DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS 03 DECEMBER
HEALTH
Battling anti-microbial resistance
Background:
- In July 2019, in its fight against the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics in disease-causing germs, the Indian government banned the manufacture, sale, and use of colistin in the poultry industry.
Concerns:
- Antibiotics are now becoming ineffective as many infectious diseases have ceased to respond to antibiotics.
- Common bugs have developed a variety of mechanisms to develop antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Reasons behind antimicrobial resistance (AMR) :
- Indiscriminate use of antibiotics.
- It is a man-made disaster. Irresponsible use of antibiotics is rampant in human health, animal health, fisheries, and agriculture. They are used as growth promoters in animals.
- Over two-thirds of the antibiotics manufactured by the pharmaceutical industry are used as growth promoters for poultry and cattle.
- The common public purchases more than half without a doctor’s prescription, according to WHO.
- The pipeline for the discovery, development, and dissemination of new antibiotics has virtually dried out. No new class of antibiotics has been discovered in the past three decades.
Impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) :
- It has the potential to make fatal even minor infections.
- Complex surgeries such as organ transplantation and cardiac bypass might become difficult to undertake because of untreatable infectious complications that may result post-surgery.
- Inaction in containing AMR is likely to result in annual mortality reaching 10 million people and a 3.5% fall in global GDP by 2050.
Government Approach:
- The Sustainable Development Goals have articulated the importance of containing AMR.
- Inter-country development agencies (WHO, FAO, and World Organisation for Animal Health) developed a Global Action Plan on AMR.
- India developed its National Action Plan on AMR (NAP) in 2017. It is based on the One Health approach, which means that human health, animal health, and the environment sectors have equal responsibilities and strategic actions in combating AMR.
- There is a need for higher coordination between the state authorities and the centre as health is state subject.
- The FAO has assisted India in forging the Indian Network for Fishery and Animals Antimicrobial Resistance for the generation of reliable data on the magnitude of the problem and monitoring trends in response to control activities.
- There is an urgent need to augment capacity for regulatory mechanisms, infection control practices, and diagnostics support.
Reference: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/battling-anti-microbial-resistance/article30131559.ece
Parliament passes Bill to ban e-cigarettes
A Bill banning the manufacture and sale of electronic cigarettes, but not their possession and use, has been passed by Parliament.
Concerns:
- India has the second-largest number of tobacco users (268 million) in the world.
- Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) solutions and emissions contain other chemicals, some of them considered to be toxicants.
- The flavouring agents and vaporizers used in e-cigarettes are also harmful for health.
- Use of e-cigarettes has documented adverse effects on humans like DNA damage, carcinogenesis, cellular, molecular and immunological toxicity.
- It can cause respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological disorders.
- They are also known to have adverse effects on pregnancy and foetal development.
- Lack of knowledge about the negative effects of nicotine and the easy accessibility of these products make the youth prone to addiction.
- The decision is also backed by scientific reports, including a white paper brought out by the Indian Council of Medical Research, which pointed out that a typical e-cigarette cartridge contains “about as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes and can act as a potential source for nicotine addiction.
- It assumes importance from the standpoint of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, 2003, which India is a signatory to.
About E-Cigarettes:
- E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that heat a solution of nicotine and different flavours to create aerosol, which is then inhaled.
- These devices belong to a category of vapour-based nicotine products called ENDS.
- It can resemble pens and USBs.
Provisions of the bill:
- The Bill categorizes production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage, and advertisement of e-cigarettes and similar devices as cognizable offences.
- The bill stipulates that persons found in violation of the law for the first time will face a jail term of up to one year or a fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both. For subsequent offences, there would be a jail term of up to three years and a fine up to Rs 5 lakh.
- It further punishes storage of e-cigarettes with imprisonment up to six months or a fine of up to Rs 50,000, or both. Once the Bill comes into force, the owners of existing stocks of e-cigarettes will have to declare and deposit these stocks at the nearest office of an authorized officer.
Concerns:
- The move discriminates against a product that is less harmful than traditional tobacco products and helps people quit smoking.
- Certain activists demanded that rather than banning government should have taxed it heavily.
- There should at least be the option of supervised if not prescription use of e-cigarettes in order to make people quit smoking.
- They are being increasingly mandated for legal sale by developed and progressive countries globally.
Taking stock of the anti-AIDS fight
Global Goals:
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set a target of ending the epidemics of AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by 2030 (SDG 3.3).
- The key indicator is “the number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age and key populations”.
- The phrase “key populations” refers to men who have sex with men; people who use injected drugs; people in prisons and other closed settings; sex workers and their clients, and transgender persons.
About 90-90-90 target:
- The “90-90-90” target stated that by 2020, 90% of those living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all people on such therapy will have viral suppression.
Global Progress:
- High-level political commitment, financial support, health system thrust, public education, civil society engagement and advocacy by affected groups made it possible for the world to achieve a reduction in new HIV infections by 37% between 2000 and 2018.
- HIV-related deaths fell by 45%, with 13.6 million lives saved due to Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).
- Effective drugs were developed and were made widely available due to generic versions.
- Public and private financing took care of the financial needs of the efforts.
- Ignorance and stigma were vigorously combated by enlightened sections of media and civil society.
