Page 43 - Health Ministry

People need to remain vigilant against new Covid-19 strain: Official

The new COVID variant poses less risk and is unlikely to result in increase in hospitalisations but people need to remain vigilant, according to a top Union Health Ministry official. "New strains keep coming after mutation..this is a new variant which has come..this would not lead to increase in hospitalisations so there is low risk associated with it," the top official said on Monday. The strain has been isolated in the laboratory and a study has also been done on it, he added. "But even then there is a need to remain vigilant," the official said. Further, he noted that the current surge in the COVID cases could be attributed to the spread of the XBB 1.16 variant in the country. India recorded a single-day jump of 3,641 fresh COVID-19 cases as the active caseload rose to 20,219, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday. The toll has risen to 5,30,892 with 11 deaths -- three from Maharashtra and one each in Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka and Rajasthan -- recorded in a

Cap on essential drugs to help consumers save Rs 3,500 crore: Mandaviya

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said consumers will save around Rs 3,500 crore annually with the government capping the prices of the majority of essential medicines, hitting out at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. On Sunday Kharge had taken a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a reported hike in prices of some essential medicines, saying he has taken supari (contract) to pick pockets of the people. Rebutting the Congress leader's claims, in a series of tweets Mandaviya said the ceiling prices of 651 out of 870 essential medicines have already been notified by the government so far bringing down the cost of drugs under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). While tagging Kharge's Twitter handle, Mandaviya in a tweet said that so far, new ceiling prices of 651 out of 870 essential medicines have been notified. Due to this, the approved ceiling price of medicines has decreased by an average of 16.62 per cent. As a result, consumers will save a

Centre planning to set up National Public Health Museum soon: Report

In the project, the ministry of health is expected to collaborate with the ministry of culture

India records 3,824 Covid-19 cases, biggest single-day rise in six months

India on Sunday recorded a single-day jump of 3,824 COVID-19 infections, the biggest in 184 days, while the number of active cases increased to 18,389, according to Union health ministry data. With the fresh infections, India's COVID-19 tally rose to 4.47 crore (4,47,22,605). The death toll climbed to 5,30,881 with five deaths, the data updated at 8 am stated. One death each was reported from Delhi, Haryana, Kerala and Rajasthan in a span of 24 hours and one was reconciled by Kerala. At 18,389, the active cases comprise 0.04 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.77 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The daily positivity rate stood at 2.87 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 2.24 per cent. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,73,335, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine hav

Wearing face mask mandatory in TN hospitals from April 1: Health Minister

The Tamil Nadu government has made wearing of face masks mandatory at all government hospitals across the State from Saturday owing to an increase in Coronavirus positive cases. Doctors, nurses, medical staff, patients and visitors have been asked to ensure cent percent compliance at around 11,300 health facilities because infection initially started in hospitals, Health Minister Ma Subramanian said on Friday. "So, as a precaution we have made wearing face masks compulsory from April 1," he said. Speaking to reporters here, the Minister said though the infection spread has not escalated it has become essential to exercise precaution. "We should ensure that we wear face masks to protect ourselves. At present, Omicron sub variants XBB and BA.2 are in circulation not only in Tamil Nadu, but also in India and other parts of the world," he said. Passengers arriving from other countries are randomly screened upon their arrival at the airports in the State. During the last 24 hours, 123 .

India witnesses 3,016 fresh Covid-19 cases, highest in nearly six months

India saw a single-day rise of 3,016 fresh coronavirus cases, the highest in nearly six months, while the active cases increased to 13,509, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Thursday. A total of 3,375 cases were recorded on October 2 last year. The country's COVID-19 death toll has increased to 5,30,862 with 14 latest fatalities -- three reported by Maharashtra, two from Delhi and one reported by Himachal Pradesh in a span of 24 hours and eight reconciled by Kerala. According to the ministry data updated at 8 am, the daily positivity was recorded at 2.73 per cent, while the weekly positivity was pegged at 1.71 per cent. The infection tally stands at 4.47 crore (4,47,12,692). The active cases now comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.78 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,68,321, while the case

11-year-old Kerala girl develops unique eye scanning app that uses AI

She clarified that so far, her app, Ogler Eyescan only works on iPhone 10 and above with iOS 16+

Niti Aayog and health ministry planning Ayushman 2.0, middle class in focus

The scheme is also exploring options to get a partial contribution or a top-up from individuals covered under the scheme

World Tuberculosis Day 2023: Its historical significance, symptoms, cure

The theme of 2023 World Tuberculosis Day is 'Yes! We can end TB!'

