidelist/109529634.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/best-smartphones-under-25000-in-india/slidelist/109529634.cms" target="_blank">Best smartphones under ₹25,000 in India</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/at-17-indian-chess-prodigy-d-gukesh-becomes-youngest-challenger-for-world-championship/slidelist/109492021.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/at-17-indian-chess-prodigy-d-gukesh-becomes-youngest-challenger-for-world-championship/slidelist/109492021.cms" target="_blank">At 17, Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh becomes youngest challenger for World Championship</a>

Supreme Court expands Patanjali misleading ads hearing to include FMCG companies

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Big businesses such as hospital systems, insurers, and PE firms are gobbling up medical clinics.</li><li>Some doctors and industry experts fear corporate owners could prioritize profits ahead of patients.</li></ul>Independent doctors are almost a thing of the past.UnitedHealth Group struck a deal in March to buy the nine-state doctor group of the struggling hospital system Steward Health Care. The same month, the powerful healthcare conglomerate, which owns the nation's largest <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/one-medical-patients-affected-unitedhealthcare-mount-sinai-dispute-2024-3">health insurer</a>, got the green light to take over a decades-old independent Oregon <a target="_blank" href="https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2024/03/oregon-health-officials-give-emergency-ok-to-corvallis-clinics-acquisition-by-insurance-giant-unitedhealth-group.html">medical practice</a>, adding another 100 healthcare providers to its roster. It picked up a 400-doctor <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/unitedhealth-quietly-scoops-new-york-physician-group-crystal-run">group</a> in New York about a year before.These are just the purchases we know about; there could be many more. Physician practice deals often go unannounced and get little attention from regulators, but they add up. Near the end of 2023, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/optumhealth-ceo-plans-to-make-clinics-a-100-billion-business-2021-4">UnitedHealth's Optum</a>, the business unit housing its clinics and surgery centers, said it employed or was affiliated with 90,000 doctors. That's a whopping 10% of all doctors in the US.Though it's the hungriest, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/optumhealth-ceo-plans-to-make-clinics-a-100-billion-business-2021-4">UnitedHealth</a> is just one buyer in the market for physicians. Little by little, big businesses have taken over healthcare in the US. Hospitals have been scooping up medical practices for decades to create giant health systems. Insurance companies fought back with their own clinic purchases. Private equity firms increasingly staked claims to nursing homes and groups of specialists such as emergency physicians and dermatologists.And in the last few years, tech companies and retailers like Amazon, CVS Health, and Walgreens added thousands of doctors to their payrolls when they bought <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cvs-walgreens-amazon-primary-care-acquisition-strategy-2024-3">primary-care chains</a>.Nearly 78% of US doctors are employed by hospitals or other corporate entities, such as insurers and PE firms, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.physiciansadvocacyinstitute.org/PAI-Research/PAI-Avalere-Study-on-Physician-Employment-Practice-Ownership-Trends-2019-2023">research</a> from consultancy Avalere and the Physicians Advocacy Institute. For the first time, more medical practices were owned by corporate entities (30%) than hospitals (28%) as of January 2024, the research found.There's mounting evidence that this trend toward corporatization could harm patients. Research has found that prices go up when hospitals and private-equity firms buy medical groups. Sometimes, care gets <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nber.org/papers/w30928">worse</a>, but there's still much unknown about how corporate ownership affects medical care, especially when it's a giant like UnitedHealth or CVS doing the buying.Some doctors and experts in the industry fear corporate owners could prioritize their investors and profits ahead of patients, and doctors could lose the ability to make their own decisions about what's best for a patient."The big guys aren't cheaper. They don't deliver better customer service, they aren't more timely, none of that. They're just able to negotiate higher prices," said Farzad Mostashari, the CEO of Aledade, a company that aims to help primary care practices stay independent.The federal government is starting to pay attention. In March, it <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/03/federal-trade-commission-department-justice-department-health-human-services-launch-cross-government">launched</a> an inquiry into PE firms and other corporate owners' "increasing control over healthcare" and how this might threaten patients' access to affordable and quality care.The feds also zeroed in on UnitedHealth, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/u-s-launches-antitrust-investigation-of-healthcare-giant-unitedhealth-ff5a00d2">reportedly</a> facing an antitrust investigation by the US Justice Department into how its medical group acquisitions affect consumers and competitors. News of the probe surfaced before a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/change-healthcare-cyberattack-small-mental-health-practices-payments-money-2024-3">cyberattack on UnitedHealth's</a> technology business, Change Healthcare, caused hospitals and clinics nationwide to forgo billions in payments — raising more questions about UnitedHealth's chokehold on the healthcare industry.<h2>Doctors are hot commodities</h2>It's tough to lump the many buyers of medical practices together, as they're pursuing different strategies. But, in essence, they're all hiring doctors for their relationships with patients, who bring opportunities for more profits. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-millennials-giving-up-medical-care-cant-afford-costs-2024-2">US healthcare spending</a> reached $4.5 trillion in 2022, representing almost a fifth of the national GDP.Hospitals rely on doctors — especially those who provide primary care — to refer patients for lucrative procedures or surgeries. