FM December 2020 digital 9pages

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news updates India reserves MBBS seats for ‘Wards of COVID Warriors’ The Indian government has decided to introduce a new category called ‘Wards of COVID Warriors’ in the guidelines for selection and nomination of candidates against Central Pool MBBS seats for the academic year 2020-21. This move aims to dignify and honour the noble contribution made by COVID Warriors in the treatment and management of COVID patients, the union health minister Harsh Vardhan said, announcing the decision. “This will honour the solemn sacrifice of all COVID warriors who served with selfless dedication for the cause of duty and humanity”, he stated. Central Pool MBBS seats may be allocated for the selection and nomination of candidates from the wards of “COVID Warriors” who have lost their lives due to COVID-19; or died accidentally on account of COVID-19 related duty. The term COVID Warrior has been defined by the government of India while announcing an insurance package of Rs.50 lakhs for them. It involves all public healthcare providers, including community health workers who may have to be in direct contact of COVID-19 patients and who may be at the risk of being impacted by this. Included in the list are private hospital staff and retired/volunteer/local urban bodies/ contracted/ daily wage/ ad-hoc/outsourced staff requisitioned by states/ central hospitals/ autonomous hospitals of central/states/UTs, AIIMS and Institutes of National Importance (INIs)/ hospitals of central ministries drafted for COVID-19 related responsibilities. The state/UT government will certify the eligibility for this category. Five (05) Central Pool MBBS seats have been reserved for this category for the year 2020-21. The selection of candidates will be made by the Medical Council Committee (MCC) through online application on the basis of rank obtained in the NEET-2020 conducted by the National Testing Agency. Sale of ulipristal 5 mg pills banned in India The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has directed state licensing authorities (SLAs) to direct manufacturers to suspend the manufacturing, sale and distribution of ulipristal acetate tablets 5 mg based on the reports of liver failure associated with the use of the drug. Ulipristal acetate (5 mg tablets) has been widely used for the treatment of moderate to severe signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids in adult women of reproductive age who are eligible for surgery. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has reported several liver failure cases associated with the use of ulipristal acetate tablets 5 mg. The drug regulator has directed all SLAs to recall the stock in respect of the subject product from the market. The action taken in the matter may be communicated to this directorate at the earliest. In May 2018, Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) in EMA finalised a review of the benefit-risk balance of ulipristal tablets 5 mg initiated due to three cases of liver injury leading to 8 / FUTURE MEDICINE / December 2020
liver transplantation. The drug was approved by DCGI on March 14, 2018 for pre-operative treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids in adult women of reproductive age and intermittent treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids in adult women of reproductive age. The PRAC reviewed the new cases of serious liver injury leading to liver transplantation reported with ulipristal acetate 5 mg and concluded a probable causal association with the drug. WHO speeds up global strategy to end cervical cancer The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer. The global public health agency is also releasing the first estimates of Worldwide measles deaths climb 50% from 2016 to 2019: WHO, US CDC data Measles cases worldwide increased to 869,770 in 2019, the highest number reported since 1996 with increases in all WHO regions, according to a publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Global measles deaths climbed nearly 50 percent since 2016, claiming an estimated 207,500 lives in 2019 alone. After steady global progress in elimination from 2010 to 2016, the number of reported measles cases climbed progressively to 2019. Comparing 2019 data with the historic low in reported measles cases in 2016, authors cite a failure to vaccinate children on time with two doses of measlescontaining vaccines (MCV1 and MCV2) as the main driver of these increases in cases and deaths. “We know how to prevent measles outbreaks and deaths,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “These data send a clear message that we are failing to protect children from measles in every region of the world. We must collectively work to support countries and engage communities to reach everyone, everywhere with measles vaccine and stop this deadly virus.” Measles outbreaks occur when people who are not protected from the virus are infected and spread the disease to unvaccinated or under-vaccinated populations. To control measles and prevent outbreaks and deaths, vaccination coverage rates with the required MCV1 and MCV2 must reach 95 percent and be maintained at national and sub-national levels. MCV1 coverage has been stagnant globally for more than a decade at between 84 and 85 percent. MCV2 coverage has been steadily increasing but is only now at 71 percent. Vaccination coverage against measles remains well below the 95 percent or higher needed with both doses to control measles and prevent outbreaks and deaths. Although reported cases of measles are lower in 2020, necessary efforts to control COVID-19 have resulted in disruptions in vaccination and crippled efforts to prevent and minimize measles outbreaks. As of November, more than 94 million people were at risk of missing vaccines due to paused measles campaigns in 26 countries. Many of these countries are experiencing ongoing outbreaks. Of countries with postponed planned 2020 campaigns, only eight (Brazil, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines and Somalia) resumed their campaigns after initial delays. The Measles & Rubella Initiative (M&RI), which includes American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the US CDC, UNICEF and WHO, and global immunization partners like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others, are working to address the current measles crisis and ensure that resources are positioned to address immunization delays – for measles and all vaccines – in every region of the world. A bold strategy released by M&RI, Measles & Rubella Strategic Framework 2021 – 2030, will help to address reversals in global progress toward measles elimination by bolstering strong, national immunization systems. December 2020 / FUTURE MEDICINE / 9
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