Japan could become one of the first countries in the world to end the HIV epidemic, says the president of Gilead Sciences Japan, Kennet Brysting. The idea for now could seem a little too ambitious, but it is not entirely unrealistic, given that the availability of medicines that can prevent transmission of HIV. Drugs are not the cure, but control over the spread of virus to the point where the disease is no longer a major public health threat.

What Is The Role Of Preventative HIV Medicines?

Gilead's have two key drugs, Truvada and lenacapavir. These two are playing a crucial role in prevention. Truvada is taken as a daily pill, while lenacapavir requires two injections per year. It can make the virus undetectable in infected individuals and prevent transmission to those who are not infected yet. In trials, lenacapavir showed 100% efficacy in preventing HIV infections. This is why it is describe as "almost a vaccine".

In 2024, Japan also approved Truvada for HIV prevention, but the country has yet to approve lenacapavir for the same. Until now, people in Japan had been importing generic versions of Truvada or purchasing it from clinics that source it from overseas.

HIV In Japan

Up until now, Japan reported around 25,000 HIV infections, whereas 669 new cases were reported in 2023. For seven consecutive years, the number of new infections remained under 1,000. The downward trend thus shows that the virus has been controlled, however, getting to zero new infections remains the ultimate goal.

Brysting too acknowledged that simply having effective drug is not enough. What is important is to have a proper implementation, access and healthcare support to make sure that these treatments are widely available and effective.

What Are The Challenges In Implementation?

The biggest challenges is testing rates. There is a need to increase testing rates. At this very moment, around 86% people infective with Japan have been tested, but the goal is to increase it up to 95%, with an ideal goal of 100%. Without widespread testing, many infected people may not even know that they are infected and it could transmit the virus.

Another measure issue is the cost of preventative medication. While Japan's health insurance covers treatments for diseases, it does not cover preventative drugs. Those who purchase Truvada for prevention, pay around $470 per month. Some clinics in Tokyo offer generic alternatives too, which is cheaper, but they are not ideal.

Better Healthcare Support

Brysting expressed concern that individuals importing medications might not be consulting doctors regularly, which is essential for monitoring HIV status and overall health. Truvada users need to be tested for HIV initially and every three months, along with screenings for other infections and kidney function checks. Without proper medical supervision, there is a risk of misuse and inadequate protection.

Gilead is in discussions with Japanese authorities to improve access and insurance coverage for Truvada, and progress is being made. Japan has shown efficiency in approving critical medicines, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic when Gilead’s remdesivir was approved in just three days.

What Is The Way Ahead?

Gilead at this moment is not only focused on HIV and hepatitis C, but also expanding into oncology with innovative treatments like CAR-T cell therapy, which strengthens a patient's immune system to fight cancer.

However, Japan’s strict approval processes can slow down drug availability. Phase 3 clinical trials often need to be conducted within the country, and Japan tends to approve medicines much later than other regions. For instance, Truvada was approved for prevention in Japan 12 years after the U.S. and nearly 20 years after its approval for treatment. inancial factors also play a role. The Japanese government adjusts drug prices annually, often reducing them, which can make long-term investment challenging for pharmaceutical companies.

The vaccine-preventable measles, a deadly infectious disease, has claimed the lives of 98 children in Bangladesh, in the country’s one of the worst outbreaks, media reports said.

According to the latest data from the country’s Ministry of Health, the number of children aged six months to five years old with suspected measles symptoms has soared to 6,476, AFP News Agency reported

“Compared with past years, the number of affected children is higher, and the death toll is higher too,” Halimur Rashid, director at Communicable Disease Control, was quoted as saying.

The largest number of suspected cases on record was in 2005 at 25,934, according to World Health Organization (WHO) data. That number had significantly declined in succeeding years until this year.

Measles Outbreak: Emergency Vaccination Drive

Official data show that in 2026, more than 2,300 children were admitted to the hospital with suspected measles.

The outbreak has also prompted the government to roll out a vaccination program for younger children in a bid to halt the outbreak. The emergency vaccination drive will be launched in 18 high-risk districts, and will also be expanded from May 3 to cover the entire country.

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said 10 of the total 94 measles-related deaths occurred in 24 hours ending at 8 am Sunday, even as the number of suspected measles cases detected grew to 5,792 during the 19 days, 974 of them since Saturday.

"The highly infectious disease has seen a sharp rise this year, particularly since March," a DGHS statement said, attributing the phenomenon to the vaccination gap last year, PTI reported.

The officials noted that the disease is spreading rapidly and has affected 56 out of 64 administrative districts.

Health Minister Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul said the emergency vaccination drive would cover the "worst affected areas" before being expanded throughout Bangladesh.

What Is Measles?

Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through direct contact or through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and may include:

• high fever,
• cough,
• runny nose,
• red eyes,
• rashes across the body.

Measles And Vaccination

The reports of deaths from Bangladesh indicate the presence of a significant 'immunity gap,” allowing the virus to take hold.

How Does Measles Spread

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads rapidly through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Crowded living conditions, poor ventilation, and low immunity levels increase the risk of transmission.

In addition to incomplete or missed vaccination, lack of awareness, and malnutrition (especially vitamin A deficiency) contribute to outbreaks.

How To Stay Safe

To safeguard against measles, individuals should:

• Ensure timely vaccination, especially for children.
• Maintaining good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing and covering the mouth while coughing or sneezing
• Avoiding close contact with infected individuals
• Eensure proper nutrition to boost immunity
• Public awareness and community health programs also play a crucial role.