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/unitedhealth-stock-exec-medical-costs-rising-2023-6">Insurers like UnitedHealthcare</a> and CVS' Aetna are required by federal law to spend most of the money they collect in premiums on medical care. Still, they can pocket more of those premiums by sending patients to clinics they own.Pharmacies hope that buying medical practices will give more prescriptions to fill and get more customers to buy over-the-counter products at the front of the store."They all realize that patients will follow what their doctors tell them to do or where their doctors tell them to go," said Chas Roades, a longtime healthcare consultant. "So it allows them to both drive traffic to a downstream profit model that they're interested in growing, and I think it also is a way to get consumers to trust them."Meanwhile, independent doctors have a tough time going it alone. Reimbursement is shrinking, and small practices don't have the ability to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2022-prp-practice-arrangement.pdf">negotiate higher rates</a> as big hospital systems do. Plus, running a modern medical practice is expensive, requiring investments in staffing, technology, and electronic health records. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-chatbots-tech-doctors-medicine-healthcare-system-empathy-quality-email-2023-6">The pandemic</a> made things even more challenging, spurring many doctors to sell their private practices.<h2>The quiet takeover of physician practices</h2>Much of the takeover of physician practices has slid under the radar. That's because acquisitions valued below <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/competition-matters/2024/02/new-hsr-thresholds-filing-fees-2024">$119.5 million</a> don't have to be reported to federal regulators, and many practice purchases don't meet that threshold. Publicly traded UnitedHealth, for instance, rarely announces its purchases of medical groups and surgery centers."We're really flying blind here with respect to understanding how many acquisitions by which entities and what geographies and what specialties," said Yashaswini Singh, an assistant professor at Brown University who studies healthcare consolidation.This lack of disclosure has made consolidating doctor practices difficult to study. Research into private equity's effects on healthcare is just emerging, and there's little to no academic, peer-reviewed research on how other corporate owners' acquisitions affect healthcare prices and quality, Singh said.Studies, including Singh's <a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2795946">research</a>, have shown, however, that PE ownership leads to steeper prices and more utilization, meaning patients may have more frequent doctor's appointments. Together, that drives healthcare costs higher. Research also suggests that PE ownership of nursing homes and hospitals <a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2813379?guestAccessKey=e0cef9be-d55c-4bcf-8892-412af8f24355&amp;utm_source=For_The_Media&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=ftm_links&amp;utm_content=tfl&amp;utm_term=122623">worsens the quality</a> of care. One <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w28474/w28474.pdf">paper</a> found that patients who went to nursing homes owned by private equity firms had a 10% greater chance of dying.And yet, private equity companies are rapidly expanding their presence in healthcare. A 2023 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.antitrustinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/AAI-UCB-EG_Private-Equity-I-Physician-Practice-Report_FINAL.pdf">study</a> found that one private equity firm owned 30% of the market share for physician practices in over a quarter of metropolitan areas across the US. A single PE firm owned over half the market share in some areas.<h2>'An unsatisfying way of practicing medicine'</h2>Acquisitions by other corporate giants might not produce the same outcomes as PE firms, said Zirui Song, an associate professor of healthcare policy and medicine at Harvard Medical School who studies private equity in healthcare. PE firms are unique in holding on to their acquisitions for only a few years and saddling their acquired companies with debt and fees. Owners who hang on to their medical groups might be more motivated to improve services, he said.Anecdotally, though, many doctors don't like working for corporate overlords, Roades said. Older physicians who own equity in their medical practice get a nice payday when they sell, but the younger ones left behind are closely managed and measured in terms of cost and productivity, he added.It's "an unsatisfying way of practicing medicine. We're seeing a growing number of disgruntled early and mid-career physicians in these groups who find themselves suddenly working for large corporations, and this is not what they wanted to do with their lives," he said.After a few years working at Optum-owned Oregon Medical Group, Dr. Nick Jones opened a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/direct-primary-care-a-no-insurance-healthcare-model-2017-3">direct primary care practice</a>, a type of clinic that charges a monthly fee instead of billing insurance. He said there's a sense of powerlessness for primary-care doctors in the traditional healthcare system — whether they're employed by Optum, a large hospital system, a private-equity firm, or a nonprofit clinic.With thousands of patients to treat, they face a mountain of administrative paperwork and have no control over their schedules. These problems stem from the fact that primary-care doctors are <a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/compensation-pay-primary-care-shortage-solution/">underpaid</a> in the traditional "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletter-article/moving-health-care-system-away-fee-service">fee-for-service</a>" healthcare system, in which doctors are paid for every visit, he said.While he felt supported at his previous Optum-owned clinic because of his office manager, "the financial underpinnings and the economics of medicine" made it unsustainable and stressful, Jones said. "There was a three or four month wait for patients to see me. There was still too much on our plate to do, and [during the pandemic] there weren't enough medical assistants or case managers or nutritionists or other support to make 20 patients a day feel like the right thing to do."