New Delhi: Issuing a recent alert, the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has warned Indian medical students against taking admission to undergraduate medical courses in some institutes in Belize and Uzbekistan.

The Apex medical commission has listed down four medical institutes, including (i) Central American Health and Sciences University, Belize, (ii) Columbus Central University, Belize, (iii) Washington University of Health and Sciences, Belize, and (iv) Chirchik Branch of Tashkent State Medical University, Uzbekistan.

This comes after the Indian Embassy in Mexico and the Eurasia Division of the Ministry of External Affairs highlighted serious concerns against these medical institutes regarding the lack of compliance with Indian medical education standards, inadequate or non-existent university campus infrastructure, poor quality of educational and clinical training facilities, instances of harassment of Indian students, excessive fees being charged, and denial of fee refunds upon withdrawal from the course.

Medical Dialogues had been reporting on the advisories issued by the NMC against students going abroad to pursue their dreams of becoming doctors. The Commission has time and again warned students that the quality of medical education in several institutes abroad does not meet the NMC standards.

In the recent alert, NMC referred to the Commission's notices dated 8th August 2023 and 22nd November 2024, wherein Indian students aspiring to obtain medical qualifications from foreign institutions and subsequently seeking registration to practice allopathy in India, were advised to ensure strict compliance with the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021, notified on 18.11.2021.

NMC had specifically cautioned the students that any deviation in respect to the (i) duration of the course, (ii) medium of instruction, (iii) syllabus and curriculum, (iv) clinical training, and (v) internship or clerkship arrangements may result in disqualification of the students from obtaining registration in India.

"Despite these advisories, it has been observed that Indian students continue to seek admission to foreign medical institutions which do not meet the required standards prescribed under FMGL Regulations, 2021," noted the Commission.

Accordingly, based on the communications received from the Indian Embassy in Mexico and the Eurasia Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and the advisories issued by the Embassies, the Commission advised students to avoid seeking admission to some specific medical institutes in Belize and one in Uzbekistan.

"Failure to follow this advisory may result in ineligibility for medical registration in India. Further, it is also advised that before seeking admission to any foreign medical institute or university, the prospective students and their parents are strongly advised to carefully read the Alert/Advisory uploaded on the National Medical Commission (NMC) website dated 19th May 2025. The advisory contains critical information regarding recognized institutions, eligibility criteria, and other important guidelines," warned the Commission. 

"All those students who are governed by FMGL Regulation, 2021 and undergo their studies in such institutes/universities; are advised that they may face disqualification from registration in India, due to non-compliance with the FMGL Regulations, 2021. The students need to consider and immediately evaluate, if their current university meets FMGL Regulations, 2021. Stay in touch with NMC updates in the dedicated website, consult the Indian Embassy of the concerned country for updates on recognition or blacklisting of institutions and immediately take corrective measure since FMGL Regulations are applied at the time of screening/registration," it further mentioned. 

To view the notice, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nmc-alert-note-advisory-for-indian-students-seeking-admission-to-foreign-institutes-universities-for-undergraduate-medical-courses-295377.pdf

Also Read: NMC Warning for MBBS aspirants! Apex Council warns against Unauthorised Medical Colleges, non-compliant foreign programs

Here are the top medical news for the day:

Maternal RSV Vaccine Cuts Infant Hospitalizations by 72%: Study Finds

Vaccinating pregnant women against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has led to a significant drop in newborn hospital admissions for severe lung infections, according to a new study published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health.

RSV is a widespread virus that typically causes mild cold-like symptoms but can lead to serious conditions such as bronchiolitis in infants. It remains the leading infectious cause of baby hospitalisations in the UK and globally. Protection during early infancy is critical, especially as RSV can result in intensive care admissions for the youngest patients.

The research assessed the real-world effectiveness of the RSV vaccine during pregnancy. The team studied 537 babies admitted to hospitals across England and Scotland during the 2024-2025 RSV season. Of these, 391 tested positive for RSV. The analysis revealed that mothers of RSV-negative babies were more than twice as likely to have received the vaccine before delivery compared to mothers of RSV-positive babies 41% versus 19%.

