Latest news with #RGUHS
The Hindu
14 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Experts highlight health benefits of yoga, bat for its integration into modern life at Mysuru conference
The second yoga conference organised by the Federation of Yoga Teachers of Karnataka brought together scholars, practitioners, and health professionals to deliberate on the importance of the practice in modern life, and its role in building a healthy society, in Mysuru on Sunday. Inaugurating the event, B.C. Bhagavan, vice-chancellor of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bengaluru, emphasised that yoga, India's ancient gift to the world, has transcended geographical boundaries and is now embraced globally as a holistic lifestyle practice. 'Earlier, it was narrowly seen as just a form of exercise. But over the past few decades, the awareness of its deeper spiritual and therapeutic dimensions has grown,' he said. Highlighting yoga's international reach, Mr. Bhagavan noted that the International Day of Yoga (IDY) is now celebrated in nearly 170 countries, symbolising the widespread acceptance of the practice. However, he raised concerns over the increasing disconnect of India's post-1990s generation from the country's traditions. 'They are deeply influenced by Western lifestyles, addicted to digital media, and drawn to short-format content like reels, from an early age. Their concentration levels and attention spans are worryingly low,' he observed, and stressed the need to promote yoga and naturopathy among the new generation. This will help the youth to build resilience and holistic well-being, said Mr. Bhagavan. Flagging the rise in drug and substance abuse among young people, he said nearly 25% of youth are reportedly involved in tobacco use and substance abuse, and it was imperative to intervene and wean them away. Citing research and studies on yoga, Mr. Bhagavan said that the results demonstrated it's efficacy in managing and curing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). 'Yoga has shown measurable benefits in treating hypertension, heart diseases, postural issues, and kidney function disorders. It has both protective and curative potential,' he said, calling for yoga to be adopted as a way of life to build a healthier society. The conference was presided over by Ramachandra G. Bhat Kotemane, a senior yoga scholar. Addressing the gathering, Nanjangud MLA Darshan Dhruvanarayan reinforced the cultural significance of yoga and the role of Mysuru in its modern revival. 'Mysuru has long been a hub for yoga in South India. Foreigners have been drawn to the city to learn under the tutelage of renowned gurus,' he said. He also echoed concerns about the youth's addiction to digital media, and underlined the urgent need to create awareness about the benefits of yoga among them. A publication on yoga guru T. Krishnamacharya, authored by N. Anand, was released on the occasion. B.N.S. Iyengar, a direct disciple of T. Krishnamacharya, was among those present. The technical sessions that followed saw experts deliberating on various aspects of yoga, including its metaphysical and spiritual dimensions, aspects of ashtanga yoga, integrating yoga into lifestyle, yoga for health, pranayama for mental health, etc.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
RGUHS regional centre to be completed by Sept 2026
Mangaluru: Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) regional centre will be completed by Sept, 2026, said Sharanaprakash Rudrappa Patil, minister of medical education and skills development. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Patil addressed the reporters after visiting the work site at Maryhill on Tuesday. The foundation stone for the facility was laid in January, and the construction commenced two months ago. The total cost of the project is Rs 49 crore, and it will have a total of 1.3 lakh sqft area with skill labs, sports arena, and administrative facility. According to the current project plan, the basement will have parking and the centre office. The ground, first and second floors will have a skill lab each. The second floor will also have an auditorium. The third floor will be dedicated to indoor games and a gym. The fourth floor will have a multipurpose court for basketball, volleyball, and three badminton courts. "A total of 60,000 sqft is dedicated to the skill lab," Patil said, adding that similar regional centres have been completed in other parts of the state, like Kalaburagi and Davanagere. The original project plan included a swimming pool and a guest house facility. "The swimming pool is removed due to cost and safety reasons," said one of the officials in charge.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Staff shortage fettering Karnataka's medical colleges, say experts
Bengaluru: In Karnataka's medical colleges, especially those in smaller towns, one issue continues to crop up — no one wants to go there to teach. Despite these colleges having well-equipped classrooms and digital tools, doctors say learning suffers because of staff shortage. The concern was echoed strongly at a recent medical education conference in Bengaluru, where doctors, educators, and students spoke candidly about the state of medical colleges — both govt and private. "In the past 25 years, there has been a boom in the number of medical colleges, but a lack of adequate teaching faculty," said Dr Ramesh S Bilimagga, senior radiation oncologist at HCG hospital. Naveen Thimmaiah, director of Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, chimed in: "Karnataka is currently in a phase where many medical colleges are just set up, one in nearly every district. There are classrooms, but there are teething issues when it comes to getting teachers to show up and teach regularly. This is especially true in the far-off districts of Karnataka. If you ask how many of us are willing to go to a tier 2 city and teach, most will say it's not possible. " Their concerns were mirrored by the National Medical Commission (NMC), which has issued show-cause notices to 22 govt medical colleges across the state this month, citing faculty shortage and inadequate infrastructure. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Nagelpilz-Innovation: Dieses Lasergerät ist ein Wunder Heilratgeber Weiterlesen Undo Lack of research bend While faculty shortage plagues medical education on the one hand, lack of research is another concern. Dr Nagesh, syndicate member of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), said there aren't enough researchers among faculty members because too many medical colleges were opened too quickly. "In the last 25 years, in the speed of making healthcare accessible to everybody, we unscientifically increased the number of seats and colleges to cover the country's clinical needs with primary and secondary healthcare. " He said teachers trained in this period often lack research grounding. At a recent RGUHS syndicate meeting, Rs 60 lakh in research funding was offered to researchers (faculty). While many expressed interest, most didn't meet the basic criteria — such as having a publication in an indexed journal and an H-index of at least five. "Except for pharmacologists, no one qualified," Dr Nagesh said, adding that it's time to start nurturing teachers with a strong research mindset. Earlier, he noted, funding was a challenge. "Now, we have the money — it's time to act." BOX Matter of policy Responding to NMC notices, Dr Sujatha Rathod, director of medical education, told TOI that recruitment delays are linked to policy matters. "The hiring of senior residents and assistant professors was delayed by internal reservation determination. Till then, staff recruitments are being allowed through contract," she said.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Process of establishing Bagalkot govt medical college begins