No increase in rate of hospitalisation, death due to Covid: Health Ministry

Amid a gradual rise in daily Covid-19 cases, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday that the XBB.1.16 subvariant of Omicron might be the dominant virus strain in the country but there has been no reported increase in the rate of hospitalisation or death so far. Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said 344 samples have tested positive in the last three months January, February and March for XBB.1.16 after whole genome sequencing. The subvariant has been found in states such as Maharashtra (105), Telangana (93), Karnataka (57), Gujarat (54) and Delhi (19). "Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the predominant variant. No evidence of an increase in hospitalisation and/or mortality has been reported," Bhushan said. He said XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 are variants of interest and under intense scientific scrutiny but they are not a "cause of immediate concern". India has reported an uptick in daily coronavirus cases over the past week. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala and Karnataka are am

As Covid cases crosses 1,000; Kerala on alert, use of masks recommended

In the meeting, which came on the eve of the third anniversary of Kerala announcing a lockdown due to Covid, she said the use of masks when visiting hospitals should be a must

Union Health Minister to chair two-day global conference on digital health

Union Health Minister Mankush Mandaviya to chair a two-day Global Conference on Digital Health on March 20-21 in New Delhi

NMC not in agreement to allow pharmacists to write prescription: MoS Health

The National Medical Commission has not agreed to Pharmacy Council of India's proposal to allow pharmacists to write prescription, saying writing a prescription is dependent on examining patients and making a diagnosis, the government said on Friday. Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said this in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha. Pawar also said the recruitment of pharmacists in government hospitals, their salaries and the eligible qualification for becoming pharmacists in hospitals in any state is governed by the rules of the respective state. However, she added, the Pharmacy Council of India has issued Pharmacy Practice Regulations, 2015, and amendments thereafter, as per which there is a provision for Pharm D graduates to work in the hospitals in various positions. Besides, D Pharm and B Pharm graduates are eligible to work as community pharmacists in collaboration with physicians and other health care professionals to provide patient care, which optimi

Health ministry approaches CERT-In over attempt to hack its website

The Union health ministry has asked the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to look into the reported attempt of hacking of its website allegedly by a Russian hacker group. Cyber security experts from CloudSEK have claimed that Russian hacker group 'Phoenix' targeted the website and managed to get access to the ministry's Health Management Information System portal, has details of all the hospitals of India and employees and physicians. "We have sought details and asked the CERT-In to look into the alleged hacking of the health ministry's website. They will submit a report," an official source told PTI. CERT-In is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents and provides prevention and response services to government departments and private bodies. According to a report by CloudSEK, the group mentioned that the attack is "a consequence of India's agreement over the oil price cap an

Govt has no central data on heart attack, cancer, HIV: MoHFW to Rajya Sabha

Heart diseases contributed 28.1% of the total deaths in India, in 2016 compared to 15.2% in 1990

Russian hacker group Phoenix hit Indian health ministry website: CloudSEK

"The motive behind this target was the sanctions imposed against Russian Federation where Indian authorities decided not to violate the sanctions as well as comply with the price ceiling for Russia"

It is time India took lead in 'one earth, one health' vision: Mandaviya

It is time India takes the lead in realising the "one earth, one health" vision with a holistic policy-making environment and align it with the philosophy of "vasudhaiva kutumbakam", Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has a strong political will to lead in innovative research and technology supported solutions which are commercially viable with universal acceptability, he said at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit 2023. The summit has been themed "One Health: Integrated, Collaborative and Multisectoral Approach to Optimal Health". "The 'one earth, one health' vision can become a reality only with active global collaboration where countries don't think of only themselves but of collective global outcomes," the minister said. Mandaviya highlighted that the health sector cannot be limited to one country as the health and wellbeing of one country impacts the other. "We live i

Patients can register for organ transplantation in any state: Centre

The government has done away with the requirement of state domicile for registration of patients requiring organ transplantation, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Now such patients will be able to go to any state of the country and register themselves for organ transplantation, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said in a written reply. The government is working with the aim of "One Nation, One Policy" for organ donation and transplantation in consultation with the states, she said. "In this regard, it has been decided to remove the requirement of domicile of the state for registration of patients requiring organ transplantation from deceased donor. "Now such patients will be able to go to any state of the country and register themselves for organ transplantation," she said. According to the new government guidelines, the upper age limit of 65 years as eligibility for registration to receive deceased donor organ has been removed. Now, a person of any age c

Guidelines on medical negligence under consideration: Union Health ministry

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken up for consideration the healthcare sector's long-standing demand to frame guidelines for determining medical negligence cases, a reply to an RTI query revealed. Though there is no guideline at present, the matter is under consideration, the ministry said in response to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act on behalf of PTI. "So far, no guidelines have been framed. It is under consideration," said Sunil Kumar Gupta, undersecretary in the ministry's medical education policy section. Gupta, who is also the central public information officer, gave a written response to PTI when asked to provide information on "if the Union Health Ministry has framed any guidelines to handle cases of medical negligence in the country". It has been more than 17 years since the Supreme Court, for the first time in the Jacob Mathew case in 2005, directed the Centre to frame statutory rules in consultation with the-then medic

Single-day rise of 524 Covid cases in India: Union Health Ministry data

India logged 524 new coronavirus cases after a gap of 113 days, while the active cases rose to 3,618, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The death toll has increased to 5,30,781 with one death reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,90,492). The national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.80 per cent, the ministry said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,41,56,093, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.64 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.