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.

TikTok creator Sydney Towle has died at the age of 26 after a three-year battle with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer.

Her family announced her death on social media on Wednesday (Aug. 5), sharing a photo of Towle standing on a mountain peak alongside the message: "Rest in Peace Sydney Elizabeth Towle. An endless ray of sunshine. A daughter, a sister and friend to so many."

"We will always love you so much, Sydney. I am so proud of how hard you fought. I love you," read the caption.

Her older brother, Austin Towle, also shared the tribute on his TikTok account, calling her the "best sister ever."

Sydney Towle: Entered Hospice Days Before Her Death

A day before announcing her death, Austin revealed that Sydney had entered hospice care. The post showed family and friends gathered around her hospital bed.

"Sydney has been moved to hospice and is surrounded by her friends and family. Thank you all for your love and support❤️," he wrote.

Sydney Towle: Rare Bile Duct Cancer at 23

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Towle was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma at the age of 23, a rare cancer that develops in the bile ducts and is most commonly diagnosed in people over 50.

Her diagnosis followed a lump and a burning sensation in her abdomen in 2023. Initially believed to be a hernia, it was later confirmed to be bile duct cancer.

Sydney Towle Documented Cancer Journey Online

Following her diagnosis, Towle documented her cancer journey on social media, saying that sharing her experience gave her a "purpose." She built a community of more than one million followers across TikTok and Instagram. Over the course of her illness, she underwent several surgeries, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and participated in clinical trials.

In an interview with TODAY.com in November 2024, Towle said five months of chemotherapy and immunotherapy had reduced the size of her tumor, allowing surgeons to remove most of it. However, some cancer remained lining her liver, and doctors planned regular scans to monitor it.

A later MRI revealed a lesion that doubled in size within a month.

She later moved to New York City, where she began working with a new medical team to develop another treatment plan.

Cancer Continued to Progress

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In a TikTok video posted on May 17, 2026, Towle revealed that the cancer had spread to her peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdomen and pelvis.

Two days later, she said her oncologist recommended stopping active treatment and transitioning to end-of-life care.

"I said, 'No.' So, we are switching hospitals," Towle said. "We're not at the point where we're giving up."

On June 8, she shared that doctors had found tumors in her lungs. Despite undergoing further surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy over the following weeks, her health continued to decline. On July 21, she revealed she had been hospitalized for about a month while waiting to learn whether her treatments were working.

Her social media accounts fell silent soon after. On Aug. 4, her brother announced she had been moved to hospice care. A day later, her family confirmed that she had died, surrounded by loved ones.

What Is Cholangiocarcinoma?

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer that develops in the bile ducts—the slender tubes that carry bile, a digestive fluid, from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease occurs most often in people over the age of 50, although it can develop at any age. It is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage, making treatment more challenging.

Signs and Symptoms include

• Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• Intense itching
• White- or clay-colored stools
• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fever
• Night sweats

The US has reported 3,437 cases of the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris across 27 states so far this year, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The figure is about 1,000 fewer than the 4,290 cases reported during the same period last year.

The states reporting the highest number of cases this year are:

• California: 873
• Texas: 433
• Tennessee: 283

The CDC clarified that an increase in reported cases does not necessarily mean the fungus is spreading more rapidly than usual.

"An increasing number of cases does not mean the fungus is transmitting at a more rapid pace than usual," the CDC said.

The agency added that while C. auris cases continue to rise every year, the rate of increase has slowed since 2022.

Most Strains Resistant to Common Antifungal Drugs

A CDC analysis published earlier this year, based on 8,033 C. auris samples collected in 2022 and 2023, found:

• More than 95% were resistant to fluconazole, a first-line antifungal drug.
• 15% were resistant to amphotericin B.
• 1% were resistant to echinocandins.
• Fewer than 1% were resistant to all three major antifungal drug classes.

Why Is Candida auris a Concern?

Candida auris is a type of fungus that can cause serious infections in the human body. It was first identified in 2009.

