Can CGHS deny a claim

Clinical

A US FDA advisory committee unanimously recommended approval of an epilepsy drug that would be the first plant-derived cannabidiol medicine for prescription use.  The FDA has approved synthetic versions of some cannabinoid chemicals found in the marijuana plant for other purposes, including cancer pain relief.

Experimental

Public Health

Collective Prevention Services (CPS) advises all visitors to the island to wear light-coloured clothing at dusk, long-sleeve shirts and pants, and to use mosquito repellent to prevent being bitten by a mosquito that could possibly be carrying a mosquito-borne disease such as dengue, chikungunya or Zika

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its partners have successfully tested releasing sterile mosquitos from drones as part of efforts to use a nuclear technique to supress the insect that spreads Zika and other diseases. 

Head trauma is a major cause of memory loss and increases the risk of developing dementia. Wear a helmet when bicycling, riding on a motorcycle, in-line skating, and skiing. Wear seat belts when riding in motor vehicles. 

AMR

The European Union has banned zinc oxide to control diarrhoea in weaning pigs. For decades high dosages of zinc oxide have been used in piglet nutrition to prevent weaning diarrhoea. However, current reports are highlighting its contribution to the increase of antimicrobial resistance and the change on the piglets’ microbiota. European Union has decided to ban the use of zinc oxide by 2022.

ICMR Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network January 2017-December 2017: Of the total number of 45,930 isolates, 55% were from in-patients in wards, 18% were from ICUs and 27% were from outpatients. Outpatient isolates (12,336) were predominantly from pus (39%) and urine (23%), ward isolates were predominantly from pus (32%) and blood (23%) and ICU isolates were predominantly from blood (25%), pus and lower respiratory tract (16% each). Gram negatives constituted major share (74%) of the isolates overall. Gram negatives were responsible for 98% of fecal, 96% of LRT, 87% of urinary, 80% of CSF, 76% of surgical site, and 62% each of blood and pus isolates. This will have bearing in empiric choice of antibiotics. Most importantly, the fact that 76% of surgical site infections were due to gram negatives will demand revising antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines for such infections which had targeted staphylococci as the predominant organism for decades.

Miscellaneous 

In London the PM said that doctors in India organises conferences in western countries so that they could get pharma support, they write costly drugs and stents because of a nexus. I personally do not agree.  Modi government have full powers to allow only drugs with generic names and implement one drug one company one prise policy. And also, why talk about India in foreign land. Will it not affect the medical tourism in India? Punish the culprit but do not criticise the masses is the Vedic rule.  

We lost Dr Rajiv Dhir, an eminent communicator. Time to live every day of your life. Life is unpredictable.

MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT CLAIM OF PENSIONER OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FOR THE TREATMENT TAKEN BY HIM IN A PRIVATE AND NON-EMPANELLED HOSPITAL ALLOWED

The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India comprising of the Bench of HMJ R. K. Aggarwal and HMJ Ashok Bhushan in the matter titled as “Shiva Kant Jha versus Union of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 694/2015, vide judgment dated 13.04.2018 has allowed the petition filed by the petitioner against the alleged unfair treatment meted out to several retired government servants in their old age and their state of affairs pertaining to reimbursement of medical claims under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). Accordingly, the Hon’ble Apex Court has allowed the medical reimbursement claim of the pensioners of Government of India for the treatment undertaken by him in a private or non-empanelled hospital and held that:

“The right to medical claim cannot be denied merely because the name of the hospital is not included in the Government Order. The real test must be the factum of treatment. Before any medical claim is honoured, the authorities are bound to ensure as to whether the claimant had actually taken treatment and the factum of treatment is supported by records duly certified by Doctors/Hospitals concerned. Once, it is established, the claim cannot be denied on technical grounds.”

Medical Negligence

The West Bengal Medical Council has charge sheeted on Thursday decided to chargesheet doctors accused in the Kuheli Chakraborty medical negligence case exactly a year after the four-month-old baby died after colonoscopy at a city hospital. 

Weather

Under the influence of an approaching Western Disturbance, relative humidity would rise over most parts of northwest & central India; hence no heat wave is expected over these regions during next 4-5 days. However, it would prevail over some parts of Vidarbha and Saurashtra & Kutch today and may abate thereafter.