Page 30 - Health News

Healthcare is among key focus areas of govt: Jyotiraditya Scindia

Union Civil Aviation and Steel Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday said that healthcare has been one of the key focus areas of the Modi government

Centre on mission to enhance public health by quality drugs: Mandaviya

Cente is on a mission to safeguard and enhance public health by ensuring top notch quality drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices along with maintaining their safety and efficacy, Health Minister said

Raise awareness about cervical cancer, importance of HPV vaccine: Centre

The government has asked all states and Union Territories to create awareness on prevention of cervical cancer, the importance of HPV vaccine among girl and organise vaccination camps in schools. The Education and Health Ministry, in a joint letter, have informed states and UTs that the National Technical Advisory Group for Immunization (NTAGI) has recommended introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in the Universal Immunization Programme with a one-time catch-up for 9-14 year-old adolescent girls followed with routine introduction at nine years. "Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. In India, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women and India contributes the largest proportion of global cervical cancer burden. "Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease as long as it is detected early and managed effectively," said the letter written by Union Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar and Health Secretary Rajesh ...

Mandatory Covid tests for all international passengers if needed, says Govt

In the wake of surge in COVID-19 cases in many countries, India has started 2 per cent random sampling of international travellers coming to the country and may consider making it mandatory for all if necessary, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday. He was responding to queries of some Opposition MPs after his suo moto statement in Rajya Sabha on the latest COVID-19 situation and India's preparedness. "We are constantly monitoring the situation. There are no direct flights between China and India but people come via other routes," he said in response to a query by Raghav Chadha of AAP on whether the government would ban direct flights from China. As a health minister, Mandaviya said he has spoken to many countries and WHO about what all precautions are needed to be taken and also understand in which direction the pandemic is moving. "At a primary stage, we have already started doing 2 per cent random sampling of any traveller coming to India," he said. The minister .

Punjab CM to hold meeting with state health officials on Covid situation

As the entire nation gears up for a possible increase in number of Covid cases in the next few days, Punjab CM has called a meeting of the officials of the state health department over the situation

Genome sequencing of all positive samples in Maha, don't panic: official

Maharashtra's state surveillance officer on Wednesday said all swab samples testing positive for COVID-19 will be sent for genome sequencing to track any new variant and maintained there was no need to panic in view of the current surge in cases in China, said to be driven by a new strain of Omicron. State surveillance officer Dr Pradip Awate's statement came a day after the Centre asked states to step up genome sequencing of positive swab samples amid a spurt in coronavirus cases in the US, China and some other countries. Awate said they are already conducting genome sequencing of samples, but since the number of positive cases has come down in the last few months, the sequencing process, too, has slowed down. Genome sequencing is a laboratory test that can map out the whole genetic makeup of a virus from a patient's swab sample. "Earlier, we used to pick up samples of serious patients, admitted patients, patients who had re-infection after vaccination, and patients from ...

Govt reviews Covid situation; advises people to mask up, get vaccinated

In view of a sudden spurt in COVID cases in China and some other countries, the Union health minister on Wednesday reviewed the situation in the country and asked people to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded places, and get vaccinated. "COVID is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. We are prepared to manage any situation," Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said. During the meeting, attended by experts and senior officials, the minister was briefed on the global COVID-19 situation and the domestic scenario, including the preparedness of all stakeholders. Noting that only 27-28 per cent of India's eligible population have taken the precaution dose of COVID-19, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul, after the meeting, said people should take the jab and also wear masks in crowded places. Paul urged people not to panic and said that there was no change in the guidelines for international air tra

Possible neural link between early life trauma and eating disorder: Study

Research has revealed how a pathway in thebrain that typically provides signals to stop eating may be altered by early life trauma

Healthcare should transform to patient-centric: Karnataka Health Minister

Emphasizing on transformation in the healthcare sector, Karnataka Health Minister said that healthcare should be shifted from doctor-centric to patient-centric and hospital-centric to home-centric

Mucosal DNA vaccine found effective in stopping Covid in its tracks: Study

A mucosal DNA vaccine was proved effective in stopping COVID-19 in its tracks, a small-scale study conducted in mice has found. An international research team has demonstrated that its mucosal DNA vaccine is capable of ensuring the total survival of a group of mice infected with a version of the virus adapted to this species, whereas the latter kills 100 per cent of unvaccinated mice. Each group of mice tested consisted of 10 individuals, the study said. The study is published in the Biomaterials journal. Created using a vector developed by a Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) researcher at the Immunology and New Concepts in Immunotherapy Laboratory, Nantes University, France, this vaccine acts in a manner similar to that of RNA vaccines on the market. The DNA delivered by the vector enters the target cells, causing them to produce a SARS-CoV-2 protein and allowing the immune system to prepare itself by producing antibodies and lymphocytes against the virus. A vec

