Allied Healthcare (GAHC)

St. Paul's School confirmed that it had received an email from the parents of the first diagnosed child regarding viral meningitis. The child was at school on 7 March, vomited, and was hospitalized. Other students who were affected were in close proximity.

A school in Kalamassery, Kochi, has been shut down temporarily following the appearance of symptoms of viral meningitis in five students. The children, all belonging to Classes 1 and 2 of St. Paul's International School, showed symptoms like fever, irritability, headache, and vomiting.

Two students were admitted into the intensive care unit of Aster Medcity Hospital. One was later shifted to a general ward, and the other will soon be shifted too.

As a precautionary move, the school will continue to be closed till March 16. Health officials have also advised delaying exams for Classes 1 and 2.

The samples of the infected students have been forwarded to the National Institute of Virology in Alappuzha for verification. Authorities have ensured that all the children are stable. More information is pending as investigations are ongoing.

School officials confirm one case of viral meningitis

The authorities at St. Paul's School told South First, that they had an email from the parents of the first diagnosed child, which confirmed viral meningitis, yesterday before the day before yesterday.

"The child went to school on March 7 but was vomiting through the day. We immediately notified the parents and got her to the hospital. It took 48 hours to confirm the diagnosis.".

The rest of the students who presented symptoms were close to the initial child, usually sharing food and snacks. We are now complying with the health authorities directive in handling the situation," the school said.

Dr. Asha Devi, DMO, Ernakulam, explained to, South First, that there is no cause for panic. Although the viruses responsible for viral meningitis are infectious, the closure of the school is a precautionary action.

Common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, drowsiness, loss of appetite, rash-like spots, loss of balance, and inability to concentrate.

Children are more susceptible than adults.

Emphasizing women's critical role in all walks of life, she asked them to pay importance to their health and well-being. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday stated the healthcare system in the city must be improved and education for women must be given importance as both are essential for constructing a progressive and liberal society.

Addressing an Equality Walkathon hosted by Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh on International Women's Day, she reaffirmed the government's pledge to the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, reiterating that education and healthcare were the way forward for empowering women and driving overall growth of society.

"Delhi needs to be the most advanced health center in the nation. All citizens must receive easy medical facilities, and nobody must be denied the right treatment," she said. Emphasizing women's crucial roles in all walks of life, she encouraged them to take care of their health and well-being. "Let us together create a future where gender equality is not only an aspiration but a way of life," she added.

The walkathon, in which approximately 400 individuals participated, was to raise awareness about gender equality and equal opportunities for women. The event, with the theme 'Accelerate Action for Gender Equality', included banners and placards supporting women's rights.

A 'Women's Empowerment Programme' was also organized, with a panel discussion between doctors on women's health issues, equality at the workplace, and inclusive growth. Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, chief executive officer and managing director, Fortis Healthcare, underlined the importance of the role of women in healthcare, stressing that there is a need for inclusive and equitable workplace.

"Women bring skills, compassion and creativity to the delivery of patient care. However, they still face special health issues and system obstacles at work," he added

A Centre of Excellence has been set up at AIIMS in the Department of Paediatrics, jointly with the National Health Mission-Madhya Pradesh (NHM-MP) and UNICEF, to tackle severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

The centre will offer advanced medical care for SAM cases, especially for non-responsive and severely ill children. Severe cases are being managed at AIIMS Bhopal's Severe Malnutrition Advanced Referral and Treatment (SMART) Unit.

The Centre of Excellence is committed to offer high-level technical assistance, encourage research and organize training programmes on SAM management.

With advanced infrastructure and professionals, the aim is to deliver quality care to sick children, educate healthcare professionals and assist the government's malnutrition eradication drive.

For this purpose, the state government organized a two-day divisional-level residential F- SAM training program for Feeding Demonstrators and ANMs/Staff Nurses engaged in Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs). The training aimed at strengthening the treatment and management of severely malnourished children.

A successful trial run of Metro was held for the first time between Rani Kamlapati and AIIMS station at 5 pm on Tuesday. During its journey, Metro rakes crossed Railway Over Bridge (RoB), DRM Office and Alkapuri station before reaching AIIMS station.

During the trial, metro rakes operated at 10 to 20 km an hour. This will be increased gradually as per the different testing stages. The train has three coaches, each measuring around 22 meters in length and 20.9 meters in breadth.

The train has been built for a top speed of 90 km/ph. S Krishna Chaitanya, MD, MP Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL) congratulated metro officials on the successful trial run.

India is experiencing a dramatic change in the trend of medical professionals emigrating, with an increasing number from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities emigrating abroad for better prospects. This trend is now overtaking Tier 1 city migration rates, fueled by reasons like few local job opportunities, better pay abroad, and a strong urge to enhance their family's economic status. With the world's need for qualified healthcare personnel on the increase, workers from minor Indian cities are taking advantage to practice abroad in nations where there is a severe shortage of medical practitioners.

In 2024 alone, Ireland granted more than 38,000 work permits to non-EU nationals, with about 12,000 being given to healthcare professionals. Most of the permits went to workers from India, Brazil, the Philippines, China, and Pakistan, said Dr. Akram Ahmad, Academically Global.

In the UK, one in four nurses has been recruited from abroad, with many coming from developing countries facing their own healthcare shortages, such as India. The number of internationally trained nurses in the UK has doubled in six years, reaching a record 200,000, highlighting the National Health Service's (NHS) reliance on foreign-trained staff due to an inadequate domestic training system.

