The Union Health Ministry implemented a ban on 156 "irrational" FDC medicines, effective immediately. These medicines, including widely used antibiotics, painkillers, and multivitamins, were commonly used to treat fever, cough, and infections. The ban was imposed due to the associated health risks and lack of therapeutic justification for the ingredients in these FDCs.

What are FDC medicines?

FDCs or fixed-dosed combinations, also known as "cocktail drugs," are medications that combine multiple drugs in a single pill. They are designed to treat multiple symptoms or conditions simultaneously. While they offer convenience, they can pose significant risks. These risks include the possibility of overdose, adverse interactions between the drugs, and the development of antibiotic resistance. Additionally, many FDC medicines lack sufficient scientific evidence to support their safety and efficacy.

Expert opinions on FDC medicines

Experts have raised concerns about the use of FDC medicines. They believe that many of these combinations lack sufficient scientific evidence to support their safety and effectiveness. Additionally, the combination of multiple drugs in a single pill can increase the risk of adverse side effects and interactions with other medications.

Experts have also found that FDC medicines may not be as effective as individual drugs in treating certain conditions. It is important to note that safer and more effective alternatives are available for most of the medical conditions that FDC medicines were used to treat. One particular concern is the inclusion of antibiotics in some FDCs. Overuse of antibiotics can contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance, a major public health threat.

The risks of FDC medicines

The use of FDC medicines can lead to adverse effects, including serious ones. Additionally, safer alternatives, tested in clinical trials, are available to treat the same medical conditions. Experts recommend prescribing drugs individually based on a patient's clinical symptoms rather than combining them in FDCs.

The ban on irrational FDC medicines by the Union Health Ministry can be seen as a positive step towards promoting rational drug use and protecting public health. The goal is to eliminate unnecessary and potentially harmful drug combinations. This is a step forward in reducing the risks associated with medication and ensure safer and more effective treatment options for patients.

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to a new study published in the BMJ. Researchers say the figure may be a conservative estimate, raising concerns about the long-term effects of repeated head impacts in American football.

The study examined 878 former NFL players who died during the six-year period. Of them, 235 had donated their brains for research, and 215, or 91.5%, were found to have CTE.

As brain donation was not available for everyone who died, researchers calculated that at least 24.5% of the entire group had CTE. Researchers say the actual number could be substantially higher.

What Is CTE?

Repeated head impacts can cause abnormal accumulation of tau protein in the brain. Over time, these changes can damage and kill brain cells, particularly in areas involved in memory, thinking, mood and behaviour.

The damage is not always caused by one dramatic concussion. Researchers focus on the cumulative burden of repeated head impacts, including hits that may not cause obvious concussion symptoms.

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Brain Damage Can Build Up Over Years

CTE can be associated with symptoms including memory problems, confusion, impaired judgement, depression, anxiety, aggression and difficulties controlling impulses.

The new study also found a strong relationship between more advanced CTE and dementia. Among players with the most severe, Stage IV disease, dementia was particularly common.

Dr Daniel Daneshvar, a neurologist at Mass General Brigham and lead author of the study, said, "Former NFL players had about a fourfold higher risk of dying from neurodegenerative disease compared with the general population."

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The Risk May Begin Before The NFL

One important finding is that the brain injury associated with CTE does not necessarily begin during an NFL career.

Players may accumulate thousands of head impacts during childhood, high school and college football, before ever reaching the professional level.

Researchers therefore say prevention needs to focus on reducing repetitive head impacts throughout a player's sporting career, rather than concentrating only on professional football.

This also explains why researchers distinguish between concussions and repetitive head impacts. A player can experience numerous hits without being diagnosed with a concussion, yet the cumulative exposure may still have a lasting impact in long term.

Can CTE Be Detected Or Treated While Someone Is Alive?

One of the biggest challenges is detecting CTE while someone is alive. There is currently no definitive test that can diagnose CTE during life and no cure that can reverse the underlying brain changes.

Researchers are studying biomarkers and brain-imaging techniques that could eventually make diagnosis possible without an autopsy. The treatment focuses on managing symptoms like depression, sleep problems, headaches, cognitive difficulties and behavioural changes.

Country music legend Dolly Parton died at 80 after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives confirmed on Tuesday, revealing that the singer had been dealing with the disease before her death. The type of cancer has not been disclosed.

According to a statement from her representatives, Parton died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death earlier on Tuesday.

Her representatives said she had “bravely” faced the illness but did not provide further details about when she was diagnosed or what treatment she received.