<h2>Doctors worry corporate giants put profits over patients</h2>The insurers and retailers say care is better and cheaper when integrated under one roof, connected to the health plan, pharmacy, or other provider organizations.For its part, Optum says it wants to improve the health and well-being of people and lower the cost of care with integrated care teams and better technology. It says it's helping clinics transition to providing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/optumhealth-ceo-plans-to-make-clinics-a-100-billion-business-2021-4">"value-based"</a> or "accountable" care, which means that its doctors get paid fixed fees upfront that, in theory, encourages them to keep patients healthy and order fewer unnecessary tests.Optum said in a statement it continues "to focus on supporting physicians, advance practice clinicians, and nurses in closing gaps in care and helping the health system perform better for everyone."A spokesperson pointed to a <a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2799376">study</a> by Optum published in JAMA Network Open in December 2022 that found seniors in value-based care arrangements were less likely than seniors in traditional payment models to visit the emergency room, or be admitted at the hospital for COPD, asthma, stroke, or heart attack.But there are potential dangers. Patients may end up with fewer choices as bigger companies edge out competitors.California health system Emanate Health sued Optum in 2023 for anticompetitive behavior. It alleged that Optum canceled its contracts with Emanate hospitals and steered patients away after Emanate refused to agree to certain terms. Among the terms: Emanate primary-care doctors would serve only Optum patients, and Optum would get first dibs if Emanate decided to sell its primary-care practices.Care might also feel less personal. Some <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/one-medical-patients-affected-unitedhealthcare-mount-sinai-dispute-2024-3">One Medical patients</a> complained that since the chain folded into Amazon, their appointments were shortened, and certain features for seniors, like having health coaches available during patient visits, went away, according to a report from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/02/28/amazon-health-one-medical/">The Washington Post</a>.<h2>Patients could end up spending less time with doctors and face higher costs</h2>Dr. Mitch Li, an emergency physician who started Take Medicine Back, a group that opposes corporate owners pushing into healthcare, said patients will spend less time with their doctors and potentially face higher costs from predatory billing practices."The corporate practice of medicine is the reason why <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-millennials-giving-up-medical-care-cant-afford-costs-2024-2">healthcare costs</a> are out of control," Li said.Above all, some doctors fear having to make decisions that benefit the owner's bottom line, even though they may not be the best option for a patient.Dr. Michelle Cooke, a primary-care physician, previously practiced at an Atlanta clinic owned by a hospital system. Though the system was not-for-profit, it didn't operate like that, and over time, the job became unbearable, she said.She had more than 3,000 patients assigned to her care — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jabfm.org/content/jabfp/29/4/496.full.pdf">far more</a> than typical — and appointments were too short, especially for the chronically ill, she said. The hospital system would prioritize lucrative physicals for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cigna-selling-medicare-advantage-business-insurers-higher-costs-slower-growth-2024-2">Medicare patients</a> rather than seeing patients with an urgent need."It really got to the point where I feel like I was working to feed the corporation," Cooke said. "It really wasn't incentivizing what the patients needed."Cooke has since opened a direct primary care practice, where she sees just a few hundred patients and can spend more time with them. She said she's found that she prescribes less medication now because she has time to educate patients on lifestyle habits and nutrition.<h2>The federal government and states are dialing up the scrutiny</h2>The Federal Trade Commission, the US Department of Justice, and the Department of Health and Human Services are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/federal-agencies-probe-private-equity-profiteering-in-healthcare-2ba4c23a">stepping up scrutiny</a> of healthcare deals, particularly those backed by private-equity firms. The agencies also signaled that they want to look at smaller deals that typically wouldn't trigger an antitrust review.Several states have also increased their oversight of local healthcare consolidation. Some state lawmakers are also trying to strengthen <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2306904#f1">laws prohibiting</a> corporations from practicing medicine. Most states have these bans on the books, but companies have found various ways around them.It's unclear if any of these efforts will meaningfully slow the corporatization of healthcare. And, to be sure, some physician practices may not have survived without an infusion of capital from a corporate buyer.A bill introduced by Oregon State Rep. Ben Bowman would have closed certain <a target="_blank" href="https://www.opb.org/article/2024/02/22/oregon-lawmakers-could-limit-corporate-ownership-of-medical-practices/">loopholes</a> and put more distance between corporate entities and their medical practices. Bowman told Business Insider he wanted to prevent big businesses from eroding doctors' autonomy."A physician who went to medical school who took an oath — their highest ethical duty is to care for their patients. Whether it's a private equity firm or a large corporation, their highest ethical duty is to generate a return on investment for their shareholders. Those two incentives are fundamentally at odds," Bowman said.The bill, opposed by Amazon and CVS, died in March, but Bowman said he plans to reintroduce it in 2025.Around the same time the bill died, UnitedHealth's Optum and The Corvallis Clinic — the small Oregon medical practice that Optum struck a deal to buy — requested that their tie-up receive an emergency exemption from state review because of the Oregon clinic's deteriorating finances.The proposed acquisition, first announced in December, had received plenty of pushback from state residents. The request also came as hospitals and clinics nationwide faced cash shortfalls because of the cyberattack on UnitedHealth's Change Healthcare.A week later, Oregon's health authority approved the request.