Further findings showed that when the vaccine was administered more than 14 days before delivery, it provided a 72% reduction in hospital admissions. Even when given at any time before birth, the vaccine still conferred a 58% protective effect. Experts recommend vaccination from 28 weeks of pregnancy to ensure optimal transfer of protective antibodies to the baby, although the jab can be safely administered up to birth.

The study underscores the vaccine’s potential as a key public health tool in reducing the burden of RSV in infants.

Dr Thomas Williams, study lead from the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Regeneration and Repair, and Paediatric Consultant at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh, said: “With the availability of an effective RSV vaccine shown to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisation in young infants in the UK, there is an excellent opportunity for pregnant women to get vaccinated and protect themselves and their infants from RSV bronchiolitis this coming winter.”

Reference: Bivalent prefusion F vaccination in pregnancy and respiratory syncytial virus hospitalisation in infants in the UK: results of a multicentre, test-negative, case-control study, Williams, Thomas CMiddleton, Catriona M et al., The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, Volume 0, Issue 0

Can High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Shorten Breastfeeding Duration?

Women diagnosed with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDP) are less likely to initiate or continue breastfeeding, potentially missing out on long-term heart health benefits, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy disproportionately impact non-Hispanic Black/African American and American Indian/Alaskan Native women, contributing to significant health inequities. Importantly, Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy also increase long-term risks for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney disorders.

In this study, researchers from Yale School of Medicine analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), covering over 205,000 participants who gave birth between 2016 and 2021. The sample represented a weighted population of nearly 11 million women from 43 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy was defined by self-reported high blood pressure, preeclampsia, or eclampsia before or during pregnancy. Breastfeeding initiation and duration were measured through postpartum survey responses.

The study found that women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy had 11% higher odds of never breastfeeding. Among those who initiated, they were 17% more likely to stop early, with a median breastfeeding duration 17 weeks shorter than their counterparts without hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

“This paper provides foundational knowledge on which to build future studies to understand how our health systems can best support those individuals with hypertension in reaching their personal infant feeding goals. As a system, we must do better about supporting women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in reaching whatever their infant feeding goal may be, particularly if it involves any amount of breastfeeding. Such support could promise long term improvements in health outcomes for many pregnant individuals and their infants, especially among communities with high risk of cardiometabolic disease and breastfeeding cessation,” said Deanna Nardella, an instructor of pediatrics and physician-scientist with Yale School of Medicine and first author of the study.

Reference: Nardella D, Canavan ME, Taylor SN, Sharifi M. Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Among US Women. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(7):e2521902. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.21902

Heart Healthy Habits May Shield You from Cancer, Dementia, Diabetes and More: Study

Maintaining optimal cardiovascular health not only protects the heart but also improves overall physical and psychological well-being, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

The study, conducted by Dr. Liliana Aguayo and colleagues at Emory’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and Global Diabetes Research Center, analyzed data from nearly 500 peer-reviewed studies. It examined how adherence to the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7™ and its updated Life’s Essential 8™, which now includes sleep affects long-term health outcomes beyond the cardiovascular system. These metrics include not smoking, healthy eating, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and sleep.

Key findings revealed that individuals who follow heart-healthy behaviors are more likely to retain brain, lung, vision, hearing, and muscle function as they age. They also have lower stress levels and cortisol, fewer chronic illnesses like cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and depression, and face reduced risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and mobility issues.

Moreover, these individuals report a higher quality of life and lower healthcare costs due to decreased medical utilization and non-cardiovascular disease-related expenses.

The study highlights the wide-ranging benefits of even modest lifestyle changes. It calls for expanded research on underrepresented populations, including children and pregnant women, to better understand the broader impact of cardiovascular health.

“While we recently learned that heart-health and brain health are closely tied, in this review we found that almost every organ system and bodily function from head to toe benefit from a heart-healthy lifestyle,” said Aguayo, the study’s lead author.

