LATEST IN HEALTH RESEARCH

LATEST IN HEALTH RESEARCH

TIMES OF INDIA 04.03.2026

Weight loss drugs could be making your bones brittle Popular GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic may be bad for bone health, says a new study presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ annual meeting. The study found GLP-1 users had a 30% increased risk of osteoporosis and a 12% more risk of gout. Study lead and professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania Dr John Horneff told NBC News that it’s mostly because people reduce their food intake after taking these drugs, which also makes them miss out on key nutrients, apart from the loss of bone mineral density that came with rapid weight loss. 

Too much red meat can double your diabetes risk A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition has found that consuming too much red meat, especially the processed kind, increases diabetes risk by 49%, according to Medical News Today. And switching to plant proteins (nuts and legumes) or healthier protein sources (dairy, poultry, fish and eggs) can reduce this risk by 9-14%. Red meat is high on saturated fat that can worsen insulin resistance, it said.

In relief to car owners, hypothecation removal now to be fully online

In relief to car owners, hypothecation removal now to be fully online

Dipak.Dash@timesofindia.com  04.03.2026

New Delhi : In a major relief, the removal of hypothecation from vehicles will now happen automatically through an online system once a loan is repaid, saving people from the hassle of multiple visits to transport offices and reaching out to banks.

The road transport ministry has rolled out this new system, starting March 1 (Monday), initially with one nationalised bank and five non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). Officials said the system operated using RBI’s Unified Lending Interface (ULI), which enables secure and realtime data exchange between lenders and govt platforms.

 “The online interface interacts among banks, ULI and the Vahan system. So, the entire process, including the verification, happens without any human intervention. Once the process is complete, the owner gets an SMS from Vahan informing him/ her about the removal of hypothecation,” said an official. After the owner repays the loan, the bank will send a ‘no objection certificate’. At present, SBI and five NBFCs, including Cholamandalam, Shriram Finance and Sundaram Finance, have started implementing this system. Officials said more banks and financial institutions will be onboarded in phases.

NEWS TODAY 03.03.2026

 

NMC warns against ‘fake’ patients in medical colleges

 

NMC warns against ‘fake’ patients in medical colleges

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI  03.02.2026

Medical colleges admitting “fake patients” can see their applications for new postgraduate courses or additional seats immediately rejected, the National Medical Commission (NMC) warned in a recent order.

The commission said some medical colleges admit people who do not require any treatment to fulfill the requirement of bed occupancy and investigations. It said “fake patient practice” will invite punishment if it is reported during an assessment.

The NMC approves additional medical college seats through a stringent, time-bound online process conducted by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB). Experts note that key aspects include adherence to the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, and Undergraduate Minimum Standard Requirements, with strict deadlines for submission.

The NMC said that detection of fake patients may result in barring the institution from starting new courses or from increasing intake in existing courses for a period specified by the MARB. It can affect the renewal of UG and existing PG courses.

The commission has laid down guidelines to identify fake patients. These include patients admitted on the day of, or just before, an assessment. Those who have minor ailments that can be treated on an outpatient basis, and those admitted without X-ray, blood reports or any in-patient treatment such as intravenous cannula, injections, and catheterisation will be treated as “fake” patients. Multiple patients from the same family being admitted, and patients admitted in large numbers through preventive health check-up camps are also “fake”. In paediatric wards, playful children admitted without any significant problem will be categorised as “fake”.

The NMC said the assessment will consider the faculty, infrastructure, clinical material/indicators, and quality of education of the college.

NEWS TODAY 02.03.2026