Allied Healthcare (GAHC)

A 23-year-old woman was diagnosed with a panic attack following an earthquake scare, according to a medical prescription dated February 27, 2026.

The prescription, issued by Dr. Sumit Saha, a consultant physician and neuropsychiatrist, records the patient’s name as Arpita Dey, aged 23. The diagnosis noted on the document states “Panic attack following earthquake.”

A reading taken during the check showed the heart beating 122 times each minute, though values might shift slightly on repeat tests. Blood pressure stood at 110 over 80 millimeters of mercury when recorded by hand. Oxygen levels reached full capacity, no shortage detected in circulation. When pulses climb like this, experts often link it to sudden emotional strain rather than physical illness. One clue could lie in how tense the person felt right before measurements.

A pill for anxiety shows up on the list, Zapiz at 0.25 mg, followed by Panazep LS or Paxonil Plus LS instead of it sometimes, plus capsules called Pazop DSR mixed in. Two weeks later, a check in makes sense. Some lab work got flagged too, needed down the line.

How natural disasters affect mental health

Folks who study minds say quakes smash buildings, yet also mess with thoughts just as much. Out of nowhere, a jolt like that might spark panic, even if someone never felt anxious before.

A sudden shake might stop, yet minds keep feeling it, so says Dr. Amit Dias, a psychiatrist based in Goa.

“Earthquakes do not end when the tremors stop. For many survivors, the psychological aftershocks continue for months or even years. It is common for people to experience anxiety, sleep disturbances, fear of entering buildings, and in some cases Post, Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), he said.

It turns out some folks carry invisible scars long after disaster strikes. One report showed up to one in five people might struggle months later. Trauma tends to stick around when bodies are hurt, connections broken, or homes lost. The deeper the shock, the heavier the mental load often becomes.

However, Dr. Dias emphasised that most stress reactions are normal and tend to improve with time and social support. Early psychological first aid, community support systems, access to counselling, and timely mental health care can prevent long, term complications. Recognising distress early and seeking help without stigma is crucial. Disaster response must address not only physical safety, but emotional recovery as well, he said.

Finding yourself anxious, heart racing, passing out, or struggling to sleep following a trauma? Doctors suggest reaching out for help without delay. Talking to someone trained might make things clearer. A checkup could rule out physical causes. Support comes in many forms, not just pills. Sometimes simply sharing what happened shifts something inside. Getting care early often eases longer, term strain. The body holds onto stress in surprising ways. Night after night of broken rest takes its toll. Moments of panic can feel endless when alone. Professional guidance isnt about fixing fast, its about understanding better. Help exists because healing rarely travels straight lines.

In a major shake up of curriculum that reflects National Education Policy 2020, NCERT has revealed that Ayurveda will be part of science educational material for classes 6, 7, and 8. This step is directed towards merging India's age- old knowledge systems with modern scientific education.

Ayurvedic Concepts in Updated Textbooks

NCERT chief Dinesh Prasad Saklani has stated that the updated science syllabus will reveal the basic major features of Ayurveda in an easy and generally scientific manner

Students of Class 6 will learn a list of 20 basic Ayurvedic ideas, especially those connecting physical health, mental function, and lifestyle habits.

The point is to help the pupils get an idea of health beyond the clinical words and identify preventive care as part of the daily routine.

Class 8 will be given a separate unit The union of Body, Mind, and Environment which will illustrate aspects of dinacharya (daily routine), seasonal adjustment, and living in harmony with nature, the Ayurveda era philosophy's main pillars. The science course will show that science is not only a medium of technical progress, but also a means of obtaining balanced nature and health.

Expansion into Higher Education

The integration effort is not limited to school education. The University Grants Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH, is working on developing structured modules to introduce Ayurvedic studies at the undergraduate level.

Union AYUSH Minister Prataprao Jadhav stated that Ayurveda and allopathy shouldn't be considered as competing systems but complementary ones. He further added that joining modern medical science with traditional healing knowledge would enable India to have a more inclusive and holistic healthcare framework.

Reviving the Indian Knowledge System

This move is a reflection of NEP 2020s extensive dedication to the revival of Bharatiya Gyan Parampara or Indian Knowledge System. The aims are to develop a respect for indigenous sciences, raise awareness of preventive health measures, as well as to provide a balanced perspective of tradition and modernity.

Updated textbooks are planned to be introduced in the 2026 academic session, and teacher training programs will be held so that the implementation will be trouble, free.

