August 10, 2012 Clippings

Delhi HC directs MCI to finalise rural health course curriculum within six weeks

The Delhi High Court directed the Medical Council of India (MCI) to finalise within six weeks the curriculum for starting a three-and-half years course for non-MBBS physicians to practise medicine in rural health centres. Justice Rajiv Shakdher said that on failing to finalise the curriculum of Bachelor of Rural Health Care (BRHC), the MCI secretary shall remain personally present during the next hearing Oct 18. Filing a contempt petition, petitioner Meenakshi Gautam said that on Nov 10, 2010, the court ordered the MCI to start by March 2011 the BRHC course but no action was taken.

Senior counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Gautam, complained that the delay in starting the course was leading to a serious situation where people in rural areas were being deprived of healthcare facilities. The central government submitted before the court that it was ready to start the course, but was still waiting for the MCI to finalise the curriculum. The petition said: “The court had given the MCI two months’ time to finalise the curriculum and syllabus of the primary healthcare practitioner course…A further period of two months was given to the ministry of health and family welfare for the enforcement of the same.” ”The Medical Council of India apparently opposed the course in 2011 and was not willing to notify it,” the petition alleged.

The delay has been caused by the medical community’s reservations against the course. The rural health course is a government initiative to address the skewed healthcare services scenario in the country.

Source: http://health.india.com

10.08.2012

Now potato juice could treat heartburn and ulcers

Next time you shun potatoes think twice. A new study has found that potato juice could treat ulcers. Potatos are packed with unique anti- bacterial properties which help in curing ulcers sooner. A Manchester University microbiology team now hopes the compound, dubbed ‘potato juice’ could go into production as a daily diet supplement. Inspiration came as one of the department’s scientists tucked into a spud for Sunday lunch.It led to the discovery of a key molecule which could both cure and prevent the bacteria that lives in the stomach and causes stomach ulcers and heartburn.

Uniquely, unlike with anti-biotics, the gut bug cannot develop resistance to the ‘potato juice’ which also does not cause any side-effects. Scientists even carried out the test on different types of potatoes — discovering that Maris Piper and King Edward varieties worked the best. The process to extract the as yet unnamed molecule has now been patented, with hopes it could one day be sold as a supplement similar to pro-biotic yoghurt drinks.

Ian Roberts, professor of microbiology, who worked on the discovery, said: “When I first heard about the idea of using potatoes to treat stomach ulcers I have to admit I was a bit sceptical. But on another level I wasn’t surprised – a lot of botanical products have very interesting compounds and we just have to find them.” “We see this ‘potato juice’ as a preventative measure to stop stomach ulcers developing that people would take as part of a healthy lifestyle. It could be a huge market if we can get it developed,” added Roberts.

Source: http://health.india.com

10.08.2012

Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet

Jean Jacques Rousseau