Reference: JOUR Cardiovascular Health, 2010 to 2020: A Systematic Review of a Decade of Research on Life's Simple 7, Aguayo, Liliana, Cotoc, Crina et al., Journal of the American Heart Association

doi: 10.1161/JAHA.124.038566

Women diagnosed with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDP) are less likely to initiate or continue breastfeeding, potentially missing out on long-term heart health benefits, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy disproportionately impact non-Hispanic Black/African American and American Indian/Alaskan Native women, contributing to significant health inequities. Importantly, Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy also increase long-term risks for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney disorders.

In this study, researchers from Yale School of Medicine analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), covering over 205,000 participants who gave birth between 2016 and 2021. The sample represented a weighted population of nearly 11 million women from 43 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy was defined by self-reported high blood pressure, preeclampsia, or eclampsia before or during pregnancy. Breastfeeding initiation and duration were measured through postpartum survey responses.

The study found that women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy had 11% higher odds of never breastfeeding. Among those who initiated, they were 17% more likely to stop early, with a median breastfeeding duration 17 weeks shorter than their counterparts without hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

“This paper provides foundational knowledge on which to build future studies to understand how our health systems can best support those individuals with hypertension in reaching their personal infant feeding goals. As a system, we must do better about supporting women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in reaching whatever their infant feeding goal may be, particularly if it involves any amount of breastfeeding. Such support could promise long term improvements in health outcomes for many pregnant individuals and their infants, especially among communities with high risk of cardiometabolic disease and breastfeeding cessation,” said Deanna Nardella, an instructor of pediatrics and physician-scientist with Yale School of Medicine and first author of the study.

Reference: Nardella D, Canavan ME, Taylor SN, Sharifi M. Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Among US Women. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(7):e2521902. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.21902

Puerto Plata — The humanitarian mission “Continuing Promise 2025″ aboard the U.S. hospital ship USNS Comfort carried out a comprehensive medical operation this Saturday at the Professor Javier Martínez Arias Polytechnic in Puerto Plata, where more than 1,500 people received free care in various medical specialties.

The event was conducted by Comfort staff in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Health and the U.S. Embassy, providing services in general medicine, dentistry, optometry, women’s health, dermatology, pharmacy, and cardiovascular evaluation. Participants were also provided with medications, vitamins, corrective lenses, and school kits.

Captain Dan Reiher, deputy commander of the mission, explained that, in addition to the care provided on land, 35 surgeries were performed on board the ship, following a medical evaluation process that began on the first day of the mission.

“This visit included medical care, training, and veterinary assistance . We performed surgeries such as cataracts, hernias, and breast reductions. We also provided dental care, medications, and school supplies. It has been a very positive effort,” said the captain, who also confirmed that the ship will depart on Monday for its next destination: Costa Rica.

• The medical event was part of a broader agenda that also included, hours earlier, a beach cleanup on the Puerto Plata boardwalk in collaboration with the Clean Ocean Foundation, and an earthquake rescue drill with the participation of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), Civil Defense, the Red Cross, and specialized units of the Armed Forces.

The day’s agenda continued with first aid training for first responders at the Puerto Plata Air Base, veterinary assistance sessions, and a free concert in Central Park featuring the Comfort Crew’s band, Uncharted Waters.

About the Continuing Promise 2025 mission and the USNS Comfort

Continuing Promise 2025 is a U.S. Southern Command humanitarian mission, coordinated by the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic, that aims to strengthen regional cooperation through free medical services, joint training, and community activities.

The USNS Comfort, one of the largest U.S. hospital ships in the world, has visited the Dominican Republic seven times. This time, it concentrated its operations in Puerto Plata before continuing its route to Costa Rica.

The mission combines healthcare, disaster response, cultural exchange, and support for vulnerable communities.

Cancer patients in Barbados are now being seen within just two weeks of diagnosis at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), a dramatic improvement from previous wait times that stretched to nearly five months.

Hospital officials on Friday hailed the development as a major step forward in cancer care, bringing the QEH in line with — and even exceeding — international standards.