Big corporations are quietly taking over your medical practice. Some doctors and experts say it's ruining healthcare.

Around 3,0000 <keyword id="7803810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="non-medical-teachers" source="Orion">non-medical teachers</keyword> are on the 'verge of losing their jobs' after the new guidelines of the <keyword id="3514079" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-medical-commission" source="Orion">National Medical Commission</keyword> (NMC) that has drastically reduced the post of non-medical MSc teachers in the medical colleges across the country. The National MSc Medical Teachers Association (NMMTA), the body representing non-medical teachers, has approached the Health Ministry seeking a rollback of the decision as nearly 3,000 non-medical teachers are feared to face a <keyword id="183112" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="job-crisis" source="Orion">job crisis</keyword> with the National Medical Commission reducing the posts for their recruitment. Seeking to revoke the guidelines, NMMTA said, in a letter submitted to the ministry, that the rollback will address the faculty crisis in the institutions and help the teachers. In the guidelines issued by the medical education regulator in October 2020, the permissible intake of non-medical faculty had come down from 30 per cent to 15 per cent in anatomy and physiology, from 50 per cent to 15 per cent in biochemistry, and from 30 per cent to 0 per cent in microbiology and pharmacology. The NMC has claimed that these guidelines would not affect the current faculties already in employment and would be applicable to new medical colleges, new appointments and colleges seeking MBBS seat enhancements. "The practice of involving non-doctors in medical education in non-clinical subjects is a global phenomenon. The erstwhile <keyword id="49468" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="medical-council-of-india" source="Orion">Medical Council of India</keyword> (MCI) had stated that the 'intellectual cross-fertilisation with diverse intellectual streams is vital for medical education' with respect to the participation of non-medical M.Sc/Ph.D teachers in medical education. There is no need to divert away from this wisdom," NAMMTA told IANS. The practice of appointing teachers in the non-clinical subjects of the MBBS education started back in 1960, when the MCI allowed these teachers in the medical colleges to bridge the gap of shortage of doctors. As per the Teachers' Eligibility and Qualifications guidelines of the MCI, up to 30 per cent (50 per cent in Biochemistry) of teachers in the non-clinical subjects of Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology &amp; Microbiology could be 'non-medical' subjected to unavailability of medical (MBBS/MD) qualified teachers. Sridhar Rao, president of the NMMTA, said while there has been an increase in MD seats in the non-clinical subjects, 40-50 per cent of them remain vacant each year, which would only mean that the faculty shortage is likely to continue. "The shortage are more pronounced in the colleges located in rural, remote or hilly areas, where the availability of medical teachers is generally poor. Introduction of the new MBBS curriculum isn't a concern as all teachers are being trained to implement it," Rao asserted. He also said that while rejecting a prior proposal to do away with the provision of appointing M.Sc./Ph.D. teachers, the Board of Governors in supersession of the MCI in January, 2020 had cited the shortage of faculty in the institutions. While talking to IANS, Rao said that as per the NMC Act, NMMTA had filed first appeal with the NMC, which was rejected without any consideration. A second appeal has been filed with the health ministry, which is under consideration. "We are not seeking a new policy direction that might warrant the constitution of a new committee. We seek the restoration of the erstwhile MCI rules. We are not even seeking reservation. We are asking for the restoration of what was snatched away from us," said NMMTA president, adding that, "it will create an artificial crisis of teachers and resultantly the medical education would become costlier in India." SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/go-fashion-ipo-grey-market-premium-is-at-600/articleshow/87824720.cms">Grey market is paying nearly twice the IPO price for Go Fashion shares</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/centre-begins-auction-of-bsnl-mtnl-assets/articleshow/87820035.cms">Centre begins auction of BSNL, MTNL assets</a>

