Amit Chandra, MD
@amitchandramd.bsky.social
Emergency Physician | Public Health Diplomat | ex-USAID
Health x Environment x Tech
Writing featured by: Science, BMJ, Ars Technica, StatNews, & Salon
https://apothek.substack.com/
Health x Environment x Tech
Writing featured by: Science, BMJ, Ars Technica, StatNews, & Salon
https://apothek.substack.com/
Pinned
👋🏽 New to Bluesky! My background spans #EmergencyMedicine and #GlobalHealth diplomacy (ex-USAID), with deep dives into #DigitalHealth #Innovation, #PandemicResponse, and #PlanetaryHealth. Excited to connect with others exploring the future of healthcare and tech for social good.
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
More from the "Make America Healthy Again" team: #medsky
The EPA is starting to allow the use of pesticides containing PFAS on food. The move is part of an effort to roll back the regulation of PFAS — also known as "forever chemicals" because they don't break down easily in the environment.
November 25, 2025 at 11:54 PM
More from the "Make America Healthy Again" team: #medsky
A roadmap to a roadmap:
"...the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, inadequate step, and one that will barely interrupt the climate’s steady march towards catastrophe. But a significant departure from total inaction nonetheless."
"...the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, inadequate step, and one that will barely interrupt the climate’s steady march towards catastrophe. But a significant departure from total inaction nonetheless."
‘Fossil fuel giants finally in the crosshairs’: Cop30 avoids total failure with last-ditch deal
It took some oblique wording, but Saudi Arabia made a last-minute decision to sign deal that marks departure for Cop
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:36 AM
A roadmap to a roadmap:
"...the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, inadequate step, and one that will barely interrupt the climate’s steady march towards catastrophe. But a significant departure from total inaction nonetheless."
"...the world took another small step towards the phaseout of fossil fuels – a faltering, inadequate step, and one that will barely interrupt the climate’s steady march towards catastrophe. But a significant departure from total inaction nonetheless."
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
More attack on vaccine from RFK Jr.
CDC Quietly Turned Off Its Vaccine Search Tool. It’s Not Clear When It’s Coming Back.
“I have heard that they are planning to ‘update it’ and shudder to think what that will mean,” Demetre Daskalakis, a former member of CDC leadership, told NOTUS.
www.notus.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:18 AM
More attack on vaccine from RFK Jr.
🇳🇦 At 31, Dr. Esperance Luvindao is Africa's youngest health minister. Her priorities for Namibia: medication access, digital health, and sustainable health financing.
In Namibia, a Trailblazing Minister Is Reimagining Health Care
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:49 PM
🇳🇦 At 31, Dr. Esperance Luvindao is Africa's youngest health minister. Her priorities for Namibia: medication access, digital health, and sustainable health financing.
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
This is disappointing
Canada’s cuts to the Global Fund will fuel reversal of progress on HIV, TB, and Malaria
www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/canadas-cuts...
Canada’s cuts to the Global Fund will fuel reversal of progress on HIV, TB, and Malaria
www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/canadas-cuts...
Canada's cuts to the Global Fund will fuel reversal of progress on HIV, TB, and Malaria | Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF ...
Canada's reduced pledge to The Global Fund reflects recent aid cuts, a shift from its previous leading role in fighting AIDS, TB, and malaria.
www.doctorswithoutborders.ca
November 25, 2025 at 8:02 PM
This is disappointing
Canada’s cuts to the Global Fund will fuel reversal of progress on HIV, TB, and Malaria
www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/canadas-cuts...
Canada’s cuts to the Global Fund will fuel reversal of progress on HIV, TB, and Malaria
www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/canadas-cuts...
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
Thanks @kffhealthnews.org for featuring my latest article in Monday's morning briefing!
kffhealthnews.org/morning-brea...
kffhealthnews.org/morning-brea...
November 19, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Thanks @kffhealthnews.org for featuring my latest article in Monday's morning briefing!
kffhealthnews.org/morning-brea...
kffhealthnews.org/morning-brea...