Progress in India:
- HIV-related deaths declined by 71% between 2005 and 2017.
- National AIDS Control Programme has been successful in generating awareness, making medicinces available and increased use of protection among key population.
Challenges:
- At the end of 2018, while 79% of all persons identified as being infected by HIV were aware of the fact, 62% were on treatment and only 53% had achieved viral suppression.
- High rates of new infection in several parts of the world, especially among young persons.
- regional disparity in progress: central Asia and eastern Europe have had a setback, while eastern and southern Africa witnessed progress.
Concern in going forward:
- Expanded health agenda in the SDGs stretched the resources of national health systems with little left to fight the AIDS.
- Improved survival rates reduced the fear which led to complacency among the patients.
- Sexual exploitation in society has continued unprotected sex leading to aggravation of AIDS.
- Other infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis can co-exist and cannot be addressed by a siloed programme.
- Mental health disorders are a challenge in persons who are on lifelong therapy for a serious disease that requires constant monitoring and often carries a stigma.
Conclusion:
- Drug treatment of HIV is now well-founded with an array of established and new anti-viral drugs.
- It calls for combination of political will, professional skill, finances and wide-ranging pan-society partnerships.
- Given the wide diversity of the HIV virus strains, the development of a vaccine has been highly challenging.
Reference: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/taking-stock-of-the-anti-aids-fight/article30142280.ece
POLITY
Govt. seeks review of SC/ST creamy layer
Government request:
- Asked the Supreme Court to refer to a seven-judge Bench the question whether the creamy later concept should apply or not to the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes while providing them reservation in government promotions.
Court Ruling:
- In M.Nagraj case, it upheld the creamy layer concept for SC/ST promotion .
- Later, a five-judge Bench in the Jarnail Singh case unanimously agreed with a M.Nagraj judgment.
- Court also refused the government’s plea to refer the 2006 Nagaraj case judgment to a seven-judge Bench.
Nagraj Case Verdict:
- Need quantifiable data to prove the backwardness of a caste.
- The whole object of reservation is to see that the backward classes of citizens move forward to create equality in society.
- It will not be possible if only the creamy layer within that class bags all the coveted jobs in the public sector and perpetuates themselves.
- When a court applies the creamy layer principle to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, it does not in any manner tinker with the Presidential List under Articles 341 or 342 of the Constitution.
- It is only for that group or sub-group, who have come out of untouchability or backwardness by virtue of belonging to the creamy layer.
- The court held that the principle was based on the fundamental right to equality.
Government argument:
- Misread the creamy layer concept by applying it to the SCs/STs.
Reference: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/govt-seeks-review-of-scst-creamy-layer/article30144592.ece
ECONOMY
Manufacturing PMI improves
Manufacturing activity increased in November from a two-year low in the previous month.
Private Sector survey report:
- Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 51.2 in November, up from 50.6 in October.
- The upturn remained subdued compared to earlier in the year and the survey history.
- Growth rates for new orders and production were modest, despite accelerating from October’s recent lows.
- Growth in the overall manufacturing sector was mainly propped up by growth in the consumer goods segment.
About PMI:
- Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is an indicator of business activity -- both in the manufacturing and services sectors.
- It is a survey-based measures that asks the respondents about changes in their perception of some key business variables (New Orders, Output, Employment, Stocks of Purchases etc.) from the month before.
- The headline PMI is a number from 0 to 100. A PMI above 50 represents an expansion when compared to the previous month. A PMI reading under 50 represents a contraction, and a reading at 50 indicates no change.
- It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a composite index is constructed.
Reference: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/manufacturing-pmi-improves/article30144454.ece
ENVIRONMENT
UN chief warns of ‘point of no return’ on climate change
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Sunday that the world’s efforts to stop climate change have been utterly inadequate.
His Comments:
- World has the scientific knowledge and the technical means to limit global warming.
- Political will is lacking.
- Countries agreed in Paris four years ago to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), ideally 1.5C (2.7F) by the end of the century compared with pre-industrial times.
- Growing demands from citizens, particularly young people, have shown there is widespread desire for climate action.
Case for Political Will:
- Needs to put a price on carbon.
- Needs to stop subsidies on fossil fuels.
- Needs to stop building coal power plants from 2020 onwards.
- Needs to shift taxation from income to carbon.
- Needs to tax pollution instead of people.
Issues in two-week international climate conference in Madrid:
- How to create functioning international emissions trading systems.
- Compensate poor countries for losses they suffer from rising sea levels and other consequences of climate change.
Indian Commitment in Paris agreement:
- India has promised to reduce the emission intensity of its economy by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.
- It has also committed to having 40% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.
Tiger population up by 750 in 4 years to 2,976
- Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday said in the Rajya Sabha the tiger population had increased by 750 in the last four years to 2,976.
- Geographical area of forest cover has increased by 17,374 sq. km
SOCIETY
After new MV Act, fatal accidents see 300% dip
After implementation of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, from September 1, the national Capital has witnessed a 300% dip in cases of fatal accidents.
- Traffic police data on fines issued show a 79% dip in cases of motorists driving without a valid driving licence.
- There has been a 892% fall in fines in connection with a minor driving a vehicle.
- A 1,227% dip has been witnessed in cases of driving without a helmet.
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