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Top Medical Colleges in Karnataka

Karnataka
is a state in the southwestern region of India. It has a rich history and cultural heritage.The state is
also an important center for education and research, with many prestigious
educational institutions.

Karnataka
is a state in the southwestern region of India. It has a rich history and cultural heritage.The state is
also an important center for education and research, with many prestigious
educational institutions.

Karnataka
has a relatively good healthcare system, with government and private healthcare
facilities available. The government of Karnataka has taken several initiatives
to improve healthcare services, including introducing several health schemes
and establishing new medical colleges and hospitals.

Tamil
Nadu and Karnataka are the top two states with the maximum number of MBBS and
PG medical seats in the country. While Tamil Nadu is at the top of the list
with the highest number of MBBS seats, Karnataka comes next and offers 10,995
seats. Karnataka has the maximum number of seats in the PG category - 6006 as
of 2023.

The
Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) conducts the state counseling for NEET UG and NEET PG. The
counseling process is completed online and begins after the NEET UG and NEET PG results are
declared. Candidates who have qualified for NEET UG and NEET PG and fulfil the eligibility
criteria can register for the counseling process on the KEA official website.

During
counseling, students can choose their preferred medical college and course
based on their NEET UG and NEET PG scores and ranking. The KEA releases a merit list based on
the scores, and candidates are called for counseling accordingly.

They
must then submit their original documents and pay the counseling fee. After the process is complete, the KEA releases a seat allotment
list based on the choices made by the candidates and the availability of seats
in the colleges.

Those
allotted a seat must report to the college within the specified time frame and
complete the admission formalities. If a candidate fails to report to the
college on time, their seat may be forfeited, and the seat may be allotted to
another candidate in the subsequent rounds of counseling.

The
MCC/DGHS for Undergraduate Medical Colleges conducts the counseling for
successful candidates for Seats under 15% All India Quota and 100% including
85% State Quota of Central Institutions (ABVIMS & RML Hospital/VMMC &
Safdarjung Hospital/ESIC)/ Central Universities (including DU/ BHU /AMU)/AIIMS/
JIPMER and Deemed Universities.

MCC
merely completes the AFMC registration process and provides the AFMC Officials
with the information of enrolled Candidates for the admissions procedure. The
grade may be applied to any additional pertinent classes that DU/BHU or other
Universities give.

According
to the National Medical Commission's official website, these are the recognized
government and private medical colleges.

Government Medical Colleges in Karnataka:

1. Mysore Medical College and Research
Institute, Mysore

Mysore
Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI) is a medical college in
Mysore, Karnataka, India. It was previously known as Government Medical College
and was established in 1924. The college is affiliated with the (RGUHS) Rajiv
Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, and is recognized by the
National Medical Commission (NMC). The college offers undergraduate MBBS and
postgraduate courses like MD and MS in various medical disciplines such as
medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, dermatology,
ophthalmology, orthopedics, ENT, psychiatry, anesthesiology, radiology, etc. It
also has a well-equipped hospital with modern facilities catering to Mysore's
healthcare needs and surrounding areas.

2. Bangalore Medical College and Research
Institute, Bangalore

Bangalore
Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) is a medical college located in
Bangalore, Karnataka, India. It was established in 1955 as a private medical
college and was later taken over by the Government of Karnataka in 1957. It is
affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, and
is recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC). BMCRI offers
undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate courses MD, MS.

It
also has a well-equipped hospital with modern facilities that provides
healthcare services to Bangalore and surrounding areas. BMCRI is one of the
premier medical colleges in India and has produced many renowned doctors and
medical professionals over the years.

3. Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences,
Hubballi

Karnataka
Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) is a medical college in Hubballi,
Karnataka, India. It was established in 1957 as a district hospital and was
later upgraded to a medical college in 1963. The college is affiliated with the
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, and is recognized by the
National Medical Commission (NMC). KIMS offers undergraduate MBBS and
postgraduate courses in various medical disciplinesKIMS is known for its
high-quality medical education and research and has produced many renowned
doctors and medical professionals over the years.

4. Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences,
Bellary

Vijayanagar
Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) is a medical college in Bellary,
Karnataka, India. It was established in 1961 as a district hospital and was
later upgraded to a medical college in 2006. The college is affiliated with the
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, and is recognized by the
National Medical Commission (NMC).

VIMS
offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate courses in various medical
disciplines such as pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, dermatology,
ophthalmology, orthopedics, ENT, psychiatry, anesthesiology, etc

5. Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences,
Belagavi

Belagavi
Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS) is a medical college in Belagavi, Karnataka,
India. The institute was established in 2005 and is affiliated with the Rajiv
Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). BIMS is recognized by the
National Medical Commission (NMC) and
offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate courses in medical sciences.

The
institute has a 750 bedded hospital attached to it, which provides medical
services to patients from the surrounding areas. The hospital has departments
such as General Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Ophthalmology, ENT, Orthopedics, Dermatology, and Psychiatry. The hospital also
has facilities for specialized services such as cardiology, neurology,
nephrology, and gastroenterology.

BIMS
has a well-qualified faculty who are experts in their respective fields. The
college has modern infrastructure and facilities like a library, lecture halls,
laboratories, and research centers. The institute also has a hostel for
students and provides various sports and recreational facilities.

6. Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences,
Hassan

Hassan
Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) is a medical college in Hassan, Karnataka. The college was established in 2006 and is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi
University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bangalore. HIMS is recognized by the National
Medical Commission (NMC) and offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate courses
MD, MS.

The
college has a 500 bedded hospital attached to it, which provides medical
services to patients from the surrounding areas. The college is committed to
providing quality medical science education and strongly focuses on research
and innovation.

7. Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences,
Mandya

Mandya
Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) is a medical college in Mandya, Karnataka,
India. The college was established in 2005 and is affiliated with the
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bangalore. MIMS is
recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate
courses.

The
institute has a 500 bedded hospital attached to it, which provides medical
services to patients from the surrounding areas.

8. Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences,
Raichur

Raichur
Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) is a medical college in Raichur,
Karnataka. The college was established in 2007 and is affiliated with the Rajiv
Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bangalore. RIMS is recognized by
the National Medical Commission (NMC)
and offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate courses.

RIMS
has a well-qualified faculty with professors who are experts in their
respective fields. The college has modern infrastructure and facilities like a
library, lecture halls, laboratories, and research centres.

9. Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences,
Shimoga

Shimoga
Institute of Medical Sciences is a medical college and hospital in Shimoga,
Karnataka. It was established in 2005. The institute is recognized by the
National Medical Commission (NMC) and offers undergraduate MBBS and
postgraduate courses in various medical specialties.

The
undergraduate course offered by the institute is MBBS, which has an intake
capacity of 150 students per year. The postgraduate courses offered by the
institute include Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery (MS) in various
specialties like General Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, and ENT.

10.
Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences, Bidar

Bidar
Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS) is a medical college and hospital in
Bidar, Karnataka, India. The institute was established in 2005 and is
affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bangalore. BIMS offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in various fields of
medicine, such as MBBS, MD, MS, and diploma courses. The National Medical
Commission (NMC) recognizes the college and is accredited by the National
Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH).

The
college has a well-equipped hospital with modern facilities and technology to
provide quality healthcare to patients.

11. Employees State Insurance Corporation Medical College, Bangalore

The
Employees State Insurance Corporation Medical College (ESIC Medical College) is
in Rajajinagar, Bangalore. It was established in 2012 and is affiliated with
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bangalore. The college is
recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and offers undergraduate and postgraduate
courses in various fields of medicine, such as MBBS, MD, and MS.

The
ESIC Medical College has a well-equipped hospital with modern facilities and
technology to provide quality healthcare to patients. The hospital has various
departments such as general medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology,
ophthalmology, dermatology, psychiatry, etc.

12. Employees State Insurance Corporation Medical College, Gulbarga

The
Employees State Insurance Corporation Medical College (ESIC Medical College) is
a medical college in Gulbarga, Karnataka, India. It is affiliated with Rajiv
Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, and recognized by the National
Medical Commission (NMC).

The
ESIC Medical College was established in 2013 and offered undergraduate (MBBS)
and postgraduate (MD/MS) programs in various specialties. The college is known
for its state-of-the-art infrastructure, experienced faculty, and clinical
training opportunities at the attached ESIC Hospital.

13. Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Gulbarga

The
Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) is a medical college in Gulbarga,
Karnataka, India. It is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences, Bangalore, and recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

GIMS
was established in 2013 and offered undergraduate (MBBS) and postgraduate
(MD/MS) programs in various specialties. The college is known for its
experienced faculty, modern infrastructure, and clinical training opportunities
at the attached GIMS Hospital.

The
GIMS Hospital attached to the college is a 500-bedded hospital that provides
healthcare services to the people of Gulbarga and nearby regions.

14. Koppal Institute of Medical Sciences, Koppal

The
Koppal Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) is a medical college in Koppal,
Karnataka, India. It is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences, Bangalore, and recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

KIMS
was established in 2013 and offers undergraduate (MBBS) and postgraduate
(MD/MS) programs in various specialties. The college is known for its
experienced faculty, modern infrastructure, and clinical training opportunities
at the attached KIMS Hospital.

The
KIMS Hospital attached to the college is a 500-bedded hospital that provides
healthcare services to the people of Koppal and nearby regions.

15.
Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences, Mallasamudra, Mulgund Road, Gadag

The
Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) is a medical college located in
Mallasamudra, Mulgund Road, Gadag, Karnataka. It is affiliated with Rajiv
Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, and recognized by the National
Medical Commission (NMC).

GIMS
was established in 2014 and offers undergraduate (MBBS) and postgraduate
(MD/MS) programs in various specialties. The college is known for its
experienced faculty, modern infrastructure, and clinical training opportunities
at the attached GIMS Hospital.

16. Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences, Karwar

The
Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) is a medical college in Karwar,
Karnataka, India. It is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences, Bangalore, and recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

KIMS
was established in 2016 and offers undergraduate (MBBS) and postgraduate
(MD/MS) programs in various specialties. The college is known for its
experienced faculty, modern infrastructure, and clinical training opportunities
at the attached KIMS Hospital.

17. Chamrajanagar Institute of Medical Sciences, Karnataka

The
Chamarajanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) is a medical college in
Chamarajanagar, Karnataka, India. It is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University
of Health Sciences, Bangalore, and recognized by the National Medical
Commission (NMC).

CIMS
was established in 2016 and offers undergraduate (MBBS) and postgraduate
(MD/MS) programs in various specialties. The college is known for its
experienced faculty, modern infrastructure, and clinical training opportunities
at the attached CIMS Hospital.

The
CIMS Hospital attached to the college is a 300-bedded hospital that provides
healthcare services.

18.
Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences, Kodagu

The
Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) is a medical college in Kodagu,
Karnataka, India. It is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences, Bangalore, and recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

KIMS
was established in 2016 and offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate MD/MS
programs in various specialties. The college is known for its experienced
faculty, modern infrastructure, and clinical training opportunities at the
attached KIMS Hospital.

The
KIMS Hospital attached to the college is a 200-bedded hospital that provides
healthcare services to the people of Kodagu and nearby regions.

19. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College & Research Institute

Shri
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College & Research Institute (ABVIMS) is a
medical college located in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is affiliated
with the Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University and recognized by the
National Medical Commission (NMC).

ABVIMS
was established in 2018 and offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate MD/MS
programs in various specialties. The college is known for its experienced
faculty, modern infrastructure, and clinical training opportunities at the
attached ABVIMS Hospital.

20. Chikkaballapura Institute of Medical Sciences

Chikkaballapura
Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) is a medical college in Chikkaballapura,
Karnataka, India. It is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences, Bangalore, and recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

CIMS
was established in 2016 and offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate MD/MS
programs. The college is known for its experienced faculty, modern
infrastructure, and clinical training opportunities at the attached CIMS
Hospital.