Around 3,000 non-medical teachers fear 'job crisis' after NMC guidelines

<ul><li>The National M.Sc <keyword id="351695" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Medical-Teachers">Medical Teachers</keyword>' Association (<keyword id="6812238" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="NMMTA">NMMTA</keyword>) has asked for reforms in Medical M.Sc courses to the Indian government. </li><li>The teachers association has expressed their concern after the <keyword id="3514079" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-medical-commission">National Medical Commission</keyword> excluded non-medical teachers from the para-clinical specialties of Pharmacology and Microbiology in its latest guidelines.</li><li>Officials from the government have ensured the association that their concerns will be addressed. </li></ul>The National M.Sc Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA) has asked for reforms in post graduate <keyword id="124637" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Medical-courses">medical courses</keyword> to the Indian government. The heads of the NMMTA met top officials from NITI aayog as well as the Health Secretary (MoHFW) to look into their concerns. Officials from the government have ensured the association that their concerns will be addressed. "Medical M.Sc courses, which are conducted in the medical colleges on the lines of MD courses need reforms. Ever since MCI silently abandoned regulating these courses, they are now regulated by individual health universities. In the absence of a regulating scientific council, there are variations in these courses with respect to the mode of admissions, duration of courses, dissertation, etc. We want reforms and regulations of these courses; only medical colleges must be permitted to run them", said Dr. Sridhar Rao, President, NMMTA in a statement. Dr Rao also said that the current curriculum is in dire need of an upgrade according to the changing times. The association also said that Ph.D. aspirants who wish to appear for NET examination end up taking a Life Sciences exam. "General M.Sc &amp; Medical M.Sc are different as the former is the core life sciences and the later one is specialized to suit the medical field. This puts us at a disadvantage when we scientists wish to clear NET tests for pursuing Ph.D", said Arjun Maitra, General Secretary of the association. The teachers association has expressed their concern after the National Medical Commission excluded non-medical teachers from the para-clinical specialties of Pharmacology and Microbiology in its latest guidelines. “In the department of Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology, non-medical teachers may be appointed to the extent of 30% of the total number of posts in the department. However, in the department of Biochemistry, non-medical teachers may be appointed to the extent of 50% of the total number of posts in the department,” said the latest guidelines. However, this doesn’t bode well with scientists who are teachers in the country. “Scientists teaching non-clinical subjects, which are basic and allied medical sciences, is a common practice all over the world. In fact, there are scientist faculties in the clinical specialties in US medical schools", said Maitra. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-future-retail-power-grid-cipla-delta-corp-yes-bank-adani-power-and-others/articleshow/79713824.cms">Top stocks to watch — Future Retail, Power Grid, Cipla, Delta Corp, Yes Bank, Adani Power and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/farmer-union-leaders-to-go-on-hunger-strike-today/articleshow/79714488.cms">Farmer union leaders to go on hunger strike today</a>

Medical teachers association calls for reforms in post graduate courses and protests the new guidelines that exclude scientist teachers