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
A trainee foreign medical grad recently asked me for advice on an infection their mom has; critically ill in home country. With current conditions, they can’t be there in critical illness and possible death.
Why would people want to come to be treated like this??
Why would people want to come to be treated like this??
Immigrants make up a significant proportion of all the country's doctors. New policies are making it harder and less appealing for foreign-born physicians to come to the U.S.
'Nobody wants to come': What if the U.S. can no longer attract immigrant physicians?
Immigrants make up a significant proportion of all the country's doctors. New policies are making it harder and less appealing for foreign-born physicians to come to the U.S.
n.pr
November 25, 2025 at 2:28 AM
A trainee foreign medical grad recently asked me for advice on an infection their mom has; critically ill in home country. With current conditions, they can’t be there in critical illness and possible death.
Why would people want to come to be treated like this??
Why would people want to come to be treated like this??
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
In the end, when I walked from my X account, the waves of racists and bots that were always invoking the same phrases and talking points made it clear that the thing was just a hall of mirrors, that it had been crudely rigged for political fraud. Never thought Musk would admit it all in a self-own.
November 25, 2025 at 12:50 AM
In the end, when I walked from my X account, the waves of racists and bots that were always invoking the same phrases and talking points made it clear that the thing was just a hall of mirrors, that it had been crudely rigged for political fraud. Never thought Musk would admit it all in a self-own.
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
I fear this exactly. Failing to adequately prepare increases the likelihood of lockdowns. No one should want this.
The default pandemic strategy for many countries does now seem to be "Play it by ear then lockdown and wait for a vaccine"
November 24, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I fear this exactly. Failing to adequately prepare increases the likelihood of lockdowns. No one should want this.
Corporate poisoning for profit?
Crickets... 🦗🦗
Crickets... 🦗🦗
The EPA will approve two new pesticides containing “forever chemicals” and relax a reporting rule for companies who make products with forever chemicals.
The moves come after a $60 million lobbying blitz from the forever chemical industry.
Where is the MAHA outcry?
The moves come after a $60 million lobbying blitz from the forever chemical industry.
Where is the MAHA outcry?
November 24, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Corporate poisoning for profit?
Crickets... 🦗🦗
Crickets... 🦗🦗
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
🌡️ India's heat crises are likely worse than we think. Official counts miss most heat-related deaths... though estimates rise to 150,000+ excess deaths for summers experiencing 5 heat waves.
Addressing gaps in data collection and urban public health systems will be good places to start.
Addressing gaps in data collection and urban public health systems will be good places to start.
How Many People Die in India From Hot Weather? Nobody Really Knows.
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
🌡️ India's heat crises are likely worse than we think. Official counts miss most heat-related deaths... though estimates rise to 150,000+ excess deaths for summers experiencing 5 heat waves.
Addressing gaps in data collection and urban public health systems will be good places to start.
Addressing gaps in data collection and urban public health systems will be good places to start.
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
Jeremy Lewin is the product of a government that forgot what public service is for. The piece tracks how a single appointment became a symptom of a deeper collapse and what happens when demolition gets sold as strategy.
The Rookie Who Wrecked the System Now Wants Applause for the Rubble
Jeremy Lewin uses a State Department briefing to recast his own demolition job as redemption.
thelastmilewithusaid.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Jeremy Lewin is the product of a government that forgot what public service is for. The piece tracks how a single appointment became a symptom of a deeper collapse and what happens when demolition gets sold as strategy.
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
Nursing is a professional degree. The end.
November 24, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Nursing is a professional degree. The end.
🚨 DOGE no longer exists
The experiment may be over, but its devastating impacts remain. Crimes include: unauthorized access to classified systems, violations of federal records laws, & regulatory breaches. Agencies now lack capacity for disaster response, consumer protection, & disease prevention.