21. Chikkamagaluru Institute of Medical Sciences, Chikkamagaluru

Chikkamagaluru
Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) is a medical college in Chikkamagaluru,
Karnataka. It is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences,
Bangalore, and recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

CIMS
was established in 2016 and offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate MD/MS
programs in various specialties. The college is known for its faculty,
state-of-the-art infrastructure, and clinical training opportunities.

22. Yadgiri Institute of Medical Sciences, Yadgiri

Yadgiri
Institute of Medical Sciences (YIMS) is a medical college located in Yadgir,
Karnataka, India. It is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences, Bangalore, and recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

YIMS
was established in 2013 and offers undergraduate (MBBS) programs. The college
is known for its experienced faculty, modern infrastructure, and clinical
training opportunities at the attached YIMS Hospital. The
YIMS Hospital attached to the college is a 300-bedded hospital that provides
healthcare services to the people of Yadgir and nearby regions.

Private
Medical Colleges In Karnataka:

1. Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

Kasturba
Medical College (KMC) is a premier medical institution in Manipal, Karnataka,
India. It was established in 1953 and is affiliated to the Manipal Academy of
Higher Education (MAHE). KMC is recognized by the National Medical Commission
(NMC) and the General Medical Council (GMC) of Great Britain.

KMC
offers undergraduate and postgraduate medical programs in various
specializations, including MBBS, MD, MS, and MCh. It also offers diploma and
certificate courses in allied health sciences. The college has a well-equipped
hospital with modern facilities, including an intensive care unit, a blood
bank, and a radiology department.

KMC is
known for its high academic standards and has consistently ranked among the top
medical colleges in India. The college has a diverse student population, with
students coming from different parts of India and other countries. The faculty
members are highly qualified and experienced; many are involved in research
activities.

2. Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore

Kasturba
Medical College (KMC), Mangalore, is an integral college of MAHE i.e. Manipal Academy of Higher
Education. It was established in 1955 and is located in Mangalore, Karnataka,
India. KMC, Mangalore, is recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC)
and the General Medical Council (GMC) of Great Britain.

The
college offers undergraduate and postgraduate medical programs in various
specializations, including MBBS, MD, MS, and MCh. It also offers diploma and
certificate courses in allied health sciences.

Manipal
Mangalore has also established collaborations with various international
universities and institutions to promote research and academic exchange.

3. Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College,
Kalaburagi, Gulbarga

Mahadevappa
Rampure Medical College (MRMC) is one of Karnataka's oldest and most reputed
medical colleges. It is spread over 45 acres and is located in the historic
city of Gulbarga. Here are some more details about the college:

MRMC
offers undergraduate (MBBS) and postgraduate (MD, MS) courses in various
specializations. It also offers diploma courses in Medical Laboratory
Technology, Medical Imaging Technology, Operation Theatre Technology, and
Anaesthesia Technology.

The college is affiliated with Rajiv Gandhi
University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bangalore. The degrees awarded by MRMC
are recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The college has a well-equipped hospital with
modern facilities, including an intensive care unit, a blood bank, a radiology
department, and a microbiology department. The college also has well-equipped
laboratories, lecture halls, and a library with a vast collection of medical
books and journals.

MRMC provides excellent clinical exposure to
its students through its hospital, which has a bed strength of over 1000. The
hospital caters to a large population in the region and provides a wide range
of services, including emergency care, outpatient care, and inpatient care.

4. St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore

St.
John's Medical College is a premier medical institution in Bangalore,
Karnataka, India. Established in 1963, it is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi
University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). The National Medical Commission (NMC)
and the General Medical Council of Great Britain recognize the college.

St.
John's Medical College offers undergraduate and postgraduate medical programs,
including MBBS, MD, MS, and diploma courses in various specializations. The
college also provides super-specialty courses like DM and M.Ch. The college has
a well-equipped hospital with modern facilities, including an intensive care
unit, a blood bank, and a radiology department.

St.
John's Medical College strongly emphasizes clinical exposure and hands-on
training. Its students are encouraged to participate in medical camps and
community health programs. The college also has a rural health program where
its students work in rural areas to provide healthcare services to underserved
communities.

5. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Belgaum

Jawaharlal
Nehru Medical College (JNMC) is a medical college located in Belgaum,
Karnataka, India. It is affiliated with the KLE Academy of Higher Education and
Research and is recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The
college was established in 1963 and is named after the first PM of India.

JNMC
offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate medical courses such as MD, MS, MSc,
and PhD in various specialties. The college also has a hospital, KLES Dr.
Prabhakar Kore Hospital & Medical Research Centre, which provides
healthcare services to patients and serves as a training ground for medical
students.

JNMC
is known for its excellent academic standards and is consistently ranked among
the top medical colleges in India. The college has a state-of-the-art infrastructure,
well-equipped laboratories, and experienced faculty.

6. JJM
Medical College, Davangere

J.J.M.
Medical College is a medical college located in Davangere, Karnataka. It is
affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and is recognized
by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The college was established in 1965
and is named after the founder of the Bapuji Educational Association, Sri.
Jagadguru Murugharajendra.

JJM
Medical College offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate medical courses such
as MD, MS, and diploma courses in various specialties. The college has a
hospital, Bapuji Hospital, which provides healthcare services to patients and
serves as a training ground for medical students.

7. M S Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore

M.S.
Ramaiah Medical College (MSRMC) is a medical college located in Bangalore,
Karnataka. It is affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences
and is recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The college was
established in 1979 by the Gokula Education Foundation and is named after its
founder, Sri M.S. Ramaiah.

MSRMC
offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate medical courses such as MD, MS, MCh,
DM, and diploma courses in various specialties. The college has a hospital,
M.S. Ramaiah Medical Teaching Hospital, which provides healthcare services to
patients and serves as a training ground for medical students.

MSRMC
has several other institutions under its umbrella, including a dental college,
a nursing college, and a college of pharmacy. It also has a well-established
alum network and provides opportunities for its graduates to pursue further
studies or careers in India and abroad.

8. Dr. BR Ambedkar Medical College, Bangalore

Dr.
B.R. Ambedkar Medical College is a medical college located in Bangalore,
Karnataka, India. It is affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences and is recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The
college was established in 1981 by the Ananda Social and Educational Trust and
is named after Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

The
college offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate medical courses such as MD,
MS, and diploma courses in various specialties. The college has a hospital,
Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, which provides healthcare services to
patients and serves as a training ground for medical students.

Dr.
B.R. Ambedkar Medical College is known for its excellent academic standards and
is among the top medical colleges in Karnataka. The college has modern
infrastructure, well-equipped laboratories, and experienced faculty who provide
quality education to students. It also encourages research activities among its
students and faculty members and has several research projects and publications
to its credit.

Dr.
B.R. Ambedkar Medical College has several other institutions, including dental
and nursing colleges. The college has a well-established alum network and
provides opportunities for its graduates to pursue further studies or careers
in India and abroad.

9. Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences,
Bangalore

Kempegowda
Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) is a medical college in Bangalore,
Karnataka, India. It is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences and is recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The
college was established in 1980 by the Vokkaligara Sangha and is named after
the founder of Bangalore City, Kempegowda.

KIMS
offers undergraduate courses MBBS and postgraduate medical courses such as MD,
MS, and diploma courses in various specialties. The college has a hospital,
Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, which provides healthcare
services to patients and serves as a training ground for medical students.

The
college is known for its excellent academic standards and is consistently
ranked among the top medical colleges in Karnataka.

10. JSS Medical College, Mysore

JSS Medical College is a renowned medical
college located in Mysore, Karnataka, India. It is affiliated to the Rajiv
Gandhi University of Health Sciences and is recognized by the National Medical
Commission (NMC). The college was established in 1984 by the JSS
Mahavidyapeetha, a charitable trust known for its excellent academic standards.

JSS
Medical College offers undergraduate courses MBBS, and postgraduate medical
courses such as MD, MS, and diploma courses in various specialties. The college
has an 1800-bedded hospital, JSS Hospital, which provides healthcare services
to patients and serves as a training ground for medical students. The hospital
has a modern infrastructure and is equipped with advanced medical equipment and
facilities.

JSS
Medical College strongly focuses on community outreach and provides medical
services to the underprivileged sections of society through various health
camps and initiatives.

The
college has a modern and well-equipped campus with state-of-the-art facilities,
including lecture halls, libraries, laboratories, and hostels. The campus is
over 43 acres of land and has separate blocks for various departments.

11. Al-Ameen Medical College, Bijapur

Al-Ameen
Medical College is located in Bijapur, Karnataka, India. It was established in
1984 by the Al-Ameen Educational Society, a charitable trust. The college is
affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and is recognized
by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

Al-Ameen
Medical College offers undergraduate courses MBBS and postgraduate medical
courses such as MD, MS, and diploma courses in various specialties. The college
has a 1000-bedded hospital, Al-Ameen Hospital, which provides healthcare
services to patients and serves as a training ground for medical students. The
hospital has a modern infrastructure and is equipped with advanced medical
equipment and facilities.

12. Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences Bellur

Adichunchanagiri
Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) is a medical college located in Bellur,
Karnataka. It was established in 1986 by the Adichunchanagiri Shikshana Trust,
a charitable trust. The college is affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of
Health Sciences and is recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

AIMS
offers undergraduate courses MBBS and postgraduate medical courses such as MBBS,
MD, MS, and diploma courses in various specialties. The college has a
700-bedded hospital, Adichunchanagiri Hospital and Research Centre, which
provides healthcare services to patients and serves as a training ground for
medical students.

The
campus is spread over 52 acres of land and has separate blocks for various
departments. The college also has a sports complex, cafeteria, and other
facilities for the overall development of students.

AIMS
has a strong focus on community outreach and provides medical services to underprivileged sections of society through various health camps and
initiatives.

13.
Sri Devaraj URS Medical College, Kolar

Sri
Devaraj Urs Medical College (SDUMC) is a medical college in Kolar, Karnataka. It was established in 1986 by the Sri Devaraj Urs Educational Trust, a
charitable trust. The college is affiliated with the Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of
Higher Education and Research and is recognized by the National Medical
Commission (NMC).

SDUMC
offers undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses such as MBBS, MD, MS, and
diploma courses in various specialties. The college has a 1200-bedded hospital,
Sri Devaraj Urs Hospital, which provides healthcare services to patients.

The
college has experienced faculty members who provide quality education to
students. The faculty members are known for their expertise in their respective
fields and are actively involved in research and publications. SDUMC also
encourages research activities among its students and faculty members and has
several research projects and publications to its credit.

14. Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Vijayapura
(Bijapur)

Shri B
M Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre is a medical college in
Vijayapura (Bijapur), Karnataka, India. The college was established in 1986 by
the BLDE Association, a charitable trust named after its founder, Shri B M
Patil. The college is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences and is recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

The
college offers undergraduate courses MBBS and postgraduate medical courses such
as MD, MS, and diploma courses in various specialties. The college has a
1000-bedded hospital, Shri B M Patil Medical College Hospital & Research
Centre, which provides healthcare services to patients and serves as a training
ground for medical students. The hospital has a modern infrastructure and is equipped
with advanced medical equipment and facilities.

15.
Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur

Sri
Siddhartha Medical College (SSMC) is a medical college located in Tumkur,
Karnataka. It was established in 1988 by Sri Siddhartha Educational Society, a
charitable trust. The college is affiliated with the Sri Siddhartha Academy of
Higher Education and is recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

SSMC
offers undergraduate courses MBBS and postgraduate medical courses such as MD,
MS, and diploma courses in various specialties. The college has a 1350-bedded
hospital, Sri Siddhartha Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, which
provides healthcare services to patients and acts as a teaching hospital for
medical students.

