Natl Med J India
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Background Treating beta-thalassaemia major may entail high costs with considerable out-of-pocket expenditure. Therefore, determination and valuation of the economic costs of a common haemoglobinopathy such as beta-thalassaemia major in India may provide insights to evolve policies for reduction or elimination of the disease. We estimated economic burden of beta-thalassaemia major in Mumbai in terms of cost to the family and the healthcare system. ⋯ Conclusion The majority (94%) of costs incurred by families for treatment of beta-thalassaemia major are direct costs, especially expenses for chelation and blood investigations. Even at subsidized rates, financial burden to the families from lower socioeconomic strata is likely to be considerable as these are out-of-pocket expenses. In consideration of the economic impact of treating beta-thalassaemia major in individual families, the healthcare system and society, it is prudent to promote and pursue long-term and short-term measures with urgent emphasis on prevention as a public health activity at the national level in India.
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Background The medical curriculum for undergraduates was revised by the Medical Council of India in 2019, after 21 years. We did this study to determine teachers' pedagogical and technical readiness to implement the competency-based curriculum in medical colleges and determine factors that affect readiness, from their perspective. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in the form of an online questionnaire. ⋯ However, numerous factors such as low teacher-student ratio, textbooks designed according to the traditional curriculum, limited teachers' training and cumbersome paperwork may hinder its successful implementation. Updation of teachers' knowledge and skills through seminars/workshops is recommended to facilitate delivery of the new curriculum. Like any other ongoing reforms in medical education, competency-based curriculum is a work in process.
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Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic drug, which is used in schizophrenia and also to treat excitation and aggression in patients with delirium. Risperidone has a low risk of haematotoxicity because of its different chemical and pharmacological profile compared to other drugs such as clozapine. ⋯ We highlight the effect of risperidone on erythrocytes and the mechanism that leads to anaemia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only report of 2 patients showing combinations of mechanisms leading to risperidone-induced anaemia.
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Background Although physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) was first introduced in India in the 1960s, it was not until the 1990s when it was offered as an optional rotation to Indian medical graduates. Lately, with the introduction of a competency-based undergraduate curriculum in 2018, PMR has been included as an essential subject in the medical graduate curriculum, to be implemented from 2019. We aimed to ascertain the importance of incorporating PMR in the medical graduate curriculum while also discussing the awareness about PMR among Indian healthcare professionals. ⋯ In addition, 85% of the participants reported being introduced to PMR either in their medical school or during their residency training and 92% of the participants appreciated the late integration of PMR within the medical graduate curriculum. Conclusions Introduction of medical graduates to PMR would help in bridging the gaps faced by people with disabilities in accessing healthcare facilities. It would also help clinicians from other specialties to collaborate with physiatrists in a more coordinated manner.