Page 37 - Health Ministry

JN.1 outbreak: As new cases rise, 10 things you must know about new variant

JN.1 Covid variant: On Friday, a new Covid-19 case was reported in Noida, the first in many months. The patient, a 54-year-old male who lives in Noida, works at a multinational firm in Gurugram

6 deaths reported as Covid cases rise to 2,669, Kerala tops list: Govt

Karnataka forms sub-committee to oversee Covid preparation

India records 594 fresh Covid-19 cases, active caseload rises to 2,669

The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday held a meeting to review the sudden jump in Covid-19 cases and deaths in several parts of the country

Centre may set up regulator for healthcare to expand insurance coverage

A regulator for the healthcare sector is expected to bring in standardisation and lower the costs

2 Covid-related deaths reported in Karnataka; 92 active cases in state

Two Covid-19 related deaths and 20 fresh cases were reported in Karnataka, according to a Health bulletin issued on Wednesday. The bulletin stated that the deceased - both male aged 44 and 76 - died on December 16 and December 17 respectively in Bengaluru. One of them was asymptomatic while the other patient complained of breathlessness. Earlier in the day, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that a 64-year-old man died in the city due to Covid-19 infection five days ago. Asked if the cause of death was the new subvariant JN.1 of the SARS CoV-2 virus, he said it was not known so far. The person, who had comorbidities, was a resident of Chamarajpet and died on December 15, the Minister told reporters. In the last 24 hours, a total of 808 tests were done across various districts in the state, out of which 407 were RT-PCR and 401 were Rapid Antigen Tests. The covid positivity rate in the state stood at 2.49 per cent while the case fatality rate stood at 10 per cent, it .

India records 614 new coronavirus infections, active cases at 2,311

India recorded 614 new coronavirus infections, the highest since May 21, while the active cases have increased to 2,311, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. The death toll was recorded at 5,33,321 with three deaths reported from Kerala in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed. The country's Covid case tally is 4.50 crore (4,50,05,978). The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,44,70,346, and the national recovery rate stands at 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry's website. The case fatality rate stands at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.67 crore doses of Covid vaccines have been administered in the country so far.

JN.1 Covid variant: States issue advisories, Mandaviya holds review meet

On December 19, WHO classified the JN.1 variant as a 'variant of interest' but maintained that it does not pose much threat to the public

Only 18% tested, India risks undetected community spread of JN.1: Study

JN.1 cases have been detected in the US, China, and India. Official figures from India show just over 1700 active cases nationwide

Another Covid surge

Authorities should keep an eye on the new variant

Over 2.9k drugs found to be substandard in tests conducted in 2022-23: Govt

Out of the 89,729 drug samples tested between April 2022 and March 2023, 2,921 drugs were found to be "not of standard quality" while 422 were identified as spurious, the Rajya Sabha was told on Tuesday. In a written reply, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said 642 prosecutions were launched for manufacturing, sale and distribution of spurious/adulterated drugs, while 262 persons were arrested during the same period as per information received from drugs controllers of various states and Union territories. This excludes data from Rajasthan. Giving details of the previous year, Pawar said a total 88,844 samples were tested between April 2021 and March 2022 of which 2,545 were declared to be not of standard quality while 379 were found to be spurious. She said 592 prosecutions were launched for manufacturing, sale and distribution of spurious/adulterated drugs and 450 persons arrested during the same period. Responding to a question, Pawar said that in order to asse

Dog bite cases in India rise by 26.5% YoY to 2.75 million incidents in 2023

The states witnessing the least number of dog bite incidents were Nagaland (569), Mizoram (1,035), Ladakh (2,316), Manipur (2,511), and Arunachal Pradesh (3,757)

India on alert as JN.1 Covid variant emerges, active cases surge to 1,828

MoH issues advisories to states. Karnataka brings back mask rule for senior citizens after Kerala sees spike in cases

Role of media key to clearing myths, doubts about vaccines: Health expert

Media's role is crucial in creating awareness among people about government health services and also for clearing myths and doubts about vaccines, an expert said. Media can also play a key role in helping the West Bengal government and Unicef in carrying out 100 per cent immunisation drives in the state by spreading the message that vaccines are safe and effective in preventing diseases, Dr Suresh Thakur, health officer, UNICEF, West Bengal, said. "Media's role is very important in creating awareness among the general population about government health services and in clearing doubts on immunisation programmes," Thakur told PTI on the sidelines of a workshop on development journalism for healthcare issues held in Siliguri recently. The workshop was organised by Kolkata Press Club in collaboration with Unicef, West Bengal. "The media has done excellent work in the past to improve awareness and we look forward to their support in future too," the health officer said. Unicef regularl

Kerala reports 4 Covid deaths as cases spike, MoHFW conducts mock drill

Nothing to worry about, says state health minister

India records 339 fresh Covid-19 cases, active caseload rises to 1,492

India recorded a single-day rise of 339 new COVID-19 infections while the active caseload rose to 1,492, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. The death toll was recorded at 5,33,311 (5.33 lakh), the data updated at 8 am showed. The country's Covid case tally currently stands at 4,50,04,481 (4.50 crore). The number of people who have recuperated from the disease is currently at 4,44,69,678 (4.44 crore) while the national recovery rate stands at 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The case fatality rate is at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry website, 220.67 crore Covid vaccine doses have been administered in the country so far.

Rural uptake of sanitary pads rises to 45%: Health minister Mandaviya

Over 35 crore Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Sanitary Pads have been sold through the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana centres across the country in the last three years with the rural uptake increasing from 11-12 per cent to 45 per cent, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday. Overall, the uptake of sanitary pads has climbed to 55 per cent, Mandaviya said. Briefing the media on achievements of the government on the front of development of women and children in the last nine years, he asserted there has been a radical change in the role and status of women in the country under the Modi government. He said the prime minister has worked on seven pillars of women security, women empowerment, prosperity of women, equal participation for women, respect to women, providing facilities to women and women health to ensure that the women of New India are truly empowered. Listing the initiatives taken for the welfare of women, he said it was the Modi government which ...

No shortage of TB drugs in India, regular supply to states ensured: Govt

"Regular assessments are conducted to evaluate the stock positions at various levels, from central warehouses to peripheral health institutes," it said

No shortage of anti-TB drugs in country, six months stock available: Govt

The ministry has previously stated that all drugs used in the treatment of drug-sensitive TB are available with sufficient stocks for a time period ranging from six months and above

Reports claiming non-procurement of contraceptives misleading: Govt

The Union Health Ministry Tuesday termed "misleading" reports claiming that India's family planning programme is likely to get severely affected due to the country's central procurement agency's failure in procuring contraceptives. "Such reports are ill-informed and provides misleading information," the ministry said in a statement. The Central Medical Services Society (CMSS), an autonomous body and a Central Procurement Agency under Union Ministry of Health, procures condoms for National Family Planning Programme and National AIDS Control Programme. "The CMSS procured 5.88 crores pieces of condoms for Family Planning Programme in May, 2023 and the present stock position of condoms is sufficient to meet the requirement of the Family Planning Programme," the ministry said. Currently, National Aids Control Organization (NACO) is receiving supplies of 75 per cent free condoms from M/s HLL Lifecare Ltd. and is preparing to place remaining 25 per cent quantities for 2023-24 with CMSS on

NMC issues notice to 349 medical colleges for standards violation: Report

In India, around 40 medical colleges have lost recognition in the last one to two months of period for not following standards set by the National Medical Commission (NMC), the sources told