In Australia, the government has actively recruited Indian doctors to fill healthcare workforce gaps. For example, Western Australia welcomed 150 trainee doctors from India in early 2025 to support its overburdened health system, particularly in rural regions.

The migration of medical professionals from smaller Indian cities is primarily driven by:

Limited Career Advancement: Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities tend to lag behind in the area of advanced healthcare. They don't have fundamental infrastructural advancements like in metro cities and foreign countries. Reflecting on long term advantages and skill acquisition, professionals eagerly anticipate migration.

Higher Paychecks: Foreign countries place real importance to medicine. With modern-day infrastructure and amenities, they look forward to admitting equally talented professionals. For the same, they are ready to employ higher paychecks, which is not otherwise feasible in India. Countries like Australia, Canada, the UK, and the Gulf countries pay much higher salaries compared to here.

Improved Work Conditions: One aspect prevalent in the medical field is the lack of work-life balance. A 20-hour shift is usual to any physician. The sector tends to overlook hospital facilities and working conditions for employees,, thereby making better hospital facilities, professional development opportunities, and work-life balance render overseas careers appealing abroad.

Streamlined Licencing Routes: With more defined licencing exam processes and support programs, the route to obtaining foreign employment has become more organized.

Quality of Life: Physicians such as ourselves are human beings, too. They've been taught as functioning robots right from their inception. During the changing times, they're becoming loud about their rights and wish to have a better quality of life. It appears as a promising choice while emigrating overseas.

Indian healthcare professionals' migration is fueled by both domestic challenges and appealing opportunities overseas. Though the trend provides personal advantages and contributes to destination countries' alleviation of shortages, it is a serious challenge to India's healthcare system in ensuring sufficient staffing levels to respond to domestic healthcare demands.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked state governments to bring in a policy to prevent overcharging of drugs and medical devices at private hospitals. Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh passed the order.

Madhya Pradesh government had constituted a three-member IAS committee to check hospital bills and medication prices in 2021. The then Bhopal collector Avinash Lawania had initiated a large-scale crackdown on private hospitals.

The SC has urged the states to implement a policy so that hospitals do not force patients to purchase necessary medical items from in-house pharmacies at higher prices, compared to notified market prices.

SC was hearing a public interest litigation highlighting issues regarding patients being compelled to buy medicines, implants, and medical devices at very high costs from hospital-affiliated pharmacies.

Although noting the issue, the court raised doubts regarding how effectively the practice could be regulated and enforced without adverse consequences. According to the petitioner, this practice constitutes blackmailing the patient and depriving him of the right to fair price.

In their PIL, the petitioners requested a direction that private hospitals must not force patients to buy medicines, devices, implants from the hospital pharmacies alone, where they are said to charge exorbitantly.

The union government replied by saying mechanisms such as Amrit and Jan Aushadhi shops sell cheap medicines at government hospitals. The Centre added that there was no compulsion for patients to purchase medicines and other things from hospitals or pharmacy chains associated with them.

In the past

During May 2021, teams of Bhopal district administration approached a private hospital in Neelbad where Rs 3 lakh was billed to a patient who was admitted for 14 days. It was discovered during inspection that an additional Rs 40,000 was billed to the patient and had to be recovered by the hospital.

A hospital in Entkhedi was compelled to refund Rs 1.4 lakh to relatives of a patient, sources said. A hospital in Kohe-Fiza was compelled to refund Rs 50,000 to relatives of a patient and Rs 15,000 to relatives of another patient. Likewise, Gautam Nagar based private hospital had refunded Rs 6 lakh in 2021.

India has also become a world-class destination for medical tourism over the years because the advanced health care system in the country matches the best available in the world. India is now a wellness and yoga capital of the world, providing conventional therapies based on the AYUSH system (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy). Blending old wisdom with complete healing, India remains a top destination for people seeking wellness worldwide.

India today interviewed Chief Wellness Officer, Kshemavana, SDM Institute of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences Dr Narendra Shetty to learn more.

GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES AND REGULATIONS

 The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) is instrumental in promoting and regulating these age-old practices. It offers detailed guidelines for education and certification of naturopathy practitioners along with increasing public awareness about the benefits of naturopathy. National Policy on Health and Wellness: This policy is a foundation for the development of wellness tourism. It promotes the development of wellness centers and naturopathy clinics, thus drawing both local and foreign tourists. Medical Visa Facilities: The Indian government has introduced medical visa facilities allowing international tourists to enter India to receive health and wellness treatments.

GROWING GLOBAL INTEREST IN ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

Greater Sensitization of Integrated Health: The growing international interest in natural and non-surgical forms of therapy has added to the popularity of India's expertise in naturopathy and allied therapies. This trend has picked up pace because of a greater focus on preventive medicine, particularly in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period.

Cultural Relevance: The emphasis of naturopathy on balancing the mind, body, and soul is culturally relevant to the global movement towards body and mind well-being, making India a preferred destination for well-being seekers with different cultural backgrounds.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATUROPATHY PROFESSIONALS

Against the backdrop of current events, there are numerous opportunities for naturopathy practitioners in India:

Specialized Wellness Centre Jobs: The expansion in the creation of wellness centers to meet escalating demand has bred the need for well-trained naturopathic practitioners. Consultancy Opportunities: Naturopathy specialists would be suitable to work as consultants for health resorts, hotels, and spas, where they would offer specialized advice and treatment recommendations. Business Entrepreneurship: Effective practitioners would find it opportune to own clinics, perform workshops, or introduce online well-being programs.

Hospital and Healthcare Provider Collaboration: Blending naturopathy with mainstream medicine in hospitals can add value to services and bring in a wider patient base.