<keyword id="6358777" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-Delhi">New Delhi</keyword>, Cautioning Indians against rumours about coronavirus vaccination, <keyword id="6354814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="prime-minister-narendra-modi">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</keyword> on Thursday said that the country is preparing to undertake the world's largest vaccination drive against the infection. Speakin after laying the foundation stone of a new <keyword id="6365231" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="all-india-institute-of-medical-sciences">All India Institute of Medical Sciences</keyword> (AIIMS) in Gujarat's Rajkot via videoconference, Modi said: "In 2020, there was a question mark from all sides due to Covid-19 pandemic. But 2021 is coming with the hope of a treatment for Covid-19." He said that he was hopeful that the way in which India fought unitedly against the infection, it would similarly work hard to make the vaccination programme successful. The Prime Minister said that when India faced any problem, the entire nation united to help each other. "The way in which people took proper steps is the reason why we are in good a situation even amid the pandemic, despite a 1.3-billion population. More than one crore people have fought the pandemic and won. India's record is much better than other countries in the fight against Covid-19," he said. He said that the number of infections in India were going down. Warning the people to not get carried away by rumours, Modi said: "In our country, rumours spread quickly. Different people, for their personal gains or due to irresponsible behaviour, spread various rumours." "Maybe, the rumours will be spread when the vaccination drive begins; some have already begun," the Prime Minister said. He appealed to the people to refrain as responsible citizens from forwarding messages on the social media without checking. "India has emerged as the nerve centre of global health. In 2021, we have to strengthen India's role in healthcare," he said. He said that 'dawai bhi aur kadaai bhi' should be our mantra for 2021. "Earlier, I said 'dawai nahi toh dhilai nahi' (no relaxation till no medicine). Now, I am saying 'dawai bhi aur kadaai bhi' (strictness even with medicine). Our mantra for 2021 is 'dawai bhi aur kadaai bhi'." Pointing out that 'health is wealth', Modi said: "This year taught us this maxim. When there is any attack on health, it affects the family and the entire society comes in its grip." The Prime Minister also said that it was time to remember on the last day of the outgoing year the frontline warriors who safeguarded people while risking their lives. "I pay my humble tributes to all frontline warriors who lost their lives in the line of duty," Modi said, adding that the country also paid tributes to scientists, workers, doctors involved in the fight against Covid-19 and those working tirelessly for developing a vaccine for coronavirus. Modi further said that India has proven its ability to adapt, evolve and expand according to demand. "We moved ahead with the world, added value to our collective efforts and served humanity above everything else." He said that his government is working on a mission mode to improve medical education in India. "After the formation of the <keyword id="3514079" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-medical-commission">National Medical Commission</keyword>, the quality and quantity of health education will improve," he said. Highlighting his government's achievements in the health sector, Modi said that over Rs 30,000 crore of poor people's money had been saved due to 'Ayushman <keyword id="8688368" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="bharat-yojana">Bharat Yojana</keyword>'. "This scheme has freed the poor people of India from the struggles of good treatment due to lack of money. And 'Jan Ausadhi Kendras' are also a friend of the poor during illness. Over 7,000 such centres all over the country provide 90 per cent cheaper medicines to people. Over 3.5 lakh poor patients use these centres on a daily basis," he said. He said that in 2003, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government had planned to add six more AIIMS to the six that existed back then. "These new six were completed in 2012. And in the last six years, we have started work on 10 new AIIMS, out of which some are already functional. Apart from AIIMS, 20 super speciality hospitals are also being built in the country," the Prime Minister added. For the new AIIMS project in Rajkot costing ₹1,195 crore, 201 acres of land has been allotted. It is expected to be completed by mid-2022. The state-of-the-art 750-bed hospital will have 30-bed AAYUSH block, offering 125 MBBS and 60 nursing seats to students. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-tata-steel-vedanta-adani-green-tata-motors-maruti-mm-dhfl-v-mart-indian-bank-and-others/articleshow/80038635.cms">Top stocks to watch — Tata Steel, Vedanta, Adani Green, Tata Motors, Maruti, M&amp;M, DHFL, V-Mart, Indian Bank, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/checkout-the-list-of-upcoming-new-mobiles-in-january-2021-with-expected-price/articleshow/80039794.cms">Upcoming smartphones in India in January 2021</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/ten-of-the-most-outrageous-predictions-for-2021-according-to-saxo-bank/slidelist/80040045.cms">From Amazon buying Cyprus to Germany bailing out France — here are ten of the most ‘outrageous’ predictions for 2021</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/india-edtech-in-charts-how-the-shi[%E2%80%A6]es-of-byjus-unacademy-and-others/articleshow/80040270.cms">India’s edtech in charts – How the shift to online learning meant money, valuation and users for the likes of BYJU’S, Unacademy, and others</a>

'2021 is coming with the hope of a treatment for Covid-19', says PM Modi cautioning against vaccine rumours