16. MVJ Medical College and Research Hospital, Bangalore

MVJ
Medical College and Research Hospital is a medical college located in
Bangalore, Karnataka, India. It was established in 2001 by Venkatesha Education
Society and is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. The National Medical Commission (NMC) recognizes the college and offers
undergraduate courses MBBS and postgraduate medical courses such as MD, MS, and
diploma courses in various specialties.

The
campus is spread over 27 acres of land and has a modern and well-equipped
campus with state-of-the-art facilities including lecture halls, libraries,
laboratories, and hostels.

17. Yenepoya Medical College, Mangalore

Yenepoya
Medical College is a medical college located in Mangalore, Karnataka. It was
established in 1999 by the Islamic Academy of Education and is affiliated to
Yenepoya University. The college is recognized by the National Medical
Commission (NMC) and offers undergraduate courses MBBS and postgraduate medical
courses such as MD, MS, and diploma courses in various specialties.

The
college has a 950-bedded hospital, Yenepoya Medical College Hospital, which
provides healthcare services to patients and serves as a training ground for
medical students. The hospital has a modern infrastructure and is equipped with
advanced medical equipment and facilities.

Yenepoya
Medical College strongly focuses on community outreach and provides medical
services to underprivileged sections of society through various health
camps and initiatives.

18. K
S Hegde Medical Academy, Mangalore

K S
Hegde Medical Academy is a medical college located in Mangalore, Karnataka,
India. Established in 1999 and is affiliated with Nitte University. The college
is named after the late K S Hegde, a renowned educationist and former Member of
Parliament.

The college
offers undergraduate courses MBBS and postgraduate programs in various medical
and healthcare fields such as MD, MS, M.Sc, etc. The faculty members are highly
qualified. The college has state-of-the-art facilities including a well-stocked
library, modern labs, and well-equipped classrooms.

Apart
from academic excellence, the college also encourages extracurricular
activities and has several clubs and associations in which students to participate. The college strongly emphasizes community service and social
responsibility, and students are encouraged to participate in various outreach
programs.

19. Father Mullers Medical College, Mangalore

Father
Muller Medical College (FMMC) is a medical college located in Mangalore,
Karnataka. It was founded in 1991 by the Father Muller Charitable Institutions
and is affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. The college is
named after Father Augustus Muller, a Jesuit missionary who dedicated his life
to uplifting the poor and the sick.

FMMC
offers MBBS and postgraduate courses, MD, MS. The college has state-of-the-art
facilities, including a well-stocked library, modern labs, and well-equipped
classrooms. The faculty members are highly qualified and experienced in their
respective fields.

Apart
from academic excellence, the college also encourages extracurricular
activities and has several clubs and associations for students to participate
in.

20. K
V G Medical College, Sullia

KVG
Medical College is a medical college located in Sullia, Karnataka. It was
established in 2002 by the KVG Educational Trust and is affiliated with the Rajiv
Gandhi University of Health Sciences. The college has a sprawling campus of
over 50 acres, surrounded by lush greenery and scenic beauty. KVG
Medical College offers undergraduate courses MBBS and postgraduate programs MD,
MS, M.Sc.

21. Basaveswara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga

Basaveswara
Medical College and Hospital (BMCH) is a medical college located in
Chitradurga, Karnataka, India. It was established in 1999 by the Sri Jagadguru
Murugharajendra Vidyapeetha Trust and is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi
University of Health Sciences. The college is named after Basaveshwara, a
renowned social reformer, and philosopher.

BMCH
offers undergraduate courses MBBS and postgraduate programs MD, MS, M.Sc.

22. Khaja Bandanawaz University - Faculty of Medical Sciences, Gulbarga

Khaja
Bandanawaz University, Faculty of Medical Sciences, is a medical college
located in Gulbarga, Karnataka. It was established in 2018 by the Khaja
Education Society and is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences. The college is named after the famous Sufi saint, Khwaja Bandanawaz
Gesudaraz, who is revered in the region for his contributions to social and
religious causes.

The
Faculty of Medical Sciences at Khaja Bandanawaz University offers undergraduate
courses MBBS and postgraduate courses MD, MS. The college has state-of-the-art
facilities including a well-stocked library, modern labs, and well-equipped
classrooms. The faculty members are highly qualified and experienced in their
respective fields.

23. Vydehi Institute Of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bangalore

Vydehi
Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (VIMS) is a medical college
in Bangalore, Karnataka. It was established in 2001 by the Srinivasa Trust and
is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. The college has a
sprawling campus of over 65 acres and is equipped with modern facilities and
infrastructure.

VIMS
offers undergraduate and course MBBS postgraduate programs in MD, MS, M.Sc,
etc. The faculty members are highly qualified and experienced in their
respective fields. The college has a well-stocked library, modern labs, and
well-equipped classrooms.

24. A
J Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Mangalore

A J
Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre is a medical college
located in Mangalore, Karnataka, India. It was established in 2002 by the Laxmi
Memorial Education Trust and is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences.

The
institute offers undergraduate courses MBBS and postgraduate courses MD, MS,
M.Sc. The institution has state-of-the-art laboratories and an extensive
library. The professors are incredibly skilled and knowledgeable in their
areas.

Apart
from academic excellence, the college also encourages extracurricular
activities and has several student clubs.

25. S.
Nijalingappa Medical College & HSK Hospital & Research Centre, Bagalkot

S.
Nijalingappa Medical College & HSK Hospital & Research Centre is a
medical college located in Bagalkot, Karnataka, India. It was established in
2002 by the Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre
Society and is affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.

The
college offers an undergraduate program MBBS and postgraduation programs MS,
MD. The institution has up-to-date laboratories, spacious classrooms, and a
well-stocked library. The professors are experts in their areas.

26. Navodaya Medical College, Raichur

Navodaya
Medical College is located in Raichur, Karnataka, India. It was established in
2002 by the Navodaya Education Trust and is affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi
University of Health Sciences. The college offers MBBS, MS, and MD courses to
students.

27. SDM College of Medical Sciences & Hospital, Sattur, Dharwad

SDM
College of Medical Sciences & Hospital is a medical college located in
Sattur, Dharwad, Karnataka, India. It was established in 2003 by the SDM
Educational Society and is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences.

The
college offers MBBS, MD, MS, and M.Sc. courses to students. The college
encourages students to maintain a balance between academic and
extracurricular activities. The college strongly emphasizes community service
and social responsibility, and doctors are encouraged to participate in various
outreach programs.

28. Rajarajeswari Medical College & Hospital, Bangalore

Rajarajeswari
Medical College & Hospital is a medical college located in Bangalore,
Karnataka. It was established in 2005 by the Moogambigai Charitable and
Educational Trust and is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences.

The
college offers MBBS and postgraduate programs like MD, MS, and M.Sc. to
students.

29. S
S Institute of Medical Sciences& Research Centre, Davangere

S S
Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre is a medical college in
Davangere, Karnataka. It was established in 2006 by the Bapuji Educational
Association and is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. The
college offers MBBS, MD, and MS to students.

30. Srinivas Institute of Medical Research Centre, Srinivasnagar, Mangalore

Srinivas
Institute of Medical Research Centre (SIMRC) is a medical college located in
Srinivasnagar, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. It was established in 2009 by the
A. Shama Rao Foundation is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences.

The
college offers undergraduate program MBBSD and postgraduate programs MD, MS, and M.Sc. in various specialties. The institution has state-of-the-art
laboratories, well-stocked classes, and a filled library. The professors are
highly skilled and knowledgeable in their areas.

Along
with encouraging extracurricular activities, the college also values academic
achievement and offers a variety of organizations and clubs for students to
join. Students are urged to take part in different outreach programs because
the institution places a high priority on civic engagement and societal
responsibility.

31. Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bangalore

Sapthagiri
Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre is a medical college and
hospital located in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The institute is affiliated
with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. The college offers
undergraduate medical courses, MBBS, postgraduate courses MS, MD in various
specializations, allied medical science courses, and super-specialty courses-
DM, M.Ch in some specialties like Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Surgical
Oncology, and Interventional Radiology.

Sapthagiri
Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre is known for its quality
education and has produced several successful doctors working in different
parts of the country and abroad. The college also provides various
opportunities for students to participate in extracurricular activities and
events, making it a well-rounded educational experience.

32. Subbaiah Institute of Medical Sciences, Shimoga, Karnataka

Subbaiah
Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS) is a well-known medical college in
Shimoga, Karnataka. Established in 2012 by the Sri Devaraj Urs Educational
Trust, SIMS is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.

SIMS
offers MBBS, MD, and MS courses to students. The college boasts modern facilities and state-of-the-art labs. The faculty comprises experienced professors in
their respective fields. SIMS has a multispecialty teaching hospital that
provides quality healthcare services to patients from all walks of life.

33. Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Hospital, Tumkur

Shridevi
Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Hospital (SIMS&R) is a medical
college in Tumkur, Karnataka. Established in 2013, the college is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.

SIMS&R
offers undergraduate courses, MBBS, and postgraduate programs MD, MS. Patients
from the nearby regions can receive high-quality medical treatment at the
teaching hospital operated by SIMS&R. The hospital is staffed by a group of
highly qualified and experienced physicians and healthcare workers. It has
modern facilities and cutting-edge medical technology.

34. BGS Global Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore

BGS
Global Institute of Medical Sciences (BGSIMS) is a medical college in
Bangalore, Karnataka. It was established in 2013 and is affiliated with the Rajiv
Gandhi University of Health Sciences.BGSIMS
offers an undergraduate course, MBBS, and postgraduate course, MD, MS, in various
specialties.

35.
The Oxford Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Bangalore

The
Oxford Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre is a leading medical
institution located in Bangalore, Karn taka. Established in 2013, the college
is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences.

The
college provides students with graduate programs in MBBS and postgraduate MD,
and MS in many medical specialties. The institution has state-of-the-art
facilities, and the faculty offers pupils excellent education as they are
incredibly qualified and seasoned.

36.
Sambharam Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Kolar

It is a private medical college located in
Kolar, Karnataka, India. The college is affiliated with RGUHS and offers
undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses.

The
undergraduate courses offered by the college include MBBS, while the
postgraduate courses offered are Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery
(MS) in various specializations. The
college has a well-equipped library, anatomy and physiology labs, and modern
medical equipment. It also has a teaching hospital with a capacity of 650 beds,
providing medical care to patients and hands-on training to students.

37.
Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalore

Kanachur
Institute of Medical Sciences is a private medical college in Mangalore,
Karn taka. The college is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences (RGUHS).

The
undergraduate courses offered by the college include MBBS, while the
postgraduate courses offered are Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery
(MS) in various specializations. The
college has a well-equipped library, anatomy and physiology labs, and modern
medical equipment. It also has a teaching hospital with a capacity of 600 beds,
providing medical care to patients and hands-on training to students.

38.
Akash Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Devanhalli,
Bangalore, Karnataka

Akash
Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre is a renowned private medical
college in Devanahalli, Bang lore. The college offers an undergraduate medical
course MBBS and is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences (RGUHS).

The
teaching hospital affiliated with the college has a bed capacity of 750 and
provides exceptional medical care to patients while offering hands-on training
to the students.

The
college's faculty consists of highly experienced members committed to providing
students with superior medical education. They are also well-versed in the
latest medical technologies and regularly participate in continuing medical
education programs to stay up-to-date.

39.
East Point College of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bangalore

East
Point College of Medical Sciences & Research Centre is a private medical
college in Bangalore, Karnataka.

The
undergraduate courses offered by the college is MBBS, while the postgraduate
courses offered include Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery (MS) in
many specializations.