The CDC said that the drug-resistant fungus continues to pose a major challenge for hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities because it is difficult to treat and control.

"Candida auris is an emerging yeast that is frequently resistant to antifungal drugs. C. auris can cause invasive infections associated with high mortality and can colonize patients asymptomatically, which facilitates transmission in health care settings," the CDC said.

"Since it was first reported in the United States in 2016, C. auris has been identified in multiple states, with increasing numbers of cases reported annually. Monitoring national trends in cases identified through clinical testing and screening for colonization is critical to guide infection prevention and control efforts," it added.

Why Is Candida auris So Difficult to Control?

Unlike many other infections, Candida auris spreads easily through contaminated medical equipment and direct person-to-person contact. It can also survive for long periods on surfaces and is resistant to many commonly used disinfectants, making outbreaks difficult to contain once the fungus enters a healthcare facility.

Health officials say the steady rise in cases each year points to ongoing transmission in healthcare settings.

Symptoms and Health Risks

Candida auris can infect:

• The bloodstream
• Wounds
• Ears
• Other parts of the body

Symptoms vary depending on the site and severity of the infection. Some people may carry the fungus without showing any symptoms.

The CDC noted that most people who develop Candida auris infections are already seriously ill, making it difficult to determine how much the fungus contributes to death compared with their underlying medical conditions.

The fungus is particularly concerning in hospitals and nursing homes because it can survive on surfaces such as doorknobs, counters, and bed rails. Its resistance to multiple antifungal drugs makes infections difficult to treat and eliminate.

English actor and former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan recently urged health authorities to make focal therapy more available for prostate cancer patients. He said after describing the treatment as "life-changing" following his own diagnosis in 2019.

This comes as new evidence has been emerging that the minimally invasive approach can offer satisfactory cancer control compared to traditional treatments, while also significantly reducing long-term side effects.

The 72-year-old broadcaster revealed that he was initially offered a prostatectomy, a surgery that removes the entire prostate gland. Instead, he opted for focal therapy, a targeted treatment that destroys only the cancerous portion of the prostate while preserving healthy tissue.

"It was a complete success, and I've only experienced very minor after-effects, allowing me to continue with my life as before," Duncan said, while backing Prostate Cancer UK's campaign for wider NHS access to the treatment. "Many men aren't given the same chance I was, and that needs to change."

Importance Of Focal Therapy In Prostate Cancer Treatment

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Duncan's campaign comes amid growing clinical evidence supporting focal therapy for selected patients with localised prostate cancer.

A recent report from researchers at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust found that focal therapy shows promise in cancer treatment compared to surgery and radiotherapy while causing far fewer complications in some patients.

Amy Rylance, Director of Health Services, Equity and Improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said the delay in wider approval is leaving thousands of men with no access to treatments that could preserve their quality of life.

"Without a timeline from NICE, we simply don't know how long men will have to wait for approval on the NHS," she said. "Thousands of men will have to deal with life-changing side effects simply because of their postcode."

More About Focal Therapy

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Unlike prostatectomy or radiotherapy, focal therapy targets only the tumour inside the prostate. The treatment may use high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) or cryotherapy to destroy cancer cells while preserving the surrounding healthy tissue.

Because the rest of the prostate and surrounding nerves are preserved, patients may generally face a much lower risk of urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and bowel problems.

Focal therapy is not suitable for everyone. Specialists say it is generally considered for men with localised, clinically significant prostate cancer where imaging and biopsy show that the tumour can be accurately targeted.

Patients still require long-term monitoring after treatment to ensure the cancer has not returned or progressed.

Can Focal Therapy Help?

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK. According to Prostate Cancer UK, around one in eight men will be diagnosed during their lifetime, with the risk increasing with age, family history and Black ethnicity.

While surgery and radiotherapy remain the standard treatment options to treat prostate cancer, advocates argue that expanding access to focal therapy could help thousands of eligible men receive effective treatment with fewer long-term side effects.

Duncan hopes sharing his own experience will encourage both policymakers and patients to consider the option where appropriate.