A global study on showed that the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can significantly increase the risk of preventable premature deaths. Previous studies have linked UPFs -- rich in sodium, trans fats, and sugar -- with 32 different diseases including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, some types of cancer, and depression. The new study analysed data from nationally representative dietary surveys and mortality data from 8 countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, United Kingdom, and the US).

What began as a routine family meal turned into a medical emergency for a Rajpura family when 4 of its members were hospitalised at the PGIMER with severe symptoms of vomiting & weakness. The shocking cause — a cooking oil laced with dangerously high levels of Vitamin D. The family — a middle-aged couple in early fifties & their 2 adult sons — had been using a locally available refined oil that promoted itself as beneficial for bone health. However, tests revealed that prolonged consumption of the product led to hypercalcemia.

To ensure timely access to life-saving orphan drugs for patients, the government has exempted mandatory sampling and testing at port offices. The drug regulator will now release consignments based on a legal undertaking from the importer. This decision addresses challenges like small volumes and specialized testing needs, streamlining the process and preventing delays in crucial treatments.

India’s apex advisory body on drugs, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), is set to review whether the practice of delivering medicines to people’s homes should continue. The All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) has urged the government to revoke a notification issued in March 2020 that permitted doorstep delivery of medicines under certain conditions, including the stamping of prescriptions. This relaxation was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure uninterrupted access to essential medicines for patients during lockdowns.

India's drug advisory board is considering restricting over-the-counter medication sales to prevent misuse and ensure patient safety. The proposal limits OTC sales to 27 drugs, including antipyretics and painkillers, with dosage and quantity restrictions. The board aims to increase accessibility while ensuring patient safety by excluding several currently available drugs and recommending smaller pack sizes for safe use.

A 15-year-old girl was complaining of difficulty in breathing and stomach-ache. Doctors at a government hospital have given a new lease of life to her by removing a `cyst' weighing about 8 kg from her ovary after a complex surgery which lasted 3 hours. The girl's condition is absolutely fine now. If the cyst had not been removed, her life could have been in danger. The sample of the cyst has been sent for a histopathology test to find out whether it was cancerous.

Researchers have found brain activity unique to lucid dreaming - in which one is aware they are dreaming while still in the dream - suggesting that a conscious experience can arise from within sleep. Linked to REM, or rapid eye movement, sleep, a lucid dream can feel intensely vivid and real, often accompanied by a degree of control over how the dream unfolds.

With a study showing that only 1.3% of Indian women aged 45 and above undergo screening for breast cancer, experts have called for immediate policy interventions, awareness campaigns and infrastructural advancements to encourage more women to opt for testing. Other countries like US & several European nations boast of screening rates above 80%, India lags even behind some African nations, where 4.5% of women undergo mammograms.

A recent study by Aiims, New Delhi, brings a powerful insight that could change the course of treatment for many. Women who underwent systematic removal of lymph nodes from the pelvis and rear abdominal walls exhibited a 5 year overall survival rate of 48.9%. The study of 105 patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer who had undergone chemotherapy found that this surgical approach targets residual cancer cells that may persist post-chemotherapy, potentially reduces recurrence rates.

AIIMS Delhi has been ranked 97th best hospital in the world in 2025 (ranked 122nd in 2023, and 113th in 2024). Medanta Gurgaon ranked 146th in 2025 (166th in 2024). PGIMER Chandigarh ranked 228th in 2025 (ranked 246th in 2024). Who ranked 1st? In 2024 the Mayo Clinic & Cleveland Clinic in the US, followed by Toronto General in Canada & Johns Hopkins Hospital topped the list, while Sweden’s Karolinska University Hospital rounded out the top 5.