New Delhi, Noting that air pollution is a silent killer, Randeep Guleria, Director at <keyword id="7683594" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-All-India-Institute-of-Medical-Sciences">the All India Institute of Medical Sciences</keyword> (<keyword id="40458" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="AIIMS">AIIMS</keyword>), said that it contributes to up to 40 per cent deaths in patients with chronic illnesses and neonatal fatalities. "The global burden disease published in Lancet shows that in 2019, air pollution was the fourth leading cause of mortality and third for disability-adjusted life years. Air pollution is a silent killer which makes it difficult for the policymakers to understand," he said. "We must focus more on the chronic effects of pollution such as diabetes, lower respiratory tract disease, lung cancer, stroke or neonatal deaths - there is enough data to say that around 20 to 40 per cent of deaths in these diseases are caused by air pollution," Guleria said. He was speaking at the second Good Air Summit organised by the Integrated Health &amp; Wellbeing (IHW) Council. Guleria also said that more than smoking tobacco, pollution contributes to developing diseases such as lung cancer, <keyword id="73190" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="COPD">COPD</keyword> and heart disease. "These are acute effects," he added. The AIIMS chief also shared that within a few days of spike in air pollution levels, the influx of patients increased in the hospital's OPDs. "Experience in AIIMS shows that whenever there is a spike in air pollution, the number of patients in OPDs increases in the next 5-6 days," Guleria said. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar, also attended the summit. Accepting that pollution is a sensitive issue and a serious challenge, he expressed hope that the newly-constituted <keyword id="10260083" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="commission-for-air-quality">Commission for Air Quality</keyword> will reduce pollution in the national capital. "We introduced the idea of measuring air quality and brought the concept of AQI. The Sameer app of the Central Pollution Control Board provides hourly update of the national Air Quality Index (AQI). I am hopeful that the Commission for Air Quality Management will reduce pollution further," Javadekar stated. Meanwhile, Kamal Narayan, CEO, IHW, complained that air pollution did not receive the kind of response it required either from the government or the citizens, despite being an evident health emergency. "The data from 'State of Global Air 2020' shows that 1.67 million or 17 lakh people die annually due to air pollution that comes to around 4,700 deaths per day. Which means around half a million more people fell prey to air pollution last year than the number of lives claimed by Covid-19 virus till date, globally. However, despite being a super-killer and an evident health emergency, air pollution did not get the emergency response either from the system, or from the people," he said. Commenting on the issue, Swatanter Kumar, retired Supreme Court judge and former chairperson of <keyword id="2462566" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-National-Green-Tribunal">the National Green Tribunal</keyword> (NGT), said that protection of the environment is a constitutional obligation of both the government and the citizens. "Protecting the environment is a constitutional obligation for the citizens and a constitutional duty of the governments. We don't need more laws but better implementation of the existing frameworks. We need holistic, pragmatic and practical solutions for intergenerational equity and examine the sources of cleaner energy as well," he said.

Air pollution causes 40% deaths in patients with chronic illnesses: AIIMS Director

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia has been cut off by the pharmaceutical company that produces Viagra, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/02/15/russia-viagra-sanctions-ukraine-war/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Washington Post.</a></li><li>The company announced that it would halt supplies on Wednesday after stopping clinical trials in 2022.</li></ul>Russians will be forced to produce their own erection pills after the maker of Viagra announced Wednesday that it's stopping the distribution of the drug.<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/02/15/russia-viagra-sanctions-ukraine-war/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to the Washington Post,</a> Viatris, the manufacturer of Viagra, informed the Kremlin last year that it would stop sales of the erectile dysfunction medication in Russia<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/healthcare-companies-say-they-have-duty-send-medicine-to-russia-2022-3"> amid its invasion of Ukraine.</a> On Wednesday, Russia was officially cut off from new supplies and the Kremlin said that 36 local companies had the "technological possibility" to create a replacement erection pill.Russia's Industry and Trade Ministry <a href="https://tass.com/economy/1576743" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told state-owned press service TASS</a> that the medication used for Viagra, sildenafil, is not currently produced in Russia but that alternatives are on the way, with dozens of new companies already registered.Viatris initially stopped clinical trials in Russia after the Kremlin launched an invasion into Ukraine in February 2022, the Post reported. Though the decision did not halt the company's distribution to Russia. Throughout the year, Viatris suffered financial losses in Russia due to supply chain issues but continued to supply pills to pre-existing patients.Ukraine and Russia made up less than 1% of the company's revenue in early 2022, the company said in <a href="https://newsroom.viatris.com/2022-05-09-Viatris-Reports-Strong-First-Quarter-2022-Results" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a May 2022 quarterly report.</a>But Wednesday's decision now leaves domestic Russian companies scrambling to produce national alternatives, a trend that has reverberated with other medications that are no longer available in Russia. Although pharmaceutical companies were not directly targeted in sanctions packages, their businesses and supplies <a href="https://www.insider.com/russians-struggle-to-find-vital-medication-after-western-sanctions-2022-4">have been hit by the war,</a> and many have suffered supply chain issues.According to the Post, Ukraine adopted a law in May 2022 which banned the sale and distribution of medication from companies that maintained ties with Russia.