Education experts see this change as a revolutionary one that redefines the boundaries of science education by incorporating cultural roots, sustainability, and well, being as equally important aspects along with innovation and research.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the world faces a health worker shortage of approximately 20% (~15 million)—a gap likely to widen rapidly under the current education system, driven by chronic diseases and an ageing population. Simultaneously, rapidly changing technologies necessitate reskilling the existing 65 million global health workers. This presents a massive challenge for the world.

Consequently, the global mobility of health care talent is rising. Countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and various European nations have been depending more and more on foreign, trained health workers. The OECD's International Migration Outlook draws attention to this trend by indicating that there are substantial proportions of foreign, trained doctors and nurses in the leading health systems.

This global deficit presents an opportunity for India. Historically, India has prioritised domestic sufficiency, making strides through changes in the National Medical Commission’s structure and policies. Our curriculum, regulations, and training remain distinct and tailored to local needs. The focus has been inward; in fact, global opportunities have often been viewed as a threat—a brain drain. However, this need not be a zero-sum game. It can be a win-win: The domestic market can continue to serve domestic requirements, while we simultaneously create a parallel export-oriented medical education ecosystem as a special economic zone.

This proposed Medical Education Global Centre of Excellence could be a sovereign play insulated from standard Indian regulations. It would allow free-market operations to attract investment, adopt global regulations and accreditations, and recruit health workers/faculty from India and abroad.

We should look closely at the Caribbean model and other such export- oriented models. Other nations, including Poland, have successfully deployed similar models to meet the standards of export markets like the US, UK, Canada, and Scandinavia.

Key lessons include:

Curriculum alignment: Adopting global curricula (e.g. USMLE), textbooks, and faculty.

Clinical integration: Tie-ups with global teaching hospitals for clinical rotations (e.g., the 2+2 year model).

Accreditation: Adopting major global standards.

Financial recognition: Securing recognition from the major target geographies department of education to ensure student eligibility for loans.

Investment: Encouraging for-profit colleges with global investors.

India ought to consider a Global Centre of Excellence route, export, driven medical education SEZ zones with different domestic regulations, taxation, and investment rules. These zones would provide medical, nursing, and allied health care training using internationally aligned curricula and supported by frameworks that facilitate global accreditation and workforce mobility. Such SEZs would open the door for collaborations between Indian institutions, the global private sector, and leading international universities and provide the necessary flexibility to comply with the destination country licensing requirements.

A selective incentive frameworke.g., tax holidays, GST/duty exemptions, and export incentives would lure private investments and reduce the cost of education. Utilizing India's large pool of clinicians and the visiting global faculty, this solution would enable students to acquire their foundational training in India and eventually migrate to residency or specialisation abroad without any hassle. Thus, a scalable, export, driven ecosystem is created which serves the global workforce demand.

To realise this vision, critical challenges must be addressed. Foremost is the deregulation of SEZ curriculums to meet diverse international standards, ensuring graduates are practice-ready and globally mobile. Equally important are frameworks allowing foreign university partnerships, private investment, and genuine educational autonomy. Crucially, these SEZs cannot be isolated clusters near ports like traditional SEZs; they must be designated zones near India's existing medical hubs. Not preventing existing Indian faculty and patient participation into the SEZ ecosystem is essential. Achieving the right balance at the intersection of domestic and SEZ rules will be key. A pathway to bridge-qualify for Indian practice (NMC registration) if the students choose to stay in India as well as choose other similar pathways to other export markets.

India is uniquely positioned to succeed here. We possess a vast diaspora of global faculty, a massive pool of aspiring medical students, and a reputation as a major investment hub. With the right policies, we can leverage these advantages to create a services factory for the world, mirroring the success of the tech services industry. The domestic healthcare sector and patients could also benefit from the spill-over knowledge and expertise from these SEZs. Our global pool of medical professionals and extended diaspora can be valuable connection to support Heal in India. Heal in India and Heal by India, therefore, can become two sides of the same coin, as health care starts transcending geographic boundaries.

Record Budget for Sectoral Growth

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday said that the state has made one of the highest budgetary arrangements for the growth and development of every sector, inlcuding the establishment of numerous medical colleges, a storng focus on social welfare scheems, and prioritisation on women development.

"Among the major states in the country, we have made the highest budgetary expenditure arrangements. Our focus has certainly been on all sectors, such as women and farmers, and we have also given great priority to the education sector. In general education, we have announced the establishment of four universities in four districts..." he stated.