The
college has an ensemble of knowledgeable professors committed to giving pupils
a top-notch medical education. They employ cutting-edge teaching strategies and
make sure the program is up-to-date with the most recent developments in the
field of medicine.

40.
Sri Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bangalore

Sri
Siddhartha Medical College and Hospital, located in Tumkur, Karnataka, India,
is affiliated with the Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education.

Sri
Siddhartha Medical College and Hospital offers undergraduate and postgraduate
medical courses, including Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
and Doctor of Medicine (MD), and Master of Surgery (MS) in various
specializations. The college has a well-equipped library, anatomy and
physiology labs, and modern medical equipment. The teaching hospital affiliated
with the college has a bed capacity of 1300 and provides medical care to
patients while offering students hands-on training.

41.
Dr. Chandramma Dayananda Sagar Instt. of Medical Education & Research,
Harohalli, Hubli

Dayananda
Sagar University is located in Bangalore, Karn taka. The university offers an
undergraduate medical course, MBBS, affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University
of Health Sciences (R UHS). The university also offers postgraduate medical
courses, including Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery (MS) in
various specializations.

It has
a teaching hospital with a bed capacity of 1350, providing medical care to
patients and hands-on training to students.

The
university has a team of highly experienced faculty members who use innovative
teaching methods. They ensure that the curriculum is up-to-date with the latest
advancements in the medical field.

42. G
R Medical College Hospital & Research Centre

G R
Medical College Hospital & Research Centre is a private medical college
located in Koppa, Mangalore, Karnataka. The college offers undergraduate
courses, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), and postgraduate
medical courses, Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery (MS) in various
specializations.

The
college has a well-equipped library, modern anatomy and physiology labs, and
advanced medical equipment. Additionally, the teaching hospital affiliated with
the college has a bed capacity of 1200, providing medical care to patients and
offering hands-on training to students.

43.
Jagadguru Gangadhar Mahaswamigalu Moorusavirmath Medical College 

Jagadguru
Gangadhar Mahaswamigal (JGMM) Medical College is a medical college in Mysore,
Karnataka. The college is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences and offers MBBS and postgraduation courses, MD, and MS courses in
various specializations.

The
college is named after the revered saint Jagadguru Gangadhar Mahaswamigal, who
was a prominent spiritual leader and social reformer in the region. The college
is committed to providing the community with high-quality medical education and
healthcare service.

44.
Siddaganga Medical College and Research Institute, Tumakuru

Siddaganga
Medical College and Research Institute (SMCRI) is a medical college in
Tumakuru, Karn taka. The college is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University
of Health Sciences and is recognized by the National Medical Commission  NMC).
It offers undergraduate MBBS and postgraduate MD/MS courses in various medical
specializations.

The
college is part of the larger Siddaganga Educational Society, founded by the
renowned social reformer and philanthropist Sri Sri Shivakumara Swamiji. The
college is committed to providing the community with high-quality medical
education and healthcare services. It has a team of experienced faculty members
and state-of-the-art facilities to support its mission.

2 years 2 months ago

Blog,State News,News,Karnataka

Health

Common nutrient deficiencies – Know the signs

YOU MAY think nutrient deficiencies are a thing of the past, but even today, it is possible to lack some of the essential nutrients your body needs to function optimally. Nutrient deficiencies alter bodily functions and processes at the most basic...

YOU MAY think nutrient deficiencies are a thing of the past, but even today, it is possible to lack some of the essential nutrients your body needs to function optimally. Nutrient deficiencies alter bodily functions and processes at the most basic...

2 years 2 months ago

Health

Creating a better you

STROLLING PAST pharmacy or drugstore shelves teeming with dietary supplements might make you wonder: Am I getting enough nutrients? The $35-billion per year supplement industry feeds this curiosity with splashy labels and claims, hoping to fuel the...

STROLLING PAST pharmacy or drugstore shelves teeming with dietary supplements might make you wonder: Am I getting enough nutrients? The $35-billion per year supplement industry feeds this curiosity with splashy labels and claims, hoping to fuel the...

2 years 2 months ago

Health | NOW Grenada

Outbreak of gastroenteritis and acute respiratory infections

Dr Charles recommended that people who are infected should seek medical care

View the full post Outbreak of gastroenteritis and acute respiratory infections on NOW Grenada.

Dr Charles recommended that people who are infected should seek medical care

View the full post Outbreak of gastroenteritis and acute respiratory infections on NOW Grenada.

2 years 2 months ago

General News, Health, acute respiratory infection, ari, e coli, gastro, gastroenteritis, linda straker, norovirus, rotavirus, shawn charles

Health – Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana

Registration opens for UG’s 2nd Diaspora Conference in May, 2023; calls for papers

The University of Guyana (UG), now in its 60th year, is set to host its 2nd Diaspora  Conference at the Turkeyen Campus, Greater Georgetown, Guyana, during the period  May 8-10, 2023 under the theme “Calling 592: Honouring, Researching, Reigniting  Diaspora.” The Diaspora Conference is one of several signature events being hosted by the  University this ...

The University of Guyana (UG), now in its 60th year, is set to host its 2nd Diaspora  Conference at the Turkeyen Campus, Greater Georgetown, Guyana, during the period  May 8-10, 2023 under the theme “Calling 592: Honouring, Researching, Reigniting  Diaspora.” The Diaspora Conference is one of several signature events being hosted by the  University this ...

2 years 2 months ago

Agriculture, Aviation, Business, Caribbean, Citizenship and Immigration, Commerce, Culture, Culture & Society, Education, Health, News

Healio News

FDA asks AbbVie for more information on Parkinson’s treatment pump

The FDA has issued a complete response letter to AbbVie regarding its new drug application for ABBV-951 for the treatment of motor fluctuations in adults with advanced Parkinson’s disease.According to a press release from AbbVie, the FDA, in its NDA review, requested additional information about the pump used for the subcutaneous delivery of ABBV-951 (foscarbidopa/foslevodopa), which is a solut

ion of carbidopa and levodopa prodrugs. However, the letter does not request additional safety and efficacy trials related to the drug.The NDA submission, made in May 2022, was based on results

2 years 2 months ago

Health | NOW Grenada

Care institutions thankful for annual Grenlec grants

The GCPI is funded through 5% of Grenlec’s pretax profits to improve the quality of life of communities in which the Company operates

View the full post Care institutions thankful for annual Grenlec grants on NOW Grenada.

The GCPI is funded through 5% of Grenlec’s pretax profits to improve the quality of life of communities in which the Company operates

View the full post Care institutions thankful for annual Grenlec grants on NOW Grenada.

2 years 2 months ago

Business, Community, Health, PRESS RELEASE, care insitutions, grenlec, grenlec community partnership initiative, prudence greenidge

Health Archives - Barbados Today

Concerns over use of bins


Local officials are calling on Barbadians to use the state-issued roll-out garbage cart and recycling bins correctly especially in light of a reported increase in the rat problem on the island.


Local officials are calling on Barbadians to use the state-issued roll-out garbage cart and recycling bins correctly especially in light of a reported increase in the rat problem on the island.

Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officer Ronald Chapman told Barbados TODAY that ministry officials were very concerned with the way some Barbadians were using the new collection carts, which are part of the Residential Waste Collection Improvement Project. 

“What we have been finding is that persons have been keeping the bins at their premises and continuing to put the garbage next to the street and at the curb. This has been causing us a spot of bother, because those bins are constructed in such a way, that they do not allow for rodents to get in, [and] they are hard enough that the rodents can not gnaw through them.

“When persons continue to use the old plastic bins, the 65 gallon drums with the holes at the bottom, or continue to put the garbage next to the road, then they provide sufficient food for the rodents because now the feral chickens pick it out, the dogs pull it out, and the rats have a feast,” Chapman said.   

Though communities around the island have access to these new bins, Chapman charged that some residents were refusing to use them for garbage-collecting purposes, and even went as far as just dumping their refuse on the sides of roads, in the hope that it would be collected by the SSA.

“Don’t put the garbage next to the road anymore because the [SSA workers] are not collecting it. It’s just going to sit there next to the road and cause us lots and lots of problems and it makes no sense having these state-of-the-art garbage bins tucked away in your backyard, and then the garbage next to the road, where you have to pass to get into your home.”

He stressed: “This is an issue that is contributing to the number of rodents that we are having here on the island, it is contributing to the fly breeding as well. You get a state-of-the-art bin, use it for what it was intended for, that is to store your refuse until the Sanitation Service Authority can pass and collect it.”

Chapman noted, that while some older members of the society may have difficulty moving the bins from their residences to the corner in areas where SSA trucks cannot easily access, they can leave the bins at the corner where the refuse would be collected. 

“We encourage persons like that to leave the bin at the corner, nobody is going to steal it, everybody has bins. I think some people when they got the bins, they treat them like they are too good for garbage… they are there to put refuse in, and put it in such a way that restricts flies, rodents and other vermin and stops the fowls and dogs from getting to the garbage.

Public Relations Officer with the SSA Carl Padmore, supported Chapman’s comments appealing for a more considerate disposal of garbage.

“We want Barbadians to treat to waste in a decent and sensible manner,” he said. (SB)

The post Concerns over use of bins appeared first on Barbados Today.

2 years 2 months ago

A Slider, Environment, Health, Local News

PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization

1 in 6 people globally affected by infertility: WHO

1 in 6 people globally affected by infertility: WHO

Cristina Mitchell

4 Apr 2023

1 in 6 people globally affected by infertility: WHO

Cristina Mitchell

4 Apr 2023

2 years 2 months ago

Health Archives - Barbados Today

Former PM not supporting shifting Bay Street offices; bemoans lack of concern for societal impact


By Jenique Belgrave


By Jenique Belgrave

Former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart is not in favor of any plan to relocate Government Headquarters from Bay Street to make room for any future tourism development.

He made this clear while speaking on the current administration’s decision to move the Geriatric Hospital on Beckles Road to the Botanical Gardens in Waterford, St Michael.

“I passed where we are going to have the new Geriatric Hospital so that we can release the land in Beckles Road to private investment. When I was Prime Minister, some people came to Barbados telling me that where Government Headquarters is would be good for tourism development and that the Prime Minister’s office should be moved up to Ilaro Court.

“I said ‘I don’t have any problem with that suggestion, just come back and tell me when the White House is going to be moved in the United States; come back and tell me when Number 10 Downing Street is going to be moved and when 28 Sussex Drive In Canada will be moved and where’. I haven’t heard from any of them since,” he stated.

Saying the island once had the belief that the achievements of its people are important and in need of protection, the former leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) lamented that now “all life in Barbados today is about transactions” with no concern being given to the societal impact. 

“They do not discuss the social implications of anything going on in Barbados. It is just the bottomline, what the transaction will yield and what it will yield for certain people’s pockets,” he charged.

Speaking at the DLP’s City branch meeting at Baxter’s Road over the weekend, Stuart said the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is failing both residential and commercial Bridgetown. He said that since the current administration came into power there has been no transformation of The City either for those who live there or who work there.

The former prime minister pointed out that while Bridgetown was a bustling hub of commercial activity for 69 years, this has declined significantly over the past decade and that the current government has done little to address it.

Commenting on the residential areas in the capital however, he acknowledged that these have not been given any attention for decades.

“Whenever there is upheaval, residential Bridgetown is not regarded as being deserving of economic attention,” he said, while pointing out that several of its communities including Greenfield, New Orleans, Nelson Street and Chapman Lane are in serious need of development.

“The people in Nelson Street do not want any open space. They want proper housing, proper roads, access to the services and the amenities that people in other areas in Barbados have. People in Greenfield want that, in Chapman Lane and the Orleans want that. Residential Bridgetown has been ignored for the last 77 years,” he said, while pointing out that Barbados could not be developed without its main town.

