Page 3 - Health News

Robust growth in Gujarat's public health infra in last 2 decades: Govt data

Gujarat witnessed a significant improvement in public health infrastructure in the last two decades driven by the state government's efforts to ensure that quality medical services reach every corner, as per official data. In the state budget 2023-24, the government allocated Rs 15,182 crore for the healthcare sector, compared to Rs 12,240 crore provisioned for this sector in the 2022-23 budget. Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai had also announced to double the insurance cover under the revamped Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) scheme from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh in the state budget presented last February. Gujarat's healthcare infrastructure has also witnessed growth, with a 41 per cent surge in primary health centres and a 37 per cent increase in community health centres between 2001-02 and 2021-22. The state now hosts 319 CHCs, 1,463 PHCs, and 6,575 sub-centres, as per the data. The number of medical colleges in Gujarat has also risen sharply from n

Experts warn of Covid spike in Kerala as vaccine-induced immunity wanes

Kerala now has 194 active cases, accounting for 61 per cent of the active cases in India

Merck's Covid medicine linked to virus mutation patterns, says study

Findings adds weight to earlier work by the same team of researchers that suggested that drug-induced mutations of Covid were spreading in some populations, although not in great numbers

More than 1.6 mn new PMJAY cards generated in Ayushman Bhava campaign

Inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on September 17, the Ayushman Bhava campaign is part of the Seva Pakhwada being organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Nipah virus update: No positive cases since Sept 16, says Kerala govt

The total number of Nipah infections confirmed in the state is six, of which two persons have died, and four persons are being treated

Health ministry plans drug licensing changes to ensure drug safety

Proposals aim to standardise drug manufacturing practices after a few Indian medicines were flagged as 'substandard' by the WHO

One billion people globally to have osteoarthritis by 2050: Lancet Study

By 2050, nearly one billion people globally are projected to be living with osteoarthritis, which affects joints, according to new research published in The Lancet Rheumatology journal. Currently, 15 per cent of the world's population aged 30 years or above experience osteoarthritis, the study found after analysing 30 years of osteoarthritis data (1990-2020) from more than 200 countries. In 2020, 595 million people were found to be affected by osteoarthritis, a 132 per cent increase from 256 million people in 1990, the study led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), Washington, US, as part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 said. The study attributed the rapid increase in the osteoarthritis cases mainly to aging, population growth and obesity. "With the key drivers of people living longer and a growing world population, we need to anticipate stress on health systems in most countries," said Jaimie Steinmetz, the study's corresponding author and lead ...

Civic run hospital in Maha's Thane sees 17 deaths in 24 hrs, report sought

Seventeen patients have died in the last 24 hours in civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa in Thane city, Maharashtra minister Tanaji Sawant and a senior police official said on Sunday. The police official said the management of the facility have cited critical nature of the patients as well as age as causes. State health minister Sawant said the dean of the hospital has been asked to submit a report in two days. A Thane Municipal Corporation official said the deaths were being analysed and several civic officials are at the heavily-patronised facility for inspection of records etc. Some officials put the toll at 18 but this could not be confirmed. Speaking to PTI, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ganesh Gawde said, "We have information of 17 deaths in the last 24 hours. We have been told the usual figure per day is six to seven." "The hospital management told us some of the patients arrived there in a critical stage and succumbed during treatment. Some were elderl

Medical Council guidelines bar doctors from taking freebies from firms

Industry insiders feel this is a step towards implementing and codifying the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices

DLF, Medanta to develop 400-bed multi-specialty hospital in Delhi

Realty major DLF on Thursday announced that it has tied up with Global Health Ltd (Medanta) to set up a 400-bed multi-speciality hospital in the national capital. The two companies will have an equal partnership in the new joint venture. DLF and Global Health Ltd -- a leading private multi-specialty tertiary care provider -- have "entered into an understanding for forming a company to launch a 400-bed multi-super specialty hospital to provide the highest quality of healthcare in the heart of Delhi in Greater Kailash-I." Both DLF and Medanta will own 50-50 equity in the new company. DLF will be a strategic investor and Medanta will run the hospital and have operational control. DLF Chairman Rajiv Singh said, We are excited to participate in setting up a world class hospital in South Delhi at a location which is closely associated with the origins of our company." The new hospital will strengthen the medical infrastructure in Delhi and further strengthen its deep commitment to impr

Big pharma firms shift tack, look to bet on trade generics as volumes dip

It is the fastest growing segment in IPM with a 25% CAGR

1,774 health facilities in 32 states/UTs adopted 'Scan and Share': Govt

As many as 1,774 health facilities across 32 states and Union Territories have adopted the 'Scan and Share' service which enables for quick and seamless OPD registration for patients using smartphones, the Lok Sabha was told on Friday. A total of 52 lakh tokens have been generated using the service under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) which aims to create a digital platform enabling interoperability of health data within the health ecosystem to create longitudinal electronic health record of every citizen, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in response to a question. According to the data shared by the minister, 552 healthcare facilities in Uttar Pradesh (the highest), followed by 336 in Andhra Pradesh, 277 in Bihar, Karnataka 224 and 137 in Maharashtra have adopted the service. Under the Mission, the Scan and Share feature has been enabled for quick and seamless OPD (out patient department) registration for patients at hospitals using their smartphone, he ...

With 40 new infections, Active Covid cases in country rise to 1,463

India has logged 40 new coronavirus infections, while the active cases have increased to 1,463, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The death toll stood at 5,31,915, the data updated at 8 am stated. The Covid case tally stands at 4.49 crore (4,49,95,264). The national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.81 per cent, according to the health ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,44,61,886 and the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.18 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.67 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

Chinese province saw cremations surge 73% as Covid hit, says report

Most people who die in China are cremated, with burials banned in some areas

30-40% un-met demand for allied health professionals: NATHEALTH-BCG study

Shortage is projected to worsen as demand has already tripled in the past decade and is could rise further

Mumbai-based INVEX Health to soon launch India's first oral HIV self-test

INVEX Health is soon set to launch India's first oral HIV self-test, the company announced on Tuesday

Link between retinal changes and Alzheimer's allows early tracking, therapy

Macquarie University study finds protein markers in the eye that mirror changes in the brain, confirming researchers' long-standing suspicion about the existence of such a link

Did Centre ignore its own red flags on Covid vaccine side-effects?

With the global panic over the Covid-19 pandemic finally waning, the focus is again on preventive and curative measures, mainly the 'life-saver vaccines'

250,000 volunteers in Kerala to be trained to detect zoonotic diseases

The volunteers will receive guidance from health officials at the district level

Diabetes cases on a rise in India: Understanding Type 1 and Type 2 diabete

Type 1 diabetes is seen most often in children and young adults, although the disease can occur at any age, but it is less common than type 2 diabetes