About Dolly Parton’s Cancer

Not much has been publicly revealed about Dolly Parton’s cancer. Her representatives have only described it as a brief battle with cancer, and no specific cancer type, stage or treatment has been announced. It would therefore be premature to speculate about what type of cancer she had or what caused her death.

Reports in recent months had indicated that Parton was dealing with several health problems and had withdrawn herself from some public appearances. She had also cancelled a planned Las Vegas residency earlier this year because of health concerns. Despite those health struggles, Parton continued to speak publicly about wanting to work and pursue new projects.

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Parton Was Vocal About Some Health Issues

Parton had previously spoken about health challenges, although her representatives' latest statement provides the first confirmation of a cancer diagnosis.

Recent reports said she had experienced immune and digestive problems and kidney stones, while she also acknowledged that she had neglected some aspects of her health while caring for her late husband, Carl Dean, who died in 2025.

Her death has now brought renewed attention to the importance of recognising persistent health changes, particularly in older adults.

Some Cancers May Progress Rapidly

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More than 100 types of cancer can develop in different organs, and their behaviour can vary dramatically.

Some cancers grow slowly and may remain manageable for years, while others can progress rapidly or spread to other parts of the body before they are detected.

The symptoms of some cancers may also be subtle. Depending on the cancer, warning signs may include unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, unusual bleeding, a lasting change in bowel or bladder habits, persistent pain, a new lump or changes in the skin.

However, these symptoms can also be caused by many non-cancerous conditions. Their presence does not automatically mean someone has cancer. Therefore, it is important to seek medical help if someone is facing any of these symptoms.

Philanthropic Work

Parton's connection with healthcare extended well beyond her personal health. In 2020, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to support COVID-19 research. Her contribution helped fund research that became part of the work leading to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine.

She also supported healthcare and community initiatives in her native Tennessee. Parton died after a career spanning nearly six decades, leaving behind an extraordinary musical and philanthropic legacy. Her representatives said she spent her life bringing “joy, laughter, hope and integrity” to others.

Amid a record-high measles outbreak in the US, Pennsylvania has reported the first measles deaths of 2026, involving two unvaccinated individuals.

According to a statement by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), the confirmed deaths “mark the first deaths related to measles within the Commonwealth in 35 years.”

Both people were unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County, according to the DOH, which did not release additional details, citing privacy concerns.

“Because measles was largely eliminated in the Commonwealth for more than three decades, people are not familiar with this disease and don't fully understand the potential severity of the illness,” said Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen.

Pennsylvania has been one of the hardest-hit states this year. So far, 393 cases of the contagious virus has been reported across 28 counties. Lancaster County, in the southeastern part of the state, has recorded 185 cases.

MMR Vaccine Offers Strong Protection

The best protection against measles is getting fully vaccinated. The MMR vaccine, administered over two doses, boosts a person’s immune system and provides 97% lifetime protection.

However, vaccination rates and policies under the President Donald Trump, along with long-term vaccine skeptic Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have led to a severe decline in immunization rates.

As per the latest figures from the US CDC, the country has recorded 2,777 confirmed measles cases this year, a disease that had been largely eradicated in the country.

Notably, the increase in cases also means that the US is set to lose its status for having eradicated measles.

Trump, Kennedy Push for Vaccine Changes

Moreover, Kennedy and President Donald Trump, earlier this month, issued an executive order calling for a reduction in recommended childhood vaccines and also promoted a long-debunked link between vaccines and autism, contrary to established scientific evidence.

“We all thought the Texas outbreak and the deaths there last year would be a wake-up call. Then we had the outbreaks in South Carolina and Utah,” said Dr. Angela Dunn, former Utah state epidemiologist and previously a CDC division director in infectious disease response, Reuters reported.

In 2025, three people died in an outbreak that began in West Texas and spread to New Mexico.

How Does Measles Spread?

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious short- and long-term health problems, including pneumonia and brain swelling. Nearly 20% of people who contract measles are hospitalized. Death related to measles, though rare, occurs in one to three patients per 1,000 cases.

Measles spreads when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The virus remains infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after the person with the infection leaves the area.

Measles Symptoms

Early symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis). The measles rash follows a few days later, starting on the head and spreading downward.

Because early symptoms can look similar to other respiratory viral infections, it is important to contact a healthcare provider early if someone has these symptoms or may have been exposed to measles.

Symptoms can start 7 to 21 days after exposure. Without proper protection or supportive care, measles can be deadly.