Stuart told the meeting that now is the time to develop forward-thinking policies to take the nation further.

“We also have to formulate policies to carry Barbados into the future. I do not think that we can credibly formulate any policy to carry Barbados into the future, unless we have policies for residential Bridgetown because for too many years they have been the Cinderellas in City politics, stereotyped as the criminal element…and we cannot credibly come back to the people of Barbados unless we have a policy to rehabilitate residential Bridgetown.”  

jeniquebelgrave@barbadostoday.bb

The post Former PM not supporting shifting Bay Street offices; bemoans lack of concern for societal impact appeared first on Barbados Today.

2 years 2 months ago

A Slider, Business, Health, Local News, Politics

Health – Dominican Today

Minister of Health calls not to install ambulatory swimming pools in neighborhoods

On Monday, the President of the Health Cabinet and Minister of Public Health, Daniel Rivera, advised against wasting water by using community pools installed in neighborhoods during the Easter holiday due to the severe drought the country is currently experiencing. He suggested using the authorized beaches and rivers for the week instead.

Rivera stated that walk-in pools should not be used since they require a significant amount of water. When asked about the risk of cholera associated with these pools, the minister said they would only pose a risk if installed in sectors where previous cases were reported.

He cited the example of La Zurza, where surveillance measures are maintained despite no new infections reported, and where community members continue to bathe despite signs prohibiting it. Rivera reported that, as of Sunday, April 2, only one patient with suspected symptoms was under observation for cholera, and there were no hospitalizations for cholera or COVID-19.

As a result, he said the coverage strategy for Easter would focus on traffic accidents during the holiday, with hospitals in the public network and Farmacias del Pueblo supplied by Promese/Cal and the National Health Service (SNS).

2 years 2 months ago

Health, Local

Kaiser Health News

A Doctor’s Love Letter to ‘The People’s Hospital’

Could a charity hospital founded by a crusading Dutch playwright, a group of Quakers, and a judge working undercover become a model for the U.S. health care system? In this episode of the podcast “An Arm and a Leg,” host Dan Weissmann speaks with Dr. Ricardo Nuila to find out.

Nuila’s new book, The People’s Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine, uses the innovative model of the Ben Taub Hospital in Houston, where he practices, to argue for a publicly funded health system in the U.S. that’s available to everybody, with or without insurance. 

Dan Weissmann


@danweissmann

Host and producer of "An Arm and a Leg." Previously, Dan was a staff reporter for Marketplace and Chicago's WBEZ. His work also appears on All Things Considered, Marketplace, the BBC, 99 Percent Invisible, and Reveal, from the Center for Investigative Reporting.

Credits

Emily Pisacreta
Producer

Adam Raymonda
Audio Wizard

Afi Yellow-Duke
Editor

Click to open the Transcript

Transcript: A Doctor’s Love Letter to ‘The People’s Hospital’

Note: “An Arm and a Leg” uses speech-recognition software to generate transcripts, which may contain errors. Please use the transcript as a tool but check the corresponding audio before quoting the podcast.

Dan: Ben Taub Hospital is a publicly funded safety net hospital in Houston, Texas. The majority of patients don’t have insurance of any kind. 

Dr. Ricardo Nuila has been working at Ben Taub since he was an intern, a medical student. He took me on a tour.

Ricardo Nuila: I started here and, you know, literally I just did not want to leave here cuz I just, just really enjoyed my job here

Dan: He’s just published a book called “The People’s Hospital” that’s not just a love letter to the place, it’s a pitch: 

Not only is this place way, way cheaper than what we’re used to, in many ways it’s better. And it’s a model, a real alternative to what-we’re-used-to.

So, I ask him to pick ONE patient’s story from the book to tell, he picks a patient he calls Stephen. A restaurant manager, a Republican. A guy who did not expect to end up here.

But he had a giant lump on the side of his throat, and his insurance didn’t cover much. He paid cash, upfront, to get seen in a local ER. 

Ricardo Nuila: finally there was a doctor who had seen a CAT scan and said, you have tonsillar cancer, cancer, however, you don’t have, uh, insurance 

Dan: Tonsillar cancer. Cancer of the tonsils. That landed hard. So did the “however.” 

Ricardo Nuila: He felt shitty you know, that somebody could tell you cancer, but there’s nothing that we are gonna do about it because of, of how much and…

Dan: It’s like it’s too painful — or too obvious — to finish the sentence: Because of your insurance. Somebody tells Steven to try the public hospital, Ben Taub. He expects the worst. But that’s not what he finds.

Ricardo Nuila: He comes to love this place. He gives, this is like so Steven, but he, he gives gift cards to the people greeting at the door because they’re nice and they do their job well cuz they make his day,

Dan: And it’s not just that he likes the people at the door.

Ricardo Nuila: He feels like he got really good healthcare and that he also, um, thought that the price was extremely reason.

Dan: Stephen lost his insurance when he got too sick to work, and he doesn’t qualify for Medicaid. He owns a house, he’s got savings, Texas has really stringent Medicaid restrictions– so he’s paying out of pocket.

Ricardo Nuila: But his final bill is pennies of what he thought he would pay.

Dan: Stephen’s dad had gotten radiation treatment for cancer, and the sticker price was 700 thousand dollars. Stephen had gotten radiation AND chemo AND surgery — and had been hospitalized for a good while. 

His bill was 32 thousand, three hundred and seventy-eight bucks. Real money for sure, but he can pay it. And it’s less than five percent of his dad’s bill for much less extensive treatment. 

Ricardo Nuila: And the healthcare is really good. And so he’s almost proud that he’s had this experience

Dan: Steven’s become a convert. And as Ricardo Nuila walks me into a conference room, it’s clear: He hopes his book will create more converts. 

Ricardo Nuila: you start to see this model and it makes you think, can things be different in healthcare? I think that that’s an option. But we as a country haven’t thought about that. Seriously. You know?

Dan: And if it seems politically unimaginable that we could have anything like this around the country– an effective, efficient, CHEAP, publicly-funded health system– 

Well, the idea that Houston could have one, that was pretty unlikely too.

In fact, the story of how Ben Taub got here may be the most surprising story in Ricardo Nuila’s whole book. 

This is An Arm and a Leg, a show about why health care costs so freaking much, and what we can maybe do about it. I’m Dan Weissmann. I’m a reporter, and I like a challenge. So our job on this show is to take one of the most enraging, terrifying, depressing parts of American life and to bring you a show that’s entertaining, empowering and useful.

Ben Taub Hospital sits at the edge of the Texas Medical Center– that’s a giant neighborhood full of hospitals and medical schools, including some of the best in the country, like the M.D. Anderson cancer center. 

In his book, Ricardo Nuila writes about how some patients at Ben Taub can see from their rooms the gleaming buildings of Ben Taub’s neighbors. 

So when I visit, I make him show me the view. We look out from a stairwell at a glass tower, M.D. Anderson’s Sheikh Zayed building.

Ricardo Nuila: that’s glamorous. Right? you get a glimpse into the rest of the medical center here. Ben Taub sticks out, I feel like, because it’s, it’s brick versus glass. 

Dan: But as Ricardo Nuila makes clear in his book: This unglamorous brick building gets the job done. 

In addition to Steven, there’s Ebonie, whose complicated pregnancy — there’s a lot of vaginal bleeding– gets tracked more precisely than it would elsewhere: 

At other hospitals, nurses eyeball the pads that absorb that blood and note heavy, medium or light bleeding. At Ben Taub, they’ve adopted an innovative approach: weighing each pad to get an exact measurement. 

Another patient, Christian, has bounced around other systems without anybody accurately diagnosing the dire kidney problems that have kept him in pain for years. Because he didn’t have good insurance, it wasn’t worth anybody’s time. 

At Ben Taub, insurance isn’t an obstacle, 

Ricardo Nuila: We organize things, which is basically, okay, we need to focus on your kidneys right now and we need to get you to see a geneticist. And both of those things happened.

Dan: they not only diagnose him, they get him on a form of dialysis that he can manage himself at home.

It’s cheaper, and delivers better quality of life for him.

Everything at Ben Taub is cheaper. The system spends about a third as much per patient as the national average. In part, that may be because nobody earns million-dollar salaries here. 

But Ricardo Nuila makes the case over and over again that they take the time– because they have it– to make wise use of resources. 

They don’t have as many MRI machines as other hospitals. But guess what? A lot of patients don’t need MRIs. 

But Ben Taub can’t meet every need: One patient, Geronimo, needs a liver transplant, and that requires resources the hospital just doesn’t have. 

But Ricardo Nuila and his colleagues put a lot of time into wrenching him back onto Medicaid, so he can get the transplant somewhere else. They rope in a Congressman to get it done. 

Geronimo tells his mom:”I feel so important. Everyone treats me like I’m rich.” 

Ricardo Nuila: That’s what I think a lot of people really want is just the sense that the person who’s responsible for your care is thinking through the problem with you and aware that you are not having a great day and wants to deal with that situation with you. And I just felt like this environment allowed me to like, have those moments.

Dan: So who pays for this environment? It may be cheaper, but it isn’t free. 

Some patients are on Medicaid. Some are on Medicare. Some have private insurance. But the majority don’t have any insurance at all. 

Some, like Stephen, pay cash. And a lot of the rest — about a third of Ben Taub’s patients — are treated for free.

The bulk of Ben Taub’s funding comes from a special property tax in Harris County, where Houston is located. It funds a whole system called Harris Health– Ben Taub, a second hospital, and a bunch of clinics. 

And of course, none of this has always existed. 

In fact, it’s only here, like this, because of a really wild story, with two big characters. One of whom wasn’t even from Houston. He was a writer I’d never heard of, a Dutch guy named Jan de Hartog.

Ricardo Nuila: de Hartog was one of the most amazing people that you could read about. He was a Nazi resistance fighter, Dutch ship captain. 

Dan: And while he was hiding out in Denmark during the war– in between saving a few Jewish babies and running war missions in his tugboat–  

he wrote a romantic dramedy that — later became a broadway hit. And then got adapted into a Broadway musical called I Do, I Do– which, Broadway-musical nerds in the house– starred Mary Martin and Robert Preston– you know, The Music Man– and had a song that your mom might still remember. 

 (musical sounds) 

Dan: Yeah. So, interesting guy. And in the early 1960s he came to Houston to teach playwriting at a local University.  It was a big time for him. He’d just gotten married — for the third time, but this one was for keeps- and become a Quaker. 

Ricardo Nuila: And when he and his wife Marjorie come to Houston, they find that there’s all these whisperings about this charity hospital in town in Houston about how, how awful the conditions are. That the children in the maternity ward would cry all night for the, for a lack of milk, and so as part of his faith, he decides that he needs to volunteer there

Dan: When de Hartog writes about the hospital later, he describes the experience of walking in for the first time as literally mind-boggling. 

He’s like: I know what a hospital smells like. Disinfectant, maybe some fresh laundry. And I know what a slaughterhouse smells like: Blood, and shit. And the smell here is slaughterhouse. 

As he looks around, the sights are something else.

Ricardo Nuila: He sees a cockroach crawling into the tracheostomy of like a patient. He sees like people sitting in their own filth. 

Dan: He and Marjorie do not up and quit. They stick around. And then they recruit a dozen Quakers and a few society ladies to come volunteer with them, and get the Red Cross to train them.

And it’s nuts. This is a rich city. The ZOO is air conditioned. But not this hospital. 

And he starts to catch on: Why it’s so horrible.

Number one is racism. 

The hospital serves mostly Black and Brown patients. When Jan and Marjorie start volunteering, the other volunteers are all society ladies, and the whole program is set up so they don’t touch patients. DeHartog later says he asked why, and the volunteer coordinator says, Southern ladies can’t have physical contact with black people.

