Page 13 - Health Sector

Cabinet approves memoranda on health products with Netherlands, Ecuador

The Union Cabinet Thursday approved separate memorandum with the Netherlands, Dominican Republic and Ecuador on cooperation in the field of medical products regulation, an official statement said. The cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was apprised of the three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) which were signed between the Health Ministry's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the respective regulatory authorities of the three countries. The MoU between the CDSCO and the Directorate General for Medicine, Foods and Sanitary Products Organizations of Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistant of Dominican Republic was signed on October 4 last year. Issues of substandard and falsified medicines moving in the international markets, and interaction amongst regulatory agencies are facilitated through the MoU, it stated. Convergence in the regulatory practices could help increasing export of medicines from India and consequentially create employment ...

Pvt hospitals projected to add 30,000 beds over next 5 yrs: ICRA

The projection indicated a rise in capacity building and occupancy, translating into a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) revenue growth to the tune of 12 to 14 per cent in FY24

ICMR invites suggestions for revising national essential diagnostics list

It is unclear whether the finalisation of the NEDL will lead to price capping of diagnostic tests in line with drugs

Number of Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1 cases cross 1,000-mark in India

14 states and union territories reported no fresh Covid-19 cases on Friday

Health sector's Budget wishlist: Increase spending to 2.5% of GDP

Key demands include rationalising GST rates, investment in skilling professionals, building local capabilities

Health check for healers: The big audit firms are under the NFRA lens

Now, the national accounting watch­dog has turned the spotlight on audit firms themselves. These firms are perceived to be the eyes and ears of non-promoter investors

MBBS admissions made via institutional-level counselling to stand cancelled

NMC clarified that many students have obtained admission into MBBS courses through institutional-level counselling, which stands against the NMC guidelines for common counselling

Going viral: How is the pharma market coping with Janaushadhi Kendras?

Janaushadhi Kendras sell generic drugs that are priced 50 to 60 per cent lower than the popular brands

PACS operating Jan Aushadi Kendras; poor getting affordable medicines: Shah

Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Monday said about 241 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) have opened Jan Aushadi Kendras across the country that will ensure rural poor and farmers too avail the benefit of generic medicines at affordable rates. So far, the government's Jan Aushadi Kendras were largely opened in cities benefiting the urban poor. Now this benefit is being extended to the rural poor, he said addressing an event here. Shah, who also gave away the Jan Aushadi Kendra 'store