Vicky MJ

PhD student | Genetics of Cardiac disorders | Illustration, Animation, Genomics, Tech enthusiast | Master of none | Wannabe Vagabond | Money can buy happiness.

[TheLiverDoc™ @theliverdoc]

STAY WITH ME.

A few years ago, a patient was referred to me because he was diagnosed with complicated cirrhosis. He had an infection which led to a condition called hepatic encephalopathy (brain failure due to high ammonia levels). The treatment largely involved ammonia reducing therapies. One drug was central to this - Rifaximin - a non-absorbable antibiotic that reduced ammonia in the body. I prescribed him Rifaximin for 6 weeks and advised him follow-up.

He came back to me, not after six weeks, but in 4 weeks, this time, in liver coma (worst stage of brain failure - due to very high ammonia). He spent two days in the ICU and six days in total in the hospital. His hospital bill was close to INR 80,000. He had no insurance and his wife borrowed the money from neighbors and friends to clear hospital dues.

Upon questioning, I found that he was not taking the Rifaximin drug I had prescribed. He was only on the other two drugs (one, a syrup called lactulose for improving ammonia clearance in gut). I was furious, because the patient spent a whole week unecessarily in the ICU and wasted so much money that he never had - just because he was "not compliant" to my orders. I decided it was time for me to school him a bit.

But I was wrong. He was compliant. He had purchased Rifaximin and was on it. For 15 days. Thereafter, he could not afford it. He was an autorickshaw driver who shuttled school children every morning and evening. He could hardly make ends meet. He had two children of his own. The Rifaximin brand I prescribed him was 42 rupees per tablet. He had to consume two a day - which would mean 2520 rupees a month. He just did not have that money - so he skipped it - to not compromise on other important matters - childrens education and food.

He was confused and scared about opting for a cheaper version of Rifaximin because one, he was unsure about the quality of Rifaximin that was not prescribed by me and two, he was "scared" that I would scold him for buying a cheaper Rifaximin and if that got him into trouble.

I was confused and scared about prescribing a cheaper version of Rifaximin because one, I was unsure about the quality of Rifaximin that was not "a good promoted brand" and two, I was "scared" that his family would scold me for prescribing a cheaper Rifaximin and if that got him into trouble.

It is heartbreaking that many doctors still simply don’t trust generic medicines. Too often, they worry that these cheaper options are lower quality or might cause more problems than the big, famous brands. This fear leads them to prescribe expensive drugs instead, and the real tragedy is that it pushes vital healthcare out of reach for the ordinary people who need it most - like my patient.

This narrative, that generic drugs 'are never good' and that only big pharmaceutical marketed drugs are what works has been deeply ingrained into doctors and patients alike - I do not know by whom and since when. Looking back, these strong emotions were based on either opinions, testimonials or second- and third-hand information. Not evidence.

Like I said. Stay with me. This is life changing and will disrupt the drug market in India. Here are the results of The Citizens Generic vs. Brand Drugs Quality Project.
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[Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan]

"I have been abducted and taken against my will by Israeli forces."

Israel has detained my friend, and Zeteo contributor, @GretaThunberg.

She, like everyone else on that flotilla, needs to be immediately released and her governent needs to speak out.

[Vicky MJ @ykcVMJ]

Hey, stay outta my head. 🙈

[Vicky MJ @ykcVMJ]

7 years of updates. Maybe now the cost would seem reasonable. Maybe! #Pixel8Pro

[Vicky MJ @ykcVMJ]

@payeldas1011 Someday 🍀

[Andrew Price @andrewpprice]

The internet loves to mock Meta but this is nothing short of incredible

[Vicky MJ @ykcVMJ]

Hahaha

[Vicky MJ @ykcVMJ]

@95Shriya Nah it's been like this for a long time now. But yeah, about the random stuff.

[Vicky MJ @ykcVMJ]

Read. That. Again.

[Sukhada @appadappajappa]

Poverty should offend you, not poor people.

[శ్రీకాంత్ @yskanth]

Huge respect to her & her love towards lord #Krishna 🙏

She has prepared record breaking 88 dishes last night for #Janamashtami2023 🙏

[The Citizen Lab @citizenlab]

🚨🚨WE URGE EVERYONE TO UPDATE THEIR APPLE DEVICES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

We have found an actively exploited #zero #click vulnerability that was used to deliver #NSO group’s #Pegasus #spyware.
https://t.co/BS0ZI4QuIz

[Vicky MJ @ykcVMJ]

@Cine_vichaar Someone did a @MicrobiomDigest on this poster!

[Vicky MJ @ykcVMJ]

😲🥹

[Illumina @illumina]

We are excited to announce that Jacob Thaysen, Ph.D., senior vice president of Agilent Technologies and president of its Life Sciences and Applied Markets Group, has been named as Illumina's next Chief Executive Officer, effective September 25.

https://t.co/p5omXOSmlV

[Vicky MJ @ykcVMJ]

@ipsawonders

[ISRO @isro]

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:

Anaglyph is a simple visualization of the object or terrain in three dimensions from stereo or multi-view images.

The Anaglyph presented here is created using NavCam Stereo Images, which consist of both a left and right image captured onboard the Pragyan Rover.

In this 3-channel image, the left image is positioned in the red channel, while the right image is placed in the blue and green channels (creating cyan). The difference in perspective between these two images results in the stereo effect, which gives the visual impression of three dimensions.

Red & Cyan glasses are recommended for viewing in 3D

NavCam was developed by LEOS / ISRO. Data Processing is carried out by SAC / ISRO

[Vicky MJ @ykcVMJ]

@swathikasarah But there ARE some 'kadupetharar my lord' moments.

[Şefki Ibrahim @sefkiibrahim]

Hey guys, I’m so happy to share my second animation, ‘Enjoyment’, and my most challenging project yet! It took me around 2 months to create, working on it in my spare time. I hope this piece makes you smile 😊

#3Danimation #animation #3dart #cgi #vfx #photorealism #maya #arnold

[Vicky MJ @ykcVMJ]

@swathikasarah Adhuku Mela enna panradhu nu dha theryala 😂 just put it on the death note and move on.