But she doesn’t say black people. She uses the n-word. 

 When he asks staff why public officials don’t do something about the rotten conditions, they say: What politician is going to stick up for black people? The n-word comes up again. 

And– de Hartog doesn’t make this connection, but it seems pretty on the nose: The hospital itself is named after Jefferson Davis, who led the Confederacy in the Civil War. 

But there’s also a political mechanism for institutionalizing this neglect, without ever having to acknowledge the role of racism: 

No one particular political entity — no one particular political leader– is responsible for the public hospital, financially. The city of Houston and Harris County are each supposed to kick in HALF. So it doesn’t belong to either of them. Here’s de Hartog describing the city-county dynamic in a lecture he gave many years later. 

Jan de Hartog: And they were continuously at each other’s throats. The one said, you don’t pay enough. The other said, but you don’t. And they went back and forth

Dan: The top official for Harris County actually has the title County Judge. At that time, this was a guy named Bill Elliott. 

And you’ll hear in this clip from a local newscast, he wasn’t exactly reaching for the bill. Here he is, explaining why the some problem with the hospital is actually the CITY’s fault. 

Judge Bill Elliott: it’s absolutely ridiculous, uh, to say that, uh, this is a responsibility and this is the fault of Harris County.

Dan: And the city? At least one.council member is calling for a budget cut. 

Which really pisses de Hartog off. 

And de Hartog actually loves the city. It’s an exciting place. It’s booming– growing super-fast. And it’s not just an oil town. 

Ricardo Nuila: Houston at that time was the home of NASA.

NASA narrator: Future manned space flight missions to the moon and perhaps the planets will be commanded from this control room of the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center,

Ricardo Nuila: It had built this Astrodome, it was the city of the future. 

Dan: The Astrodome– you know, a sports stadium WITH AIR CONDITIONING. . 

Astrodome Narrator: A fully enclosed building, large enough for any sport convention show or conclave with constant temperature and humidity independent of outside weather,

Dan: CBS News does a report about the booming city: NASA, the oil wealth, the Astrodome. And de Hartog is a main character– talking about how much he loves the town.

Jan de Hartog:  it is a city of, a city of unlimited opportunities. It’s an immensely exciting town, and you feel that anything is possible, 

Dan: It wraps up with Walter Cronkite talking about how everybody in town is absolutely nuts about football.

Walter Cronkite: Their brand of football is like their brand of city and brand of life. Play wide open. Take a chance, try anything. Above all, do it with zest and do it big. 

Dan: Oh, and there’s this OTHER thing Houston is really becoming known for. 

Cutting edge medicine. For twenty years, the city’s been building the Texas Medical Center — that giant campus where more than a dozen hospitals and med schools now operate right on top of each other. Baylor College of Medicine actually moved from Dallas to Houston to be part of it. 

Ricardo Nuila: Houston is a really deeply medical city. And at that time they’re all working on extraordinary things

Dan: Yeah, in 1964, while Jan de Hartog is witnessing the suffering at the charity hospital, Dr. Michael deBakey is performing the world’s first coronary artery bypass at a private hospital in town. 

But the medical establishment were not allies. Jefferson Davis hospital, on the outskirts of town, was about to be replaced by a new building in the Texas Medical Center. 

But the Medical Society– the local doctors’ association — hadn’t wanted the charity hospital as a neighbor. They’d actually put up a ballot initiative to keep the new building at the old site. 

Medical Society Voice-Over: you the taxpayer, will pay the extra cost That’s why your doctor recommends you vote for the new hospital to remain at its present site. 

Dan: It hadn’t worked, but along with the budget cuts, officials were now talking about DELAYING the charity hospital’s move to the new building, which had just been completed. De Hartog and his friends, smell a rat. 

They think the powers that be are actually going to sell the new building in the Medical Center to some other hospital that wants in. This has been a public conversation.

Jan de Hartog: There had been offers to buy it and they wanted to wait for the highest bidder

Ricardo Nuila: He writes a series of op-eds for the Houston Chronicle that start to get press, not just in Houston, but around the country and in fact around the world. 

Dan: He describes the awful things he’s seen. And he appeals to Houstonians’ sense of pride in their bustling, futuristic city. A city he loves, too. Here’s how his first op-ed ends…

Jan de Hartog: I cannot believe that it is the will of the citizens of Houston, that our growing medical center rightly becoming famous all over the. Shall be allowed to harbor the cancerous sore of man’s inhumanity to man. It would turn the entire center planned as Houston’s glory into Houston’s shame. 

Dan: Even just that first op ed made a lot of noise.

Jan de Hartog: the bomb exploded and the national magazines and newspapers and TV zeroed in on the hospital to find out what was going on, 

Dan: … and immediately, the hospital DOES move into its new home in the Medical Center. But the funding issue isn’t solved. 

So de Hartog keeps pushing. 

Ricardo Nuila: He writes a book called “The Hospital” 

Dan: He goes to churches around town, synagogues, everywhere he can, recruiting hundreds of volunteers. 

But there’s no political progress — and conditions at the hospital actually get worse. Key nurses get burned out and quit. Things go to hell.

In a harrowing diary entry, he writes about full bedpans left on tables next to trays of food. About a patient crying out for help, and hearing back “Shut up!” 

Jan de Hartog: Never before had I realized to this extent, the depth of our damnation, and at that deepest moment of desperation, when we knew nothing could be done, nothing would change for the simple reason that

Jan de Hartog: those who had the fate of the hospital in their hands were not there. Mayor Welsh didn’t work there. Uh, commissioner Bill Elliot Judge, the county judge did not work there. 

Dan: But THEN, there’s a turn. Somebody shows up. That’s right after this.

This episode of An Arm and a Leg is produced in partnership with Kaiser Health News. That’s a non-profit newsroom about health care in America. KHN is not affiliated with the giant health care player Kaiser Permanente. We’ll have more information about KHN at the end of this episode.

So, Jan de Hartog keeps slogging away. 

He gives a talk at a Baptist church– he reads that diary entry, the one with the bedpans, and the absence of Judge Elliott and other leaders.

And at first he thinks he didn’t go over so big. Nobody even raises their hand to volunteer. 

But then it happens. 

Jan de Hartog: When, uh, we were about to leave, a man turned up with a baby on his hip who said, uh, do you train people at night?

Dan: And the guy seems to be looking around, trying to make sure nobody’s listening. De Hartog tells the guy, yeah, we could do that…

Jan de Hartog: He said, I mean, a dead of night without anybody seeing. 

Dan: De Hartog’s like, “um, sure, I guess. Why, though?” 

Jan de Hartog: He said, well, I am Judge Elliot, 

Dan: Judge Elliott. The county judge. Probably the most powerful politician in town. That’s who wants to volunteer. In secret. Without anybody seeing. He says to de Hartog

Jan de Hartog: I cannot do it as a judge, but I must do it as a man. And that was the moment that the whole damn thing changed.. 

Dan: Because Judge Bill Elliott followed through.

Ricardo Nuila: He trains himself in a clandestine manner to be an orderly, at night, and he verifies everything that de Hartog has said. 

Dan: de Hartog actually oversees the judge’s final practical exam, where Bill Elliott tends to an African-American man named Willie Small. 

Jan de Hartog: the judge with his thermometer went and put his hand on Willie’s shoulder and said, Mr. Small, sir, I’d like to take your temperature to hear that, to hear a southern judge, , say “Mr. Small, sir” 

Dan: It was a symbolic moment. The judge had to touch, had to defer to, a Black man. So not only had the judge now seen everything, he took responsibility for what he had seen. 

There’s a proposal for a county-wide property tax, to fund what’s called a Hospital District. Now there’s a referendum, and Elliott backs it all the way.

Jan de Hartog: and we all waited with baited breaths for the outcome. And it was no

Dan: Yeah. The referendum fails. And as de Hartog tells it, once it does, a real backlash starts to build. It gets personal.

Jan de Hartog: those who had resented our presence from the very beginning became vocal. Margie and I, were called communists

Ricardo Nuila: De Hartog just would not flinch. I mean, he and his wife’s lives were threatened. 

Dan: Also, somebody threw a bag of excrement at their door. 

Eventually, de Hartog says the Red Cross, which was training and supervising volunteers at the hospital, came to him and Marjorie and said, “It might be better for us if you left town for a while.” 

They did — went on to all kinds of adventures. 

Meanwhile, Bill Elliott kept pushing, and keeps pulling in allies– including, eventually, the Medical Society. 

Ricardo Nuila: he rallies them to get behind it.

Dan: He gets the question on the ballot AGAIN later that same year. And it passes in November 1965. 

It’s a big moment. 

Ricardo Nuila:  What’s also interesting is that it’s forgotten. Something that I’ve gleaned from all this is that you know, people will forget and you have to remind them. 

Dan:  And while we’re remembering: In 1965, the whole country is making some big commitments to health care for a lot of people. President Lyndon Johnson signs Medicare and Medicaid into law in July of that year.

It’s probably also worth noting that Medicare and Medicaid help make Ben Taub possible: About a third of the hospital’s patients are on one or the other. It’s a minority of patients, but it’s many millions of dollars of funding. 

The 1960s were a notoriously divisive time. And so is this. 

Ricardo Nuila doesn’t ignore today’s political polarization — or how that polarization makes it hard to imagine a national conversation about creating a different health care system. 

Or the role that doctors have historically played in resisting that conversation.

It’s part of his story. His family story. And in a book about a place where a lot of sad things do happen, this may be the toughest one.

Ricardo Nuila: I was born into a family of doctors and my dad in many ways was a hero to me. I saw how much pride he took in his work of being a doctor 

Dan: But over time– as insurance companies got tougher to deal with– the business side of running a medical practice looked a lot less apealing. 

Ricardo Nuila: . He had to hire more and more staff. He hired his mother, my grandmother, who is, uh, the type of person not to back down from Chicago, you know, . And so, her job was to be on the insurance companies to make sure that they wouldn’t, screw him out of money.

Dan: His dad turned away patients who didn’t have insurance. His dad growled and grumbled– about insurance companies, and about patients who didn’t have money to pay. 

When Ricardo finished college and got into medical school, he put off starting for two years. What he sees as his dad’s life in the business of health care is not appealing.

Ricardo Nuila: the grind wears on him, you know? The fighting with the insurance companies

Dan: I mean in the book, your dad is a bit of a stand-in for . For doctors as a doctoring, as profession and the, and the way in which doctors get alienated from medicine. 

Ricardo Nuila: yeah, he is a stand in a bit for doctors. And it’s gonna be, I think the doctors have a lot to say about how healthcare goes in America,

Ricardo Nuila: And unfortunately, the history shows that they haven’t been a great piece of that, at least as far as universal healthcare is concerned. 

Dan: This becomes part of Ricardo’s story with his dad. Dad invites him to form a family practice. Ricardo chooses Ben Taub. And over the years, it becomes clear: They’re on opposite sides of a political divide. There are painful conversations, and then they go months without speaking. 

Ricardo Nuila: that’s how deep politics run, you know, it’s really, it’s really difficult when you overlay like politics onto like a family dynamic,

Ricardo Nuila: It just felt like he was like totally on board with this idea that, you know, healthcare is something that is earned and healthcare is something that people, if you can’t afford it, you don’t deserve it. Is what I heard from what he was saying. 

Dan: is your dad an ideal reader of the book? Is your dad kind of who the person you wanna make that case to? 

Ricardo Nuila: That’s really interesting.

Ricardo Nuila: I would say this, that, I did not write this to preach to the choir for sure.

Dan: But he’s not sure his dad would actually pick up a book like this.

Ricardo Nuila: It’s just because I know my dad, he, my dad’s the type of person who reads John Grisham on a beach, you know? So I’m not a hundred percent sure if he would pick up this book, you know?