New Medical Colleges and Social Security

The Chief Minister said that the state government has established a total of fifteen medical colleges, including Medical colleges for Ayurveda, Homoeopathic medicine, fisheries, and veterinary. There is also a provision of a pension for people beyond the age of 60. "In the health sector, we have also established five medical colleges, three of which are Ayurvedic and two are homoeopathic. We also established a Fisheries Medical College, a Veterinary Medical College, and two Engineering Colleges: one in Balangir and one in Paradip, where there was a great need. Based on this, we have established a total of fifteen medical colleges, a level never seen before. On this basis, we have taken every sector forward...In the social security sector, all those who complete 60 years of age will become eligible for pension..." he said.

Focus on Rayagada's Development and Women's Empowerment

On the same day, February 2, Majhi went to the district of Rayagada and was the first to open Subhadra Shakti Mela, which is an event that spotlights a district's work in the empowerment of women, and that was held at local GIACR ground from 2nd to 8th February.

The Chief Minister was also present at the occasion to speak to the crowd. Currently, they have increased the empowerment level of more than 1.52 lakh women and girls by supporting them through 12, 783 Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the district.

The CM inaugurated 109 projects worth over Rs. 600 crore, including 22 projects worth Rs. 238 crore and foundation stones for 87 projects totalling Rs. 366 crore, out of which Rs. 37 crore for the Majhighariani temple, during the inauguration of the Subhadra Shakti Mela in Rayagada district, which will provide new impetus for the district's development. The Chief Minister announced measures to construct indoor stadiums in all blocks, improve education, health, and transportation facilities, and stated that a medical college in Rayagada is awaiting government approval.

Financial Boost for Self-Help Groups

In addition, in the current financial year, loans worth approximately Rs. 200 crore have been disbursed to 4,217 self-help groups in Rayagada. This includes Rs. 14 crore in revolving funds to 9,335 self-help groups in Rayagada district, an additional Rs. 53.14 crore to 164 GPLFs, and loans totalling rs. 37.55 crore to 4,195 self-help groups. 

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday said that the state has made one of the highest budgetary arrangements for the growth and development of every sector, inlcuding the establishment of numerous medical colleges, a storng focus on social welfare scheems, and prioritisation on women development.

"Among the major states in the country, we have made the highest budgetary expenditure arrangements. Our focus has certainly been on all sectors, such as women and farmers, and we have also given great priority to the education sector. In general education, we have announced the establishment of four universities in four districts..." he stated.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has established a total of fifteen medical colleges, including Medical colleges for Ayurveda, Homoeopathic medicine, fisheries, and veterinary. There is also a provision of a pension for people beyond the age of 60.

"In the health sector, we have also established five medical colleges, three of which are Ayurvedic and two are homoeopathic. We also established a Fisheries Medical College, a Veterinary Medical College, and two Engineering Colleges: one in Balangir and one in Paradip, where there was a great need. Based on this, we have established a total of fifteen medical colleges, a level never seen before. On this basis, we have taken every sector forward...In the social security sector, all those who complete 60 years of age will become eligible for pension..." he said.

Earlier, on February 2, Majhi toured the Rayagada district and after the opening of the Subhadra Shakti Mela, renewed the district's efforts in women's empowerment, which was held at the local GIACR ground from February 2 to 8.

The CM inaugurated 109 projects with a total cost of over Rs 600 crore.

Out of this, 22 projects worth Rs. 238 crore were inaugurated and foundation stones for 87 projects totalling Rs. 366 crore laid, of which Rs. 37 crore was for the Majhighariani temple. The CM launched the Subhadra Shakti Mela at Rayagada District which will open up the new avenues for the development of the district.

The Chief Minister declared the plan to construct indoor stadiums at all blocks, raise the level of education, health and transport facilities, and further, said that a medical college in Rayagada is awaiting government approval.

Besides, in the present financial year, loan facilities worth nearly Rs. 200 crore have been provided to 4, 217 self, help groups in Rayagada. This includes Rs. 14 crore in revolving funds to 9,335 self-help groups in Rayagada district, an additional Rs. 53.14 crore to 164 GPLFs, and loans totalling rs. 37.55 crore to 4,195 self-help groups.