Russia was cut off by Viagra's manufacturer, leaving the Kremlin scrambling to commission generic erection pills

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The National Commission on <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> and Criminal Justice has called for prison guards and inmates to be among the first to be vaccinated. </li><li>The commission recommended they be vaccinated right after healthcare workers. </li><li>Other organizations like the American Medical Association have also called for <keyword id="62320" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Prisons">prisons</keyword> to be a priority in the vaccine rollout, especially as cases among inmates continue to rise. </li></ul>The National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice has called for <a href="https://counciloncj.foleon.com/covid19/experience-to-action/welcome/">prison guards and inmates to be among the first to receive vaccines</a> against the virus. In a report published on Monday, the commission, whose goal is to develop strategies to address the way COVID-19 has impacted the criminal justice system and includes panelists like former US Attorneys General Loretta Lynch and Albert Gonzales said prisoners correctional staff be vaccinated next, after healthcare workers. The commission also called for more prisoners to be released during the pandemic as cases in prisons soar. They found the high density of people in jails and prisons and lack of preparedness to handle the pandemic led to a failure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in those areas. States have been working to create vaccine rollout plans and figure out which demographics should be prioritized after one COVID-19 vaccine developed by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fda-authorizes-pfizer-biontech-coronavirus-vaccine-for-us-emergency-use-2020-12">Pfizer-BioNTech</a> was recently granted emergency authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-15/prisons-covid-19-epicenter-justice-commission-says-inmate-vaccines">The Los Angeles Times</a> reported in California around 26,000 inmates or one-in-four prisoners have already been infected with COVID-19. Also, 12.7% of prison inmates across the country have confirmed COVID-19 cases. Do you have information about COVID-19 in prisons or vaccination plans for correctional institutions? Email this reporter at <a href="mailto:salarshani@insider.com">salarshani@insider.com</a><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/30/health/coronavirus-vaccine-prisons.html">The New York Times</a> reported earlier this month, that while cases were spreading in prisons, federal authorities working to determine who is most in need of a vaccine did not rank prison inmates high on the priority, but a Centers for Disease Control and Preventions advisory committee did place priority for correctional officers. The American Medical Association has also called for inmates and those who work in prisons or correctional facilities to be prioritized in the vaccine rollout since jails and prisons cannot adequately implement measures to prevent the spread of the virus. "We aren't saying that prisoners should be treated any better than anybody else, but they shouldn't be treated any worse than anybody else who is forced to live in a congregate setting," Dr. Eric Toner, co-author of a report on vaccine allocation published by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security told The Times. The newspaper said that while there may be a hesitancy to prioritize those who are incarcerated, there's an obligation to protect the health of those in prison as well as a public health responsibility given that an outbreak that starts in a prison can spread to the general community. "Prisons are incubators of infectious disease," Toner told the Times.

A national commission on COVID-19 is calling for prison inmates and guards to be prioritized in the vaccine rollout

<keyword id="1333" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Beijing">Beijing</keyword>, A total of 73,537 people have received a <keyword id="24209" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaccine">vaccine</keyword> against the novel coronavirus in Beijing in just two days after the Chinese capital started administering the jab among specific groups of people with higher infection risks. No serious side effects have been observed among the vaccine receivers, Gao Xiaojun, a spokesperson for the municipal health commission, as saying at a press briefing on Sunday. The inoculation, which began on January 1 across 220 venues in Beijing, currently mainly covers nine groups of people aged 18 to 59 in Beijing. These include frontline customs inspectors of imported cold-chain goods and personnel working in the overseas and domestic transportation sector. People receiving the jab will have the information updated on Beijing's health code app, Gao said, adding that those who have urgent plans to travel overseas can apply for Covid-19 inoculation at the community service centre. After the vaccines receive market approval, authorities in Beijing will start vaccination for other groups on a reservation basis, said Gao at an earlier press conference. On December 31, 2020, <keyword id="1334" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> announced that it had granted conditional marketing authorisation to its first self-developed Covid-19 vaccine. The inactivated vaccine got approval from the <keyword id="7484487" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Medical-Products-Administration">National Medical Products Administration</keyword>. It was developed by the Beijing Biological Products Institute Co. Ltd. under the <keyword id="8779112" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="china-national-biotec-group">China National Biotec Group</keyword>, affiliated with Sinopharm. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-beml-hcl-tech-infosys-tech-mahindra-tcs-ril-tata-motors-hero-moto-tvs-and-others/articleshow/80089765.cms">Top stocks to watch — BEML, HCL Tech, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, TCS, RIL, Tata Motors Hero Moto, TVS, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/checkout-upcoming-new-cars-in-year-2021/slidelist/80025993.cms">Upcoming new cars in India in 2021 of Maruti, Tata, MG, Audi</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/questions-arise-about-jack-ma-whereabouts-as-alibaba-faces-scrutiny-from-the-chinese-government/articleshow/80090457.cms">Where is Jack Ma? Questions arise about the billionaire’s whereabouts as Alibaba faces scrutiny from the Chinese government</a>

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