Dan: Unless, say, his son wrote it. Ricardo does expect his dad to read The People’s Hospital. And even if he doesn’t agree with everything his son has written, Ricardo thinks his dad will be proud.

Ricardo Nuila: I can tell you now as a, as a father, , it’s not clear that your kids are gonna come out Okay. . You know what I mean? I’m just saying that like he has reason to be proud just because I’m a, a living and breathing person right now, you know?

Ricardo Nuila: And I’m, I’m working in as a doctor. So I, I feel, I feel good for him. 

Ricardo Nuila: And I think that he’s probably very happy that I wrote about medicine cuz he loves medicine.

Dan: The last chapter of “The People’s Hospital” is called “faith” And in it, Ricardo Nuila describes a daily ritual that he says keeps him grounded. It starts with passing a plaque on his way in. Of course I have him show it to me. 

Ricardo Nuila: I park like right over there, .

Ricardo Nuila: I come in here and I just look at, look at this every time. 

Dan: So, and describe what we’re seeing here.

Ricardo Nuila: Well, we’re seeing, a plaque that, talks about when this hospital was founded, and the people who constructed the building. And there’s also the, I forgot this is, this is bad of me, but I forgot the name.

Dan: the snake around the stick?  

Ricardo Nuila: I’m in big trouble now because I’m on the Caduceus Caduceus. I, it’s the Cadus. Yeah. 

Ricardo Nuila: And it’s just a reminder, you know, that we have this structure in place to help care for people who don’t have, uh, the means and that, and 

Dan: that people decided to put this building here. Yeah. 

Ricardo Nuila: Exactly. It’s a community effort.

Dan: Ricardo Nuila writes that he sees that community as he walks from that plaque to his desk– all the co-workers, in every kind of job, doing their best. 

And this is the faith that he says gets affirmed— reading from the book here: 

If someone is suffering and there is the capacity within the community to help, in a way that doesn’t harm anyone else, then we not only owe it to that person, we owe it to ourselves to help. 

Whatever your politics are, I think that’s pretty great. 

Dr. Ricardo Nuila practices at Ben Taub Hospital. He’s associate professor of Medicine, Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine. His book is called “The People’s Hospital.”

Honestly there’s a lot in this book, — more patient stories, more family stories, a very deft summary of a hundred years of health care economics and politics.

I’ll tell you: reading this book, I was reminded of an idea I’ve had before.  That it might be cool someday to convene a kind of “Arm and a Leg” book club. Because I’d like to have someone to talk with about a book like this– like maybe you. 

Right now, that’s just an idea. The how would take a LOT of figuring out.  

But I’m curious how that idea sounds to you. You can let me know at Arm and a Leg show dot com, slash contact.

I mean, that’s always a good place to send ideas and stories and questions— so many of our best episodes come from you.

And I’m curious what you think about this virtual book club idea. If you’ve taken part in something like this, or helped to organize it, I’d love to hear how it went.

That’s arm and a leg show dot com, slash contact.

Next time on An Arm and a Leg: A woman named Lisa French asked her hospital what her surgery would cost her. They said, with your insurance, about thirteen hundred bucks.

They expected about 55 thousand more from insurance. 

They got 75 thousand. But then they wanted more. 229 thousand more. They wanted it from Lisa French, and they sued her for it.

After eight years, the case finally got resolved last June. Lisa French won!

The case has a LOT to teach us about our legal rights. 

That’s next time on An Arm and a Leg.

Till then, take care of yourself.

This episode of An Arm and a Leg was produced by me, Dan Weissmann, with help from Emily Pisacreta, and edited by Afi Yellow-Duke.

The recording of Jan de Hartog’s lecture is courtesy of the Baylor College of Medicine Archives. 

The audio of Bill Elliott is from a KHOU-TV newscast, thanks to the Texas Archive of the Moving Image.

Big thanks to the archivists who helped us find some of the tape for this episode! 

That includes Emily Vinson at the University of Houston library 

Matt Richardson and Sandra Yates at the Texas Medical Center Archives

And David Olmos at the Baylor College of Medicine archives. 

Daisy Rosario is our consulting managing producer. Adam Raymonda is our audio wizard.  Our music is by Dave Winer and Blue Dot Sessions. 

Gabrielle Healy is our managing editor for audience. She edits the First Aid Kit Newsletter. 

Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Sarah Ballema is our operations manager. 

This season of an arm and a leg is a co production with Kaiser health news. That’s a nonprofit news service about healthcare in America, an editorially-independent program of the Kaiser family foundation. 

KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente, the big healthcare outfit. They share an ancestor: The 20th century industrialist Henry J Kaiser. When he died, he left half his money to the foundation that later created Kaiser health news.

You can learn more about him and Kaiser health news at arm and a leg show dot com slash Kaiser. 

Zach Dyer is senior audio producer at KHN. He is editorial liaison to this show. 

Thanks to Public Narrative — That’s a Chicago-based group that helps journalists and non-profits tell better stories– for serving as our fiscal sponsor, allowing us to accept tax-exempt donations. You can learn more about Public Narrative at www dot public narrative dot org. 

And thanks to everybody who supports this show financially. 

If you haven’t yet, we’d love for you to join us. The place for that is arm and a leg show dot com, slash support.

Thank you!

“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” subscribe to the newsletter. You can also follow the show on Facebook and Twitter. And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers would love to hear from you.

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

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KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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Jamaica Observer

Understanding autism

APRIL is Autism Awareness Month. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behaviour.

It is diagnosed based on the presence of certain symptoms, including difficulties with communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviours or interests.

APRIL is Autism Awareness Month. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behaviour.

It is diagnosed based on the presence of certain symptoms, including difficulties with communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviours or interests.

Autism is considered a spectrum disorder, which means that it presents differently in each individual affected by it. Some people with autism may have difficulty speaking or communicating with others, while others may have normal language skills but struggle with social interactions, such as making eye contact or interpreting non-verbal cues. Repetitive behaviours or interests, such as rocking or hand-flapping, are also common among people with autism.

While the exact cause of autism is still not fully understood, research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors can play a role in its development. There is no known cure for autism, but early diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve outcomes for individuals with autism.

Interventions for autism may include a combination of behavioural therapies, speech and language therapy, and medication to manage associated symptoms. The goal of treatment is to help individuals with autism develop skills and strategies to better manage their symptoms, increase their communication, social interaction abilities, and lead more independent and fulfilling lives.

Despite the challenges that autism can present, many individuals with autism have unique talents and strengths. With the right support, individuals with autism can achieve their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.

It is important to raise awareness and understanding of autism to promote early detection, diagnosis, and intervention. By increasing awareness and acceptance, we can create a more inclusive and supportive world for people with autism and their families.

This article was written by Terry-Ann Malcolm-Alleyne. It was first published on
ejcsda.com
, the official website of the East Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

2 years 2 months ago

Jamaica Observer

A girl's best friend

FLEXING its muscle among contraceptive options is the copper T IUD (intrauterine device).

It is a long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) method. The 'heavy weight' leader in contraceptives, the IUD is more than 99 per cent effective in preventing unplanned pregnancies for up to 10 years depending on the brand. An IUD can be removed by the nurse or doctor at any time during those years and fertility returns quickly.

Thinner than a matchstick, the IUD is inserted in the vagina and up to the cervix by a trained doctor or nurse who uses a special instrument during the procedure.

The T-shaped IUD has copper on the stem and arms of the device and two very thin nylon strings. In order to fit it in the applicator for insertion, the arms of the IUD are folded down to align with the stem. When it reaches the cervix, that is the top of the uterus or womb, the health-care professional releases its folded arms and the IUD springs into place, and into action, providing immediate contraceptive protection.

How something so small can have such a big impact has to do with its ability to create a 'hostile' environment for sperm. The IUD releases copper in small amounts that affect the motility or movement of the sperm preventing them from reaching the fallopian tubes to fertilise a released egg or to implant in the uterine cavity.

Hidden away in the uterus, the nylon strings on the end of the stem of the device need to be checked every month after the woman has had her period or menses. This is to ensure that it is still in place and guaranteeing maximum contraceptive protection. Checking requires inserting the longest finger into the vagina and feeling for the strings that the health-care provider had cut short when the IUD was first put in. But acceptors of the method must be careful not to pull on the strings as this can shift its position, or make it fall out.

An IUD is a great support to couples, as it plays a role in limiting or spacing pregnancies to improve chances for financial independence. Health-care providers can help to improve the popularity of this method by introducing it to clients and answering all the questions that may come at them.

Right now a girl's best friend is a longer-term contraceptive method, like the hormone-free IUD.

This article was contributed by Dianne Thomas, director of communication and public relations at the National Family Planning Board.

2 years 2 months ago

Jamaica Observer

Limitations of humanitarian medical missions

IN our last article, we looked at some of the benefits of short-term humanitarian medical missions. Aside from the clear benefits, medical missions also raise several issues and concerns that have become clearer as the frequency of medical missions increase. Our article this week will focus on some of these concerns.

Cost-effectiveness

IN our last article, we looked at some of the benefits of short-term humanitarian medical missions. Aside from the clear benefits, medical missions also raise several issues and concerns that have become clearer as the frequency of medical missions increase. Our article this week will focus on some of these concerns.

Cost-effectiveness

Medical missions by their nature require significant financial input. Travel costs, hotel stays, visa costs, vaccinations, medical equipment/disposables, and food are all direct costs. The loss of income for the visiting healthcare providers must also be considered. Costs can vary significantly with many factors including the size of the humanitarian mission, the destination country etc, but often these costs may be as high as 10's to 100's of thousands of US (United States) dollars. Some authors have argued that if purely economic factors are considered this money could be directly invested in the local health economy as opposed to being used to support the medical mission. In one example, after a short-term medical mission was completed and the costs were tabulated, the money used for the mission would have been sufficient to pay for recruitment, education and retention of a local physician, nurse, allied health personnel along with maintenance of the clinic which hosted the mission for a period of one year. In another example, a medical mission to Ghana was accomplished at the cost of US$30,000. The cost to build a 30-bed wing addition to the hospital which hosted the mission was US$60,000. One question which is frequently asked is, in terms of skill acquisition, would paying for a local physician or nurse to spend time at a centre of excellence in a high-income country be more cost effective and sustainable than a humanitarian mission?

Awareness of local culture, health-care environment and systems

The environment in which health care is delivered is a vital component of the care's efficacy. Language can clearly be a barrier. While language interpreters can be useful, one can never be sure of what is lost in translation. Even when the health-care providers and patients share a common language, the use of idioms can be an issue. For example, when a Jamaican patient tells a physician that he had an "operation" last night a Jamaican physician and an American physician will construe different meanings from that sentence. Another interesting example is that of many Asian societies where unwelcome news is given to the patient's family and not directly to the patient himself. There is also a limited concept of patient autonomy compared to the western world. In Thailand, for example, it is uncommon for patients to directly question physician recommendations.

For most personnel that come from high-income countries, the practice of medicine is done on a background of technology. Acquiring lab results, patient historical data and ordering testing simply requires a computer screen and Internet access. For many low- and middle-income countries where humanitarian medical missions take place, it may be necessary to depend heavily on clinical acumen and decision-making without laboratory or radiologic data. One wonders how many developed world physicians can function effectively in such environments. Another issue is that of interaction with the local health-care system. Do they have access to local facilities for complications that arise because of treatment? For patients determined to need specialist care, do they know how to seek it? For the unfortunate patients that are harmed through negligent care do they have a way to seek redress/compensation through the legal system from a physician in another country who may never return?