“We’re achieving better than world standards,” declared QEH Chief Executive Officer Neil Clark.

“Fourteen days is the standard the NHS in the UK aspires to and often doesn’t achieve. I’m so proud of what the team has done.”

The announcement came on Friday at a media briefing where doctors and senior staff outlined a sweeping overhaul of the hospital’s oncology services.

The transformation, they said, wasn’t driven by any drop in demand — quite the opposite. It was the result of deliberate decisions to expand clinic capacity, clear patient backlogs, and increase frontline staffing.

Consultant radiation oncologist, Dr Lalitha Sripathi, said the difference has been dramatic: “Once a new cancer patient is registered with us, the time to see the patient used to be around 140 days. Now it has come down to just a couple of weeks.”

The number of new patients seen each month has also doubled, from around 25 to nearly 50, while follow-up visits now top 700.

Officials further reported that the department is on track to exceed 800 visits this month, following a campaign to bring forward patients who were previously scheduled for later in the year.

“We had patients who were registered in March and weren’t scheduled to be seen until September,” said senior radiation therapist Ian Weithers.

“We made adjustments to bring them in earlier,” he added, clarifying that the new numbers do not necessarily represent a spike in new cases, but an intentional move to become more efficient.

Weithers, who also serves as operations manager, acknowledged that the shift required more than just rescheduling.

“Our staff are sometimes here from early in the morning, pressing on until 5 p.m. to handle new consultations,” he said.

“It’s intense work, but there’s deep commitment in this department. We all have family and friends who have been through this system.”

The team credited much of the progress to new leadership and structural changes within the oncology unit, noting that the department is preparing to deliver even more advanced treatment with the linear accelerator set to be commissioned soon.

“We’re gearing up to provide world-class radiation treatment and we’re also adding a clinical oncologist, a haematologist, a medical oncologist, physicists, and radiographers to make this a comprehensive cancer service,” Dr Sripathi said.

The specialist didn’t just focus on treatment. She used her time at the podium to deliver a blunt and passionate message about cancer levels in Barbados, encouraging prevention.

“The most common cancers I see in women are breast cancer. In men, it’s colon cancer, followed by prostate,” she said. “And sadly, we’re seeing them in younger people, including a 20-year-old recently diagnosed with breast cancer.”

She warned against red and processed meats, sugary drinks, and canned foods, calling them proven carcinogens, while also urging Barbadians to stay active, cut alcohol and tobacco use, and undergo regular screening.

“Most cancers are preventable,” she said. “And once mutations happen, they can become hereditary. That’s when we start seeing cancer in the next generation.”

Dr Sripathi encouraged women to begin annual mammograms at age 40 and also advised men to start prostate screening by age 40.

She further recommended colonoscopies from age 50, or earlier in cases of family history.

Her warnings were solidified by a simple but profound statement: “Cancer is becoming a lifestyle disease.” (SM)

The post QEH slashes cancer patient wait time ‘from months to days’ appeared first on Barbados Today.

A senior ambulance official has defended Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) emergency crews after public criticism of an apparent delay in rushing a young motorcyclist to hospital, insisting that stabilising patients at the roadside now takes priority over speed.

Senior ambulance officer Trevor Bynoe stressed that what bystanders saw as a delay was in fact adherence to essential on-scene treatment protocols rather.

Responding to criticism after a serious collision on Baxters Road involving a young motorcyclist, Bynoe said what looked like inaction was actually a full patient assessment and stabilisation at the roadside.

“Pre-hospital emergency care doesn’t start when the ambulance pulls up, it begins with dispatch,” Bynoe explained to journalists at a press briefing on Friday.

“Our dispatchers ask scripted questions so that by the time we’re en route, EMTs and paramedics already have a mental picture of what they’re going into.”

Bynoe referred to concerns from onlookers, who said the injured man remained in the ambulance for what seemed an extended period before being taken to hospital. Bystanders questioned why he was not immediately rushed away, but Bynoe said that notion is outdated.