A storm is brewing over the rising cost of professional education in Madhya Pradesh after it was revealed that the Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee fixed fees for a staggering 1, 437 institutions in just 14 meetings in 2025. In fact, fees for 370 institutions were decided in a single meeting of May 20, 2025. Then, on June 17, 293 institutions were cleared, 244 on June 15, 224 on June 9, and finally, 178 more on December 10.

These figures were handed over to the legislator Pratap Grewal by Higher Education Minister Inder Singh Parmar in a written reply which is the reason for political as well as public debates on transparency and fairness.

Medical education, particularly MBBS, is the crux of the problem as the figures are very high. The least fee for MBBS for the year 2025, 26 has been fixed at Rs 9 lakh and the highest at Rs 12.60 lakh. Hence, the tuition alone for the five year course can be more than Rs 60 lakh, without counting hostel fees, books, equipment, and other expenses. For thousands of candidates who clear competitive exams like NEET after several years of hard work, the biggest challenge seems to be the availability of funds now.

The escalation does not end with MBBS. Ayurvedic medical education has also moved into the "lakhs bracket." MD (Ayurvedic) non clinical courses are running with a minimum fee of a yearly Rs 1.91 lakh. The upper limit can be as high as Rs 6 lakh. BAMS cursuses have an annual fee problem rate between Rs 2.20 lakh to Rs 6 lakh. The situation in Dentistry is pretty much similar, with BDS fees varying from Rs 2.60 lakh to Rs 6 lakh yearly. Effectively, the choice of profession as a doctor either in modern or traditional medicine is a capital requirement equivalent to some cities' urban real estate.

In fact, the jump is so high that its significance is hardly lost if looked at over time. While the lowest course fees had gone up by 8% to 13% between 2017, 18 and 2025, 26, the highest ones had shot up by 80% to 120%. The maximum fee in 2025, 26 for some courses, notably MBA and BE, is more than 20% higher compared with the fee in 2024, 25.

With MBA courses, a minimum fee of Rs 40, 000 and a highest point of Rs 1.90 lakh are recorded. In case of BE and other technical courses, the lowest figure is about Rs 42, 000 while the highest has attained Rs 1.44 lakh. Law courses also reveal similar disparities: LLB programmes can be found at Rs 23, 000 but the topside can be Rs 98, 000, on the other hand, LLM courses are between Rs 25, 000 and Rs 82, 500.

Teacher education has also seen a steady rise. BEd fees, which stood at Rs 82,000 in 2017-18, rose to over Rs 1.09 lakh in 2020-21 and crossed Rs 1.19 lakh in 2024-25. Physiotherapy courses such as MPT and BPT range from Rs 42,000 to Rs 1.44 lakh and Rs 40,000 to Rs 1.90 lakh, respectively. Across sectors, medicine, management, engineering, law, and teacher education, professional education now firmly sits in the lakhs bracket.

Minister Parmar defended the variation in fees, stating that each institution's income and expenditure statement forms the basis for calculation. According to him, salary expenditure, including faculty and staff payments, is a significant component and can naturally result in higher fee structures in certain institutions. However, the explanation has not silenced critics.

MLA Pratap Grewal questioned how fees for the same course can vary four to five times between institutions when faculty qualifications, pay norms, and course standards are regulated by central and state authorities. He pointed out that the committee's meeting minutes list only institution names and final approved fees, without detailing expenditure components or whether any physical verification was conducted.

Grewal further alleged that the committee's framework clearly states students should not be charged for development costs, building construction, capital investments, or loan interest unrelated to education. He claimed that before approving any hike, the committee or its representatives are required to physically verify institutional expenditures. However, according to him, there is no mention of such verification in the meeting records.

Adding to the controversy, a note reportedly recorded during the May 20, 2025 meeting suggested obtaining proof of TDS deducted by the Income Tax Department to verify faculty salaries, a safeguard against inflated salary claims. Grewal alleged that this measure was not implemented in subsequent approvals covering more than 1,000 institutions.

In a strong charge, Grewal claimed that the committee's functioning is enabling fee escalations amounting to Rs 400-500 crore annually.

For students and families across Madhya Pradesh, the debate is no longer abstract. Clearing competitive exams may open academic doors, but stepping inside increasingly demands financial capacity. As one medical aspirant said, "We fight for rank, but the real battle is with the fee receipt."

With MBBS crossing Rs 12.60 lakh per year and professional course fees steadily rising, higher education in the state stands at a crossroads between opportunity and affordability - between aspiration and exclusion. The numbers are out. The questions continue to grow.