Sustainability and duration of impact

An important consideration is what happens when the medical mission has left the host country. For some conditions, eg, surgery for hernia repair or cataract removal, once the patient has recovered without complication there is not likely to be an ongoing need to see a surgeon. For other conditions this is not the case. Let us take the example of a woman who is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes by a family physician on a medical mission. She is given her medications for free and has symptomatic improvement when she is reviewed during the last week of the month-long medical mission and is then given enough medication to last a further two months. At that period's end, the physician who diagnosed and treated her was no longer available. Is the medication that she was given available in Jamaica and if so, is it affordable for her? In the Jamaican context she can be seen at a public clinic at low monetary cost but are there any records summarising her care for the next treating physician? If she lives in an area where no health care is available locally and she cannot afford travel to access health care in the urban centre, is she really any better off than she was before the arrival of the medical mission? From the mission physicians' point of view, they may have provided care for four weeks, but has this had a long-term impact on the population they visited? An evidence-based assessment devoid of self-absolution would suggest not.

A critical issue that is often overlooked is the effect on the local health-care economy. For missions that are longer in duration, there is the possibility of "crowding out" local practitioners. If the patient can get access to health care at no cost, is there scope for a local practitioner who is unable to work for free? If it is not economically viable to have a practice in the area, the local practitioner may leave the community or significantly reduce his presence. When the medical mission ends, access to care may be less than it was before overseas physicians arrived. This effect can be seen not only in primary care but also in the provision of conditions/procedures which require significant investments of capital, and which depend on patient fees to repay the money invested and hopefully generate a profit. If medical missions are intermittently offering these services at no cost to patients, does it significantly impair the development of a sustainable local health-care system?

In our next article we will explore quality of health-care delivery.

Dr Ernest Madu, MD, FACC and Dr Paul Edwards, MD, FACC are consultant cardiologists for the Heart Institute of the Caribbean (HIC) and HIC Heart Hospital. HIC is the regional centre of excellence for cardiovascular care in the English-speaking Caribbean and has pioneered a transformation in the way cardiovascular care is delivered in the region. HIC Heart Hospital is registered by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and is the only heart hospital in Jamaica. Send correspondence to info@caribbeanheart.com or call 876-906-2107.

2 years 2 months ago

Health Archives - Barbados Today

QEH Paediatric Ward gets new chairs courtesy Bajan diaspora


Parents and guardians attending children in the Paediatric Ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital can now spend time in a much more comfortable way.


Parents and guardians attending children in the Paediatric Ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital can now spend time in a much more comfortable way.

This is because of the donation of ten adjustable chairs, replacing worn-out ones, by a range of families, individuals and one association in the jurisdiction of the New York Consulate. The chairs were donated in response to a request to Mrs. Treva Holder, wife of Consul General Mackie Holder, from Head of the department, Dr. Angela Jennings. Mrs. Holder coordinated the project and shipment was facilitated by the Consulate General at New York.

The ten chairs were recently officially handed over by Mrs. Holder to Dr. Jennings. The presentation was attended by a number of hospital personnel as well as Earl Phillips, a member of the Barbados Support Group of New York, and a chair donor with his wife Gail.

CG Holder noted that the donation was yet another example of the quick response of the Barbadian community overseas to requests to assist, particularly related to the QEH and education matters. He added that the pledges to assist with the chairs were made within a day of the announcement, but it took some time to source, have them assembled and shipped and on the ward.

Contributions were made by Lestra and Daniel Cox; Earl and Gail Phillips; Alicia Connell, Sonia Clarke and Ira Carrington; Virginia Mayers Holder and Shirley Holder; Dr. Joseph and Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix; Mayor Adrian Mapp; Plainfield Now – Ayiesha Mapp, Amelia Mapp, Adrain Mapp, Beverley Morris-Gill, Jazz Clayton-Hunt; the Barbados Support Group, (BSG), – Alicia Connell, Michelle Brathwaite, Earl Phillips, Leroy Hutchinson (2), and Consul General Mackie Holder and Treva Holder. Each three-position chair bears the name of the donor or donors.

It is intended that all the chairs on the ward will be replaced by the community under the jurisdiction of the NY Consulate. This continues the partnership, which began with Mrs. Holder and Dr. Jennings collaborating on the Care Buddy Project, initiated by Mrs. Holder, which provides all children in paediatrics with stuffed toys.

The Care Buddy programme was extended to children who contracted COVID-19 and now also covers children admitted to the Accident and Emergency Department. (PR)

The post QEH Paediatric Ward gets new chairs courtesy Bajan diaspora appeared first on Barbados Today.

2 years 2 months ago

Feature, Health

Health – Dominican Today

Colon cancer figures are very high in the country

Santo Domingo, DR
On the commemoration yesterday of World Colon Cancer Day, the Dominican Institute of Gastroenterology (INDDEG) reported that at least 148 patients were diagnosed with colon polyps out of 1,073 studies carried out on people from different regions of the country.

Santo Domingo, DR
On the commemoration yesterday of World Colon Cancer Day, the Dominican Institute of Gastroenterology (INDDEG) reported that at least 148 patients were diagnosed with colon polyps out of 1,073 studies carried out on people from different regions of the country.

These statistics constitute a “very high” prevalence figure, representing 13.7% of the confirmed cases of colon cancer. An investigation carried out between July 2022 and January 2023 by Dr. Eddy Herrera and Dr. Elaine De los Santos, director and deputy director of INDDEG, revealed that the sex most often diagnosed with the disease is female.

However, men are more affected in general. The most frequent anatomical location is rectosigmoid.
The doctors define the disease as any mass or tumor originating in the colon or rectum’s wall or mucosa and protruding into the lumen.

The study “Prevalence of Colonic Polyps in the Dominican Institute of Gastroenterology” assures that the age range where colonic polyps were found is between 40 and 60 years old and warns of the need to look for outlets for early detection to save lives and prevent the diagnosis through healthier lifestyle habits.

2 years 2 months ago

Health

Medical News, Health News Latest, Medical News Today - Medical Dialogues |

Rare case of Kaposiform haemangioendothelioma of spine associated with fixed hyperlordotic deformity: a report

Kaposiform haemangioendothelioma (KHE) is a rare childhood disease classified by the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA) as a locally aggressive vascular tumor. It has been reported to affect any site, with a predilection for the extremities and trunk.

KHE can manifest at any site, most frequently in the extremities and trunk, as an enlarging firm, purpuric cutaneous or soft tissue lesion with telangiectasia that typically crosses multiple tissue planes. Skin involvement is not present in approximately 10% of cases, with the retroperitoneum being the most frequently involved extracutaneous site.

Despite its limited metastatic potential, KHE is associated with a high rate of morbidity due to its locally invasive characteristics and compressive effects. It can also give rise to Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP), a potentially fatal thrombocytopenic coagulopathy associated with a risk of severe microangiopathic anemia.

Approximately twenty cases of KHE with bony involvement have been reported in the literature to date, with only five of those cases involving the spine specifically.

Leanne H. Q. Chin presents a rare case of KHE who presented with progressive fixed hyperlordotic deformity, multiple non-specific spinal lesions, and abnormal blood tests, posing a clinical and radiological diagnostic challenge.

A previously healthy 9-year-old boy was referred for abnormal gait. At the age of seven, he first complained of an acute episode of spontaneous lower back pain lasting 2–3 days, with persistent back stiffness affecting lumbar flexion. He had normal bladder and bowel movements with no associated numbness or weakness, but also presented with easy bruising and gum bleeding.

During physical examination, he was found to have a waddling gait and a fixed hyperlordotic deformity with anterior pelvic tilt. Apart from localised tenderness over the back during palpation, other clinical examinations were unremarkable.

Laboratory investigations revealed significant thrombocytopenia (Platelet count 19×10^9/L), mild anaemia (Haemoglobin level 10.0 g/dL, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 73.4fL), normal white blood cell count (8.23× 10^9/L), normal prothrombin time (12.9 s), activated partial thromboplastin time (31.1 s), and international normalized ratio (1.1). Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 was negative.

Skeletal survey showed lordotic deformity of the lumbosacral spine, multiple sclerotic bone lesions involving the vertebral bodies and pedicles of T12-L3, sacrum, bilateral iliac bones and acetabulum. There was no pathological fracture or vertebral collapse. Displacement of bilateral paravertebral stripes were noted from T9–T12 levels. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals scattered multi-level T1 and T2 iso-to-hypointense lesions involving both the vertebral bodies and posterior elements from T10 to sacrum, corresponding with sclerotic changes seen on the plain radiographs. These lesions showed surrounding T2 hyperintense signals and contrast enhancement as well. In the surrounding soft tissues, there were also ill-defined infiltrative T2 hyperintense signals with contrast enhancement seen involving the anterior and posterior paraspinal soft tissues including the retroperitoneum, bilateral psoas and posterior paraspinal muscles. There was also diffuse involvement with abnormal contrast enhancement of bilateral sacroiliac joints in a symmetrical fashion without overt joint space widening, erosion or ankylosis. There was also mild thickening of the anterior epidural space from L5 to S1. No signs of central cord, cauda equina, or nerve root compressions were seen.

Given the presence of "marrow lesions" on imaging and suspected bone marrow failure, the initial working diagnosis was underlying haematological disease such as myeloproliferative disorders. Bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy was subsequently done, but only showed non-diagnostic findings of active trilineage hematopoiesis, reactive plasmacytosis and non-specifc stromal damage suggestive of granulomatous inflammation.

Mantoux test, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels, metabolic screen and tumour markers were all negative. Whole body fuorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) showed low grade metabolic FDG activity along the affected paraspinal soft tissue components (SUVmax 1.8; liver and mediastinal blood pool references SUVmax 1.4 and 1.0 respectively), but no metabolic activity in the associated bones.

Bilateral sacroiliac joints also show mild increased FDG activity (SUVmax 2.1) with no other abnormal uptakes elsewhere. Findings remained nonspecifc and differentials such as chronic infection (e.g. TB spondylitis), Langerhan cell histiocytosis, small round cell tumours and lymphoma were proposed.

Due to inconclusive results, CT-guided biopsy with platelet transfusion was performed after multidisciplinary team discussion. The patient was placed in prone position under conscious sedation. The lumbar bony site was biopsied using 11-gauge powered bone access system, obtaining three tissue cores. Paraspinal soft tissue was biopsied using 18-gauge core biopsy needle in a coaxial fashion, obtaining three tissue cores. Cores of tissue composed of cellular and reticulin-rich islands of spindle-shaped endothelial cells was seen on light microscopy. These formed slit-like vascular channels containing hemosiderin deposits and intravascular microthrombi in a fibrotic background. The tumour cells were arranged in short fascicles within the cellular islands with a whorl-like pattern. Lymphatic channels were inconspicuous with scanty bony fragments seen. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was focally positive for both vascular endothelial markers (CD34, CD31 and ERG), lymphatic endothelial markers (D2-40), and SMA. GLUT-1 and HHV8 are negative. The Ki67 index was low. Final histopathological diagnosis was suggestive of Kaposiform haemangioendothelioma.

Medical therapy with sirolimus followed by interval MRI reassessment was recommended after multidisciplinary consensus. Surgery was deemed not feasible at the time due to extensive involvement, and radiotherapy was not advocated in view of its adverse effects on spinal growth. Prior to the starting of sirolimus treatment, fibrinogen levels were checked and found to be low 1.52 g/L, consistent with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. Both the fibrinogen levels and platelet counts showed significant improvement within two months of starting treatment without the need for transfusion.

Further reading:

Kaposiform haemangioendothelioma of the spine associated with fixed hyperlordotic deformity and Kasabach–Merritt Syndrome: a case report and literature review Chin, L.H.Q., Fung, K.K.F., Chan, J.P.K. et al. Skeletal Radiology https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-022-04152-z

2 years 2 months ago

Orthopaedics,Orthopaedics News,Top Medical News,Orthopaedics Cases

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