The experiment may be over, but its devastating impacts remain. Crimes include: unauthorized access to classified systems, violations of federal records laws, & regulatory breaches. Agencies now lack capacity for disaster response, consumer protection, & disease prevention.
www.reuters.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:24 PM
🚨 DOGE no longer exists
The experiment may be over, but its devastating impacts remain. Crimes include: unauthorized access to classified systems, violations of federal records laws, & regulatory breaches. Agencies now lack capacity for disaster response, consumer protection, & disease prevention.
The experiment may be over, but its devastating impacts remain. Crimes include: unauthorized access to classified systems, violations of federal records laws, & regulatory breaches. Agencies now lack capacity for disaster response, consumer protection, & disease prevention.
"Every year, promising new uses for generic drugs emerge from academia, non-profits, and patient groups — yet most never reach patients. Not because of scientific barriers, but because the U.S. drug development system was built for commercial sponsors."
Generic #drugrepurposing offers a promising tool for drug development - but a system built for pharma will never realize this potential. In our new guest commentary, we argue #FDA can take actions to fix this. www.biocentury.com/article/657654
FDA should take a more active role in updating drug labels — when there’s strong evidence
Every year, promising new uses for generic drugs emerge from academia, non-profits, and patient groups — yet most never reach patients. Not because ...
www.biocentury.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:52 PM
"Every year, promising new uses for generic drugs emerge from academia, non-profits, and patient groups — yet most never reach patients. Not because of scientific barriers, but because the U.S. drug development system was built for commercial sponsors."
"The recent meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene was a reminder of how global funding cuts and this year's changes in priorities have undermined public health and pandemic preparedness."
@drjudystone.bsky.social
@drjudystone.bsky.social
Great article by @drjudystone.bsky.social about the impact cuts to government agencies are having on global health.
It was also noted that some international scientists refused to attend this conference because of ICE and racial profiling.
I am so deeply ashamed of our government.
It was also noted that some international scientists refused to attend this conference because of ICE and racial profiling.
I am so deeply ashamed of our government.
Reminders Of What Our Losses From CDC And USAID Mean
With the loss of USAID and much of CDC, our ability to respond to pandemics is at risk. Global health issues are a growing threat.
www.forbes.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:57 PM
"The recent meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene was a reminder of how global funding cuts and this year's changes in priorities have undermined public health and pandemic preparedness."
@drjudystone.bsky.social
@drjudystone.bsky.social
"As part of its new America First Global Health Strategy, the Trump administration is drafting bilateral deals with African countries to fund global health programs, including HIV services."
@theandrewgreen.bsky.social shares experiences on the ground in Botswana.
@theandrewgreen.bsky.social shares experiences on the ground in Botswana.
Countries have started negotiating with the State Department about the future of U.S. global health funding. But the organizations that work with some of the most vulnerable communities were not invited into those talks: theforsaken.substack.com/p/no-seat-at...
No seat at the table
Washington has started talks with African countries about future health funding. In Botswana, most NGOs are not included.
theforsaken.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:38 PM
"As part of its new America First Global Health Strategy, the Trump administration is drafting bilateral deals with African countries to fund global health programs, including HIV services."
@theandrewgreen.bsky.social shares experiences on the ground in Botswana.
@theandrewgreen.bsky.social shares experiences on the ground in Botswana.
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
Who could argue with RFK Jr’s slam dunk evidence of supplemental figure 4.
November 22, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Who could argue with RFK Jr’s slam dunk evidence of supplemental figure 4.
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
A must-read for folks in education. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Meet the AI workers who tell their friends and family to stay away from AI
When the people making AI seem trustworthy are the ones who trust it the least, it shows that incentives for speed are overtaking safety, experts say
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:57 AM
A must-read for folks in education. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
"Looking back at the person she was when she was pregnant, it’s sometimes hard for Lopez to recognise herself."
“Nobody joins a cult willingly,” she says. “You think you’re joining a great movement.”
“Nobody joins a cult willingly,” she says. “You think you’re joining a great movement.”
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:28 PM
"Looking back at the person she was when she was pregnant, it’s sometimes hard for Lopez to recognise herself."
“Nobody joins a cult willingly,” she says. “You think you’re joining a great movement.”
“Nobody joins a cult willingly,” she says. “You think you’re joining a great movement.”
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
People who received the mRNA flu vaccine had 35% fewer flu-like illnesses than those who received the traditional vaccine.
www.upi.com/Health_News/...
www.upi.com/Health_News/...
mRNA flu shot shows better results than traditional vaccine in trial - UPI.com
Pfizer's mRNA flu vaccine worked better than a standard flu shot in a large Phase 3 trial, researchers reported in the results of a clinical trial.
www.upi.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:15 AM
People who received the mRNA flu vaccine had 35% fewer flu-like illnesses than those who received the traditional vaccine.
www.upi.com/Health_News/...
www.upi.com/Health_News/...
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
As Esau Lopez was asphyxiated for the first 17 minutes of his life on Earth, the atmosphere in the room remained serene, even ecstatic. Acoustic music crooned from a speaker in a modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburb of Pennsylvania. “You are a queen,” murmured one of three friends in the room.
Only Esau’s mother, Gabrielle Lopez, felt something was wrong. She was pushing hard, but her son would not be born. “Can you help [him] out?” she asked, as Esau crowned. “Baby is coming,” the friend replied. Four minutes later, Lopez asked again, “Can you grab [him]?” Another friend murmured, “Baby is safe.” Six minutes passed. Again, Lopez asked, “Can you grab [him]?” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
Reposted by Amit Chandra, MD
This is why we need single payer healthcare ie Medicare for all
This is the insurance industry's playbook: deny or delay until it's too late. Eric Tennant's insurer denied the cancer treatment his doctors recommended, only approving it months later when he was too sick to receive it. He died in September.
Via @kffhealthnews.org
Via @kffhealthnews.org
After Series of Denials, His Insurer Approved Doctor-Recommended Cancer Care. It Was Too Late. - KFF Health News
Eric Tennant’s doctors recommended histotripsy, which would target, and potentially destroy, a cancerous tumor in his liver. But by the time his insurer approved the treatment, Tennant was no longer c...
kffhealthnews.org
November 22, 2025 at 9:43 PM
This is why we need single payer healthcare ie Medicare for all
ICYMI: sharing my recent publication in STAT News - First Opinion, republished to my Substack today without a paywall:
apothek.substack.com/p/how-emotio...
We share how emotions and cognitive biases sabotage our health coverage decisions. Call it the Insurance Fear Factor:
apothek.substack.com/p/how-emotio...
We share how emotions and cognitive biases sabotage our health coverage decisions. Call it the Insurance Fear Factor:
November 22, 2025 at 3:51 PM
ICYMI: sharing my recent publication in STAT News - First Opinion, republished to my Substack today without a paywall:
apothek.substack.com/p/how-emotio...
We share how emotions and cognitive biases sabotage our health coverage decisions. Call it the Insurance Fear Factor:
apothek.substack.com/p/how-emotio...
We share how emotions and cognitive biases sabotage our health coverage decisions. Call it the Insurance Fear Factor:
This is the insurance industry's playbook: deny or delay until it's too late. Eric Tennant's insurer denied the cancer treatment his doctors recommended, only approving it months later when he was too sick to receive it. He died in September.
Via @kffhealthnews.org
Via @kffhealthnews.org
After Series of Denials, His Insurer Approved Doctor-Recommended Cancer Care. It Was Too Late. - KFF Health News
Eric Tennant’s doctors recommended histotripsy, which would target, and potentially destroy, a cancerous tumor in his liver. But by the time his insurer approved the treatment, Tennant was no longer c...
kffhealthnews.org
November 21, 2025 at 9:23 PM
This is the insurance industry's playbook: deny or delay until it's too late. Eric Tennant's insurer denied the cancer treatment his doctors recommended, only approving it months later when he was too sick to receive it. He died in September.
Via @kffhealthnews.org
Via @kffhealthnews.org