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Post-birth diagnosis resulting in early treatment can substantially improve the quality of life and reduce mortality in patients with sickle cell disease to less than five per cent from the reported 20-30 per cent, according to an ICMR study. As many as 63,536 newborns were tested over a five year period from 2019- 2024 as part of the study on Newborn Screening for Sickle cell Disease conducted by the National Institute of Immunohaematology in Mumbai under the India Council of Medical Research (ICMR) across seven centres in high prevalence areas of India. The study is yet to be published. The newborn screening program helps find out if a baby is born with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), a serious inherited blood disorder, soon after birth, explained Dr Manisha Madkaikar, Director of ICMR- Centre for Research Management and Control of Haemoglobinopathies (CRHCM) in Nagpur. "If not detected early, this disease can cause life-threatening problems like severe infections, anaemia (low blood
Morepen Laboratories on Friday said it will add more than 1,000 medical representatives over the next three years, with over 200 team members expected to join in FY26 alone. The company aims to strengthen its formulations business in the market through new hirings. "This expansion represents a pivotal moment in Morepen's journey as we sharpen our focus on the expanding domestic finished dosage market," Morepen Laboratories Chairman and MD Sushil Suri said in a statement. With significant increase in the sales force and enhanced reach to doctors, pharmacies, and patients, the drugmaker is setting the stage for getting a bigger pie in the Indian pharmaceutical market valued at Rs 2.38 lakh crore, yielding higher gross margins and better returns for stakeholders in the long run, he added. Currently, Morepen's formulation business stands around Rs 325 crore, and the company is targeting to touch Rs 1,000 crore in the next five years. This goal will be supported by an aggressive expans
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras on Monday launched a first-of-its-kind cancer genome database to help research on the disease in the country. According to IIT Madras Director, V Kamakoti, despite having a high cancer incidence, India has been under-represented in global cancer genome studies. In the absence of genomic architecture of cancers prevalent in India, specific genetic variants from Indian cancers are not adequately captured and catalogued for any diagnostic kits and drug development. "In order to fill the gap in the genomic landscape for different cancers in India, IIT Madras initiated the cancer genome programme in 2020. Under this programme, 960 whole exome sequencing from 480 breast cancer patient tissue samples collected across the country has been completed. "We are releasing yet another health-related data, the second this academic year, the cancer genome data after brain data. We hope that this will provide deep insights on reasons leading to this dead
The ICMR has proposed a revised version of the National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL), which enumerates the minimum number of tests that should be available at various levels of healthcare facilities in the country. According to the revised draft, nine types of diagnostic tests, including those for diabetes, Malaria, TB, HIV and syphilis should be made available at the health centres in village-level health facilities. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs should have facilities for Hepatitis B tests available in addition to the nine diagnostics that are available at the village-level health centres. The revised draft list has been prepared incorporating inputs from relevant stakeholders and feedback from multiple consultation meetings. It builds upon the first list and provides recommendations for diagnostic tests across various levels of healthcare facilities, including village-level facilities, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, primary health centre (PHCs), community health centres (CHCs), sub ...
Humanity is hitting the upper limit of life expectancy, according to a new study. Advances in medical technology and genetic research not to mention larger numbers of people making it to age 100 are not not translating into marked jumps in lifespan overall, according to researchers who found shrinking longevity increases in countries with the longest-living populations. We have to recognise there's a limit and perhaps reassess assumptions about when people should retire and how much money they'll need to live out their lives, said S. Jay Olshansky, a University of Illinois-Chicago researcher who was lead author of the study published Monday by the journal Nature Aging. Mark Hayward, a University of Texas researcher not involved in the study, called it a valuable addition to the mortality literature. "We are reaching a plateau" in life expectancy, he agreed. It's always possible some breakthrough could push survival to greater heights, but we don't have that now, Hayward said. Wh
New Delhi [India], September 4 (ANI): The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) is scheduled to organise the first brainstorming session on sickle cell disease research for two days.The top scientists and medical experts all over the country will participate in the Chintan Shivir to be held from September 5 to September 6, 2024.According to the sources, the purpose behind organising the brainstorming session is to identify the research, diagnosis and affordable treatment for sickle cell disease."We want to identify the research properties that can be taken up in sickle cell disease and existing scenarios with respect to the screening , the diagnosis, treatment, preventive measuresand awareness," said sources.During two days, panel discussion will have six different sessions, like patient perspectives understanding the patients living with SCD and their needs, strategic open brainstorming, screening methods & strategies, antenatal and newborn screening point of care tests, ..
President Droupadi Murmu on Friday asked the health care fraternity to work towards making India a leading power in medical research and ensure facilities are so affordable that people from across the world can come to the country to avail them. She was the chief guest at the inauguration of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Nagpur. Hailing GMCH for the services it had rendered in the past 75 years, the President said affordable medical facilities were necessary for the overall development of any society. The COVID pandemic made everyone realise the importance of a strong health care system, she said. "It was the hard work of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals which ensured India could vaccinate such a huge population speedily against the disease," she said. Pointing out that lack of doctors was a big obstacle in providing universal health care, the President said the country had recently seen a good increase in
Medical education in India is going through its golden era, Union Minister of State for Health S P Baghel said Thursday, asserting that doctors trained here are highly valued globally and one will find an Indian doctor in every part of the world. Addressing the 42nd Foundation Day of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), he said healthcare workers have played a major role in enhancing the perception of India as a global powerhouse. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, delivering the keynote address at the event, said in the last two years 25 courses have been introduced. "This growth serves to provide greater opportunities for medical students and India is able to garner the best health services and expert doctors, serving to fulfil the nation's requirements leading to a healthier society and healthier nation," he said. Reiterating that the medical sector plays a paramount role in the country's development, Mandaviya urged students to commit to ...