“Once upon a time it was all about speed. Now, it’s about treatment, care, and getting there safely,” he said.

“We don’t do ‘load and go’ anymore. That was over 40 years ago when [EMTs] had no formal training.”

“It’s not about delay, it’s about doing a full assessment before moving the patient. That includes spine, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis. If you miss one thing, it can be detrimental.”

The crew on scene consisted of EMTs who are trained to conduct thorough examinations, administer oxygen, dress wounds and stabilise injuries prior to moving a patient.

Paramedics, where available, can conduct more invasive procedures, such as treating cardiac conditions, starting intravenous feeds (IVs) and assisting diabetics.

Bynoe noted that in this case, the patient had abrasions.

“So they dressed all [the wounds], and then they communicated to [Accident & Emergency] so that staff there would know what to expect…,” he said.

He also stressed that every scene begins with a safety survey, both for the crew and the patient.

The QEH’s Chief Operations Officer Christine Greenidge added that much of the misunderstanding stems from the public not being familiar with how emergency services prioritise treatment.

“It’s not understood by the general public. It’s the whole idea of triaging,” she said.

“There’s going to be certain levels of priorities and that process of triaging allows the medical practitioner to discern whether your injuries are life or death and you become priority.”

Bynoe acknowledged that public perception has not caught up with the realities of modern emergency care.

“People think we just throw the person in and go. No. That was before 1984. Today, EMTs are trained in CPR [cardio-pulmonary resuscitation], oxygen delivery, even childbirth,” he said.

“And our teams work hard to constantly improve the service.”

He also revealed that the hospital has implemented speed caps on ambulances in the interest of safety.

“At a certain speed, say 100 kilometres, the vehicle gives an alert. If it’s exceeded for a justified reason, I’m alerted, and I review it. But there’s a cap. It’s not all about speed anymore.”

Hospital officials urged the public and media not to rush to judgement or portray emergency crews unfairly.

“Sometimes the environment is hazardous. Sometimes the patient is unstable. The goal is to treat, not just to move fast,” Bynoe said.

“There’s a reason we ask questions, assess on scene, and communicate clearly with A&E.”

The condition of the motorcyclist injured in the Baxters Road collision was not revealed up to the time of publication. Police investigations into the crash are ongoing. 

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb

The post EMT official defends on-scene treatment after crash delay criticism appeared first on Barbados Today.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is set to begin delivering advanced cancer treatment on its long-awaited linear accelerator as early as September, senior officials confirmed on Friday.

Corey Drakes, project coordinator and QEH physicist, said the installation of the state-of-the-art radiotherapy machine is scheduled for mid-August.

“We can expect a final site visit at the end of July. After that, once everything is satisfactory, we will proceed with the rigging and installation. That’s scheduled to take place in the middle of August, and we can expect our first treatment somewhere between mid to late September 2025,” Drakes told a media briefing at the hospital’s boardroom.

Chief Executive Officer Neil Clark acknowledged recent public concern over delays in the project and explained that the hospital intentionally imported the equipment early to avoid shipping and customs delays, while site preparations were still underway.

“Progress has been impacted by two key factors… the extended timeline associated with the procurement of the necessary civil works [and] the structural and remedial works required to house and operate the machine have also taken longer than anticipated,” he said.

“These works are complex and involve specialised engineering and different subcontractors to ensure compliance with international safety and performance standards for radiotherapy equipment.”

Clark stressed that the delays were not due to inaction but rather a deliberate effort to ensure the facility meets global best practices.

The CEO said the QEH has continued to support cancer patients through overseas treatment arrangements in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, “ensuring no one is left without care”.

“When operational, this linear accelerator will significantly expand our capacity to deliver high-quality cancer care right here in Barbados,” he added.

The officials reported that 99 per cent of the civil works are complete and preparations for installation are in their final stages.
Once operational, the linear accelerator will mark a major milestone in Barbados’ cancer treatment infrastructure. (SM)

The post QEH to begin advanced cancer care in September appeared first on Barbados Today.