A young Internal Medicine doctor from Chandigarh has highlighted shocking malpractices followed by a well-known private hospital.

In a widely shared video posted on social media platform Instagram, Dr Prabhleen Kaur alleged that all patients arriving at the hospital in the city are being forcibly kept in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) even when it is not required.

The doctor had joined the hospital, as it was paying well and was near her clinic. However, seeing the blatant scam, she resigned in just one day.

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“I joined a very reputed hospital. I thought I would work there in the mornings and run OPD at my own clinic in the evenings. They were paying really well, no doubt about that,” the doctor said in the video.

The doctor alleged that the hospital “just needed a physician for the show”, while the entire handling of patients was being done by the owner, a gynecologist.

“But on my very first day, I realised that they only needed a physician in name. The hospital owner, who was a gynaecologist and not a physician, was managing all the patients herself. That means she would decide every patient should be admitted, and she would also decide that every admitted patient should be kept in the ICU – and kept there for as many days as possible,” Kaur said.

She further claimed that the goal at the said hospital was to make the patients remain admitted in the ICU for as long as possible. Kaur added she was deeply disturbed seeing this and refused to be part of a system that “harms patients for money.”

“It would have been my name, but their wrongdoing. So I resigned, because I cannot allow someone to use me as a front for unethical practices,” she said.

The doctor did not mention the name of the hospital. And HealthandMe could not independently verify the details and the authenticity of the post.

However, the incident reignites concerns over accountability, patient safety, and standards of care in the country.

The video went viral and the netizens found it concerning, and some also pointed out that such issues are common with many hospitals across the country.

"Unfortunately, most doctors are doing this unethical practice these days,” a user said.

“No surprise— the moment you enter a hospital, the first question is about insurance coverage. Feels like treatment comes second and billing comes first,” added another.

Some also lauded the doctor for resigning and sounding the alarm.

“Salute to your integrity. Rest of the Indians are just after making money,” said a user, while another noted: “Respect to this doctor for choosing her conscience over money".

Also read: NASA’s Artemis II Mission To Test Human Health in Deep Space

Other Such Incidents

This is not the first such incident of hospital malpractice in the country.

Days earlier, a doctor from Assam called out private hospitals for overcharging patients with inflated medicine prices and unnecessary lab tests.

Dr Priyam Bordoloi said that corporate hospital chains rely on “predatory” practices and become a “financial sinkhole” for patients.

Earlier in January this year, a viral video with allegations of gross medical negligence and institutional apathy at Dhubri Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) sparked public outrage.

The video showed a family accusing hospital staff of failing to provide basic care, delaying critical dialysis treatment, and obstructing an emergency transfer.

The incident involved a 74-year-old Fulchand Chowdhury, whose condition reportedly worsened due to lapses in ICU monitoring, sanitation, and patient safety.

The family claimed they were forced to care for him themselves and faced resistance when seeking transfer to a private facility.

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Who Should Be Kept In The ICU?

In January 2024, India launched guidelines for hospitals on ICU admissions and directed that hospitals cannot admit critically ill patients to the ICU without the consent of the patient and family.

According to the latest guidelines, patients who are critically ill should not be admitted to an ICU if they do not give their consent.

"Critically ill patients should not be admitted to the ICU; if the patient or next-of-kin informed refusal to be admitted in ICU."

Nearly 60 years after humanity first set foot on the Moon, NASA has launched its historic Artemis II mission, marking the first crewed journey around the lunar surface.

The nearly 10-day flight was launched successfully on April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida at 6:24 p.m. EDT.

Four astronauts were launched to the surface of the Moon aboard Orion, which lifted off atop NASA's Space Launch System.

The Orion spacecraft flight carries NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

The crew aims to loop around the moon and return to Earth on a free-return trajectory, reaching roughly 4,700 miles (7,560 kilometers) beyond the moon's far side — farther than Apollo 8's historic lunar flyby and the most distant journey ever attempted by humans.

During the 10-day journey, the four astronauts will also perform several science experiments, along with scientists on Earth, to facilitate science investigations to inform future human spaceflight missions.

NASA stated that the Artemis II science operations will lay the foundation for safe and efficient human exploration of the Moon and Mars.

Health Research in Space

• Artemis Research for Crew Health and Readiness (ARCHeR)

The study will evaluate how crew members perform individually and as a team throughout the mission, including how easily they can move around within the confined space of their Orion spacecraft.

• A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response (AVATAR)

• The Immune Biomarkers

Scientists will analyze blood and saliva samples from Artemis II crew members to see how deep space changes the immune system.

• Artemis II Standard Measures

Crews are supplying a consistent set of health information to a data bank so that future researchers can learn more about astronaut health.

• Radiation Studies

Equipment will monitor radiation levels inside and outside the Orion capsule to help characterize the deep space environment.

“The findings are expected to provide vital insights for future missions to destinations beyond low Earth orbit, including Mars,” said Laurie Abadie, an aerospace engineer for the program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“The lessons we learn from this crew will help us to more safely accomplish deep space missions and research,” she said.

Steven Platts, chief scientist for human research at NASA Johnson, explained the mission will need to protect against challenges, including exposure to higher radiation levels than on the International Space Station, since the crew will be farther from Earth.

“Together, these studies will allow scientists to better understand how the immune system performs in deep space, teach us more about astronauts’ overall well-being ahead of a Mars mission, and help scientists develop ways to ensure the health and success of crew members,” he said.