WHO stands by action of issuing alert against Maiden Pharma cough syrup

Asserts that testing done in labs in Ghana and Switzerland confirmed excess levels of contaminated syrups that are "dangerous and should not be in any medicine, ever"

India sees most number of cervical cancer cases, deaths in Asia: Lancet

Lancet report titled, "Global estimates of incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in 2020: a baseline analysis of the WHO Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative," highlights glaring reality

Maiden Pharma's cough syrups are safe, WHO jumped the gun: DCGI

'Irreparable damage' to Indian pharma's global image, drug regulator writes to WHO

Maharashtra reports 22 new coronavirus cases, 1 death; active tally at 193

Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 22 new COVID-19 cases, taking the overall tally to 81,36,252, while one more patient succumbed to the infection in the state, pushing up the toll to 1,48,409, said the health department. Fresh addition to the coronavirus death toll in the state has been reported after a gap of several days. Maharashtra had recorded 27 COVID-19 cases and zero fatality on Tuesday. The Mumbai administrative circle reported 11 cases, followed by Pune (6), Latur (3), and Nashik circles (2), said the health department in a bulletin. The Mumbai circle reported the lone coronavirus-related death, it said. An administrative circle consists of multiple districts and the state has eight such circles. With 9,219 swab samples tested in the last 24 hours, their cumulative number in the state rose to 8,57,76,957, said the bulletin. The number of recoveries increased to 79,87,650 after 24 patients recuperated from the infection during the day, leaving the state with 193 active

Karnataka govt simultaneously launches 114 'Namma Clinics' across State

The Karnataka government on Wednesday simultaneously launched 114 'Namma Clinics', which would provide primary healthcare services to vulnerable sections, especially the urban poor and daily wage workers, across the state. The Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai inaugurated a Namma Clinic at Bhairidevarakoppa in Hubballi of Dharwad district in the presence of Health Minister K Sudhakar, among others. Twelve types of health services will be available at these centres free of cost, and each clinic will consist of a medical officer, a nurse, lab technician, and a Group D employee, an official statement had said earlier. Health Minister K Sudhakar said the government is working to operationalise all 438 Namma Clinics across the State as announced earlier and all the remaining ones will be functional by January-end. A total of 243 of Namma Clinics will be functioning under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) area, and work is underway to make them operational for public service by

Study finds climate change can cause itchy eyes, runny nose

Researchers have discovered how the contiguous United States' two most common allergies, oak and ragweed pollen, would vary due to climate change

AIIMS to get digi library to streamline procurements, increase transparency

To increase transparency and streamline procurement process, the AIIMS administration here has decided set up a digital library on which all supply and work orders will be made public from April 1 next year. The Procurement Digital Library - a repository of all the supply and work orders -- will ensure transparency and reduce the burden of RTI's related to procurement at the institute, according to an office memorandum issued on December 9. "The data on this PDL shall also be helpful to other government institutions for benchmarking their engineering and stores procurement against AllMS procurement trends, prices and specifications," the OM issued by AIIMS Director Dr M Srinivas said. All supply and work orders shall be mandatorily uploaded on the PDL as soon as the order is issued to the vendors, it said. The reference to last purchase price and consumption pattern for similar items available on the stores digital library shall be placed on record in the e-file while seeking ...

AIIA inks agreements with international institutions for promoting Ayurveda

In a bid to promote Ayurveda across continents, the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Medical Sciences, Cuba, and extended the agreement with Rosenberg European Academy of Ayurveda (REAA), Germany, for five more years to take forward collaborative programmes. The agreements were signed on the sidelines of the 9th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo. The MoU with Havana-based University of Medical Sciences was signed between Cuban Ambassador to India Alejandro Simancas Marin and Dr Tanuja M Nesari, the director of AIIA. The extension of collaboration with REAA was initiated by the academy's director Mark Rosenberg and Dr Nesari. With these collaborations, Delhi-based AIIA, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of AYUSH, has 15 international partners and 35 national partners under its collaborative activities, Dr Nesari said. These partnerships come at a time when there is a big acceptance of Ayur

Adults who address stress are able to avoid negative health results: Study

A new study has found that younger adults who take preemptive steps to respond to stress are better able to avoid those negative health outcomes

Lessons from Covid: Pharma firms turn attention to adult vaccination

Vaccine companies have warmed up to the idea of adult vaccines for other diseases such as pneumonia, flu and shingles as well