Health Sector

JP Nadda meets Afghan health minister, reiterates medical support

Medical visas, supply of drugs and CT scan machines figure in discussions between both countries

NMC asks colleges to set up panels to track prescription practices

NMC has asked medical colleges to set up sub-committees to monitor prescription practices and stress clear, legible handwriting as part of medical training.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman stresses need for steady, consistent defence funding

LS clears Health Security se National Security Cess Bill

Robotic surgery to begin at 3 medical colleges in Himachal by Jan 2026: CM

Robotic surgery will be operational at the medical colleges in Hamirpur, Nerchowk in Mandi, and the IGMC in Shimla by January 2026, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said in the Vidhan Sabha on Monday. In addition, smart labs are being established at Chamiyana and IGMC in Shimla and Tanda near Dharamsala, Sukhu said in a reply during the Question Hour, adding that the government is investing Rs 3,000 crore in the health sector. The state government aims to provide AIIMS Delhi-standard healthcare to its 7.5 million population. Patients in Himachal Pradesh are being charged on the lines of PGI Chandigarh, Sukhu said. Since the launch of robotic surgery in the state, 78 operations have been performed at Chamiyana, Shimla, and 38 at the Tanda Medical College, Kangra, in the past two months, he said. Responding to a supplementary question by BJP MLA Bikram Thakur, the chief minister said the training process for doctors is different, and funds are spent on the lines

80% of Indians with disabilities lack health insurance, warns NCPEDP

A new NCPEDP white paper reveals that most persons with disabilities in India remain uninsured, face high rejection rates and encounter discriminatory practices across public and private schemes

Inviga Healthcare buys 21% stake in medical equipment maker Forus Health

The transaction underscores Inviga's commitment to supporting world-class, AI-driven diagnostic solutions conceived and built in India for global scale

Bengal's Swasthya Sathi scheme crosses 10 mn hospitalisations: CM Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the state's flagship health assurance scheme, 'Swasthya Sathi', has crossed a significant milestone of one crore hospitalisations as of October 31. She said under the scheme, residents have received cashless medical treatment worth Rs 13,156 crore, fully funded from the state budget, she said. "Swasthya Sathi' -- the all-inclusive, unique health assurance scheme of Government of West Bengal has achieved one crore hospitalisations mark on 31st October 2025, where cashless health care benefit of Rs. 13,156 crore has been provided to the citizens of WEST BENGAL entirely from the State Budget," Banerjee posted on X. Highlighting the inclusivity of the initiative, the chief minister said that any resident of the state who is not covered under another state-sponsored health scheme is eligible for Swasthya Sathi benefits. "Any resident of West Bengal is eligible to avail the benefits of 'Swasthya Sathi', if not covered by any other

Results preview: Pharma sales may be up 9-10% in Q2 on robust domestic biz

Domestic business and exports are expected to be a shot in the arm; hospitals and diagnostics to lag

Govt to broaden qualification criteria to recruit medical device inspectors

The ministry has issued a draft notification proposing an amendment to add qualifications for inspectors and government analysts under Rule 18 of the Medical Device Rules (MDR), 2017

Centre revises rate structure for nearly 2,000 medical procedures

CGHS hospitals must accept new rates by Oct 13

Few Indian doctors trained in brain death certification, Aiims study finds

According to the findings, 37.3% of respondents said there was no fixed curriculum for resident training in BDC, and only 10% reported regularly training their residents

WHO & UNICEF warn billions still lack basic services in health facilities

A UN report on progress in universal access to water, sanitation, hygiene and health care facilities shows that billions of people still visit health care facilities that lack the basics services

6 smart ways to talk to your teen about sex without the awkwardness

A survey confirms the most common barriers to discussing sex with children are children feeling uncomfortable or refusing to engage

Biocon Biologics secures USFDA approval for Bosaya and Aukelso biosimilars

Biocon Biologics gets USFDA approval for Bosaya and Aukelso, denosumab biosimilars of Prolia and Xgeva, with provisional interchangeability status to widen patient access

Parl panel asks Centre to decentralise PMJAY to address accessibility gaps

Panel recommends strengthening existing school and college-based health education programmes on nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being

Kennedy Jr grilled in Senate on vaccine policies; Trump says he means well

US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, facing pointed bipartisan questioning at a rancorous three-hour Senate committee hearing on Thursday, tried to defend his efforts to pull back Covid-19 vaccine recommendations and explain the turmoil he has created at federal health agencies. Kennedy said the fired CDC director was untrustworthy, stood by his past anti-vaccine rhetoric, and disputed reports of people saying they have had difficulty getting Covid-19 shots. A longtime leader in the anti-vaccine movement, Kennedy has made sweeping changes to agencies tasked with public health policy and scientific research by laying off thousands of workers, firing science advisers and remaking vaccine guidelines. The moves -- some of which contradict assurances he made during his confirmation hearings -- have rattled medical groups and officials in several Democratic-led states, which have responded with their own vaccine advice. Medical groups and several Democrats in Congress have called for

From cancer drugs to glucometers, patients to save more after GST cuts

GST Council removed tax on 33 life-saving drugs and slashed GST on all medicines and medical devices to 5%, easing treatment costs and improving healthcare access

Health products maker Cupid expects Rs 100 cr revenue from exports

Health products maker Cupid Ltd on Wednesday said it expects a revenue of more than Rs 100 crore to accrue from exports in the coming quarters. The international order book will be executed in the second and third quarters of 2025-26, the contraceptive products manufacturer said in a statement. The current B2B export order book is at USD 11.50 million which is equivalent to Rs 100 crore plus, across three key products segments," Cupid said in a statement. "These orders are from international government tenders in South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya, as well as from international agencies WHO/UNFPA, NGOs like MSI and PSI," the company said. Cupid Ltd also anticipates significant orders from Brazil having secured L1 in the recent tender comprising 6.25 million pieces valued at approximately Rs 40 crore with additional future orders expected from that country, it said. The company also expects orders from Tanzania, one of the largest markets in East Africa, in Q2 and Q3 of FY26. These

Safety with affordability: New rules on medical devices should balance them

Imports should be restricted to original manufacturers or certified partners, while devices that are too old or have exceeded usage thresholds should be barred

CDC gets new acting director as leadership turmoil leaves agency reeling

Jim O'Neill, a top deputy to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will serve as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to an administration official. The official requested anonymity to discuss a personnel change that has not been formally announced. The administration wants O'Neill to replace Susan Monarez, whom the White House is trying to remove only a month after starting the job. Monarez is fighting to keep her job. Her removal has left the nation's top public health agency reeling and three senior officials were escorted from its headquarters Thursday. The turmoil triggered rare bipartisan alarm as Kennedy tries to advance anti-vaccine policies that are contradicted by decades of scientific research. The chaos comes weeks before a key advisory committee, which Kennedy has reshaped with vaccine skeptics, is expected to meet to issue new recommendations on immunisations. Two Republican senators called for congressional oversight and som