Bagalkot: The decade-old demand of Bagalkot residents for the establishment of a govt medical college in the city is becoming a reality as the process of providing land and preparation of a detailed project report has state govt has asked the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the establishment of the college. Efforts are also on to transfer the land leased to Bagalkot Horticulture University in sectors 1 and 13 of 2013, Siddaramaiah, during his election campaign speech, had promised a govt medical college for Bagalkot if he became the chief minister. After assuming office as CM, he even announced during his presentation of the budget for 2014-2015 regarding the establishment of a medical college. However, no action was taken after that, and even the subsequent Congress-JD(S) and BJP governments did not take the proposal forward. Feeling betrayed, the citizens protested in Bagalkot and kept the issue during the election rally in 2023, again announced that he would perform bhoomi puja for the medical college and inaugurate it during the same tenure. However, the medical college was not mentioned in the next two budgets, which disappointed the pressure on Congress leaders building up, Bagalkot MLA HY Meti and his close associate Holebasu Shettar met the chief minister several times and made him announce the establishment of the medical college under RGUHS in Shivalingaprabhu Wali, under secretary to the medical education department, has written to the RGUHS registrar to prepare a detailed project state govt has deposited Rs 1,500 crore in the name of RGUHS and out of this Rs 500 crore will be utilised for the Bagalkot Govt Medical College, said a senior govt has also identified the land for the new medical college. Krishna Bhagya Jal Niga Limited (KBJNL) managing director has written to the chief engineer, Bagalkot Town Development Authority (BTDA) to withdraw the land allotted to Horticulture University in sectors 1 and 3 in Navanagar and reserve 42 acres for the new medical sources said the govt will appoint a special officer to coordinate the process of establishment of the new medical college, and the order will be issued in the next couple of days.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Driven by mom's death, pharmacy student goes on to become university topper in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: When Girish BS lost his mother to an insulin overdose, it wasn't just a personal tragedy — it became the driving force behind his academic journey. Her constant struggle with medication for diabetes and hypertension had already left him questioning frequent changes in prescriptions and dosage. But her sudden passing, just months after he enrolled in a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) course, turned that curiosity into a mission. Today, that mission has led him to the top — Girish has emerged as the university topper. On Tuesday, he'll be awarded six gold medals — the highest among all toppers — at the convocation ceremony of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). Girish, a student of PES College of Pharmacy , consistently topped every year of his course, culminating in this exceptional recognition. He currently works at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. With a CET rank of around 6,000, Girish had the option of pursuing engineering but chose pharmacy instead. "My mother constantly struggled with her medicines. Each time we visited a doctor, the drugs and dosages would change. I always asked why, but never received a clear explanation. That's when I realised I wanted to understand pharmacy better," said Girish. He added, "I joined the course in Aug and she passed away the following Jan. That loss pushed me to study harder — I wanted to find out what exactly went wrong with her medication. In PUC, I had scored 97%, and my mother had proudly told everyone about it. I've carried those memories with me, and I've strived to top every exam to make her proud, wherever she is. That's how I won six medals." Originally from Tumakuru, Girish comes from a modest background — his father runs a small hotel in their hometown. Despite the common perception that pharmacy lacks opportunities or respect, Girish said his work at the hospital has been both impactful and fulfilling. "Doctors consult with us extensively before prescribing medicines. When patients return to thank us for our inputs, it's incredibly rewarding," he said. Taking a chance Gannyashree, a student of Sri DM College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, found herself in the BNYS course by chance. "I wasn't interested in MBBS because I didn't want to perform surgeries or practise allopathy. Ayurveda didn't appeal to me either. Then a friend introduced me to this course. I did my research, spoke to seniors and faculty, and decided to give it a try. I ended up loving the subjects," she shared. Gannyashree is now pursuing her MD in clinical yoga at the same college. Best pass percentage in 5 years This year, RGUHS is set to graduate nearly 64,000 students, with an impressive overall pass percentage of 87.4% — the highest in five years. The convocation's chief guest will be Wipro founder Azim Premji. The pass percentage is up by 5% from last year. The best in the past decade was 88.1% in 2019. In 2025, the pass rates were 84% for MBBS, 85.4% for BDS, and 88% for nursing. Among undergraduate courses, BNYS (bachelor of naturopathy and yogic sciences) achieved the highest pass rate at 97%, followed by the bachelor of physiotherapy at 94%. Girls outperformed boys with a pass percentage of 91% compared to 82%. Dr BC Bhagavan, vice-chancellor of RGUHS, attributed the improvement to a range of initiatives: "Our curriculum is now aligned with national standards. We've enhanced teaching methods, offered continuous teacher training, and implemented robust mentor-mentee programmes." Looking ahead, RGUHS is set to move to its new Ramanagara campus by March 2026. The administrative block is expected to be ready by then, with Rs 600 crore allocated for the project, half of which has already been released.
