Dr Jitendra Singh calls for clinically guided medical practice at launch of Rheumatology Essentials

At the book launch, Union minister said a three-pronged approach of recognising disease early, avoiding unnecessary investigations and ensuring timely referral can help reduce inappropriate medication

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, has called for greater emphasis on clinically guided medical practice, stressing the importance of early diagnosis, timely intervention and avoiding unnecessary investigations to improve patient care.

Speaking at the launch of ‘Rheumatology Essentials: A New Frontier for Aspiring Clinicians’, Dr. Singh said a three-pronged approach of recognising disease early, avoiding unnecessary investigations and ensuring timely referral can help reduce inappropriate medication, prevent diagnostic delays and ensure patients receive specialist care at the right time 

The book has been authored by eminent rheumatologists Prof. Anand N. Malaviya and Dr. Prashant Kaushik and was launched in the presence of senior members of the medical fraternity, including Dr. Uma Kumar, Head of Rheumatology at AIIMS, and Dr. Shankar Subramaniam. 

Prof. Malaviya is recognised for his contributions to rheumatology and clinical immunology in India, while Dr. Kaushik is Clinical Professor of Medicine and Chief of Rheumatology at Northeastern Health System, Oklahoma, USA. The book carries a foreword by Dr. Vinod K. Paul.

Describing Prof. Malaviya as a “teacher of teachers”, Dr. Singh highlighted his role in establishing rheumatology as a recognised medical specialty in India. He recalled that rheumatology was once not widely recognised as a distinct super-specialty, but Prof. Malaviya’s work at AIIMS helped establish its identity and institutional foundations.

According to Dr. Singh, Prof. Malaviya’s contribution extended beyond teaching individual students to creating generations of clinicians and medical teachers who helped advance rheumatology across the country. He also credited him with institutionalising the specialty through structured courses and training programmes that enabled doctors from different parts of India to receive specialised training.

Discussing the clinical framework presented in Rheumatology Essentials, Dr. Singh said the book offers clinicians a practical approach to distinguishing between inflammatory rheumatic diseases, mechanical-structural disorders and nociplastic pain syndromes. Such differentiation, he noted, can help physicians move beyond symptomatic treatment and identify patients who need specialist rheumatological intervention 

The Minister emphasised that diagnostic investigations should complement, rather than replace, clinical judgement. With increasing access to immunological tests, MRI scans and other advanced diagnostic technologies, he said their appropriate and judicious use remains essential for responsible and ethical medical practice.

Designed for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, primary-care physicians, general physicians and frontline emergency-room doctors, Rheumatology Essentials provides a practical framework for diagnosing and triaging rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. 

The book aims to help frontline clinicians distinguish conditions requiring specialist rheumatological care from mechanical-structural and biopsychosocial pain conditions.