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Healthcare industry body NATHEALTH has asked the government to increase public spending on healthcare to over 2.5 per cent of GDP with urgent action to tackle non-communicable diseases, including tax deductions of up to Rs 10,000 on individuals for preventive health check-ups. In its pre-Budget recommendations to the government, NATHEALTH said it outlined a roadmap to strengthen healthcare delivery, foster innovation, and expand insurance and preventive coverage. The recommendations call for a balanced mix of fiscal support, structural reforms, and public-private collaboration to build a robust, future-ready health system, it said in a statement. In its recommendations, NATHEALTH asked the sector to be declared 'core infrastructure' and create a healthcare infrastructure fund of Rs 50,000 crore, saying currently there is limited access to long-term, lower-cost capital for hospitals and diagnostic networks. New projects have long gestational periods requiring flexible mid-term ...
The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and others on a petition seeking directions to enact and implement a framework to ensure that adequate life support facilities are maintained in ambulances at all times. The apex court agreed to hear the plea which has also sought directions to establish an independent committee to conduct a review of current actual status of the operation, maintenance and regulation of road ambulances to identify the gap between the ground reality and the existing standard operating procedures. "Issue notice, returnable in four weeks," a bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran said in its October 10 order. The plea has arrayed the Centre, the ministry of health and family welfare and ministry of road transport and highways as party respondents. Senior advocate Percival Billimoria and advocate Jasmine Damkewala appeared for petitioners Saiansha Panangipalli and Priya Sarkar. Panangipalli is the daughter of eminent ...
Drug firm Cipla on Friday said it has introduced a non-antibiotic treatment for patients suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections. The company has launched Methenamine Hippurate under the brand name HUENA. This marks a significant step forward for the company in its fight against anti-microbial resistance as it becomes the first to introduce such treatment in India, the Mumbai-based drugmaker said in a statement. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common reason for antibiotic use in India, with infection cases doubling over the last 30 years. Women are more susceptible to UTIs, which account for 15 per cent of overall antibiotic prescriptions. Methenamine Hippurate offers an effective, non-antibiotic alternative for preventing UTIs by targeting bacteria in the bladder and urinary tract. Studies show it is as effective as long-term, low-dose antibiotic therapy for UTI prevention, with lower costs and no risk of antibiotic resistance. "We believe this ...
Once considered an adult ailment, gallstones are increasingly affecting children across India, prompting paediatricians to call for greater awareness and preventive care. In a surprising shift in pediatric health trends, hospitals and clinics across India are reporting a steady rise in cases of gallstones among children, experts said. Traditionally viewed as a condition affecting middle-aged adults, gallstones are now being diagnosed in children as young as six, raising concerns among medical professionals and public health experts. Gallstones are solid deposits that form in the gallbladder, often composed of cholesterol or bilirubin. While many cases remain asymptomatic, they can cause intense abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and digestive distress when they obstruct bile flow. "We're seeing a clear increase in pediatric gallstone cases, especially in urban centres," said Dr Shandip Kumar Sinha, the director of pediatric surgery and pediatric urology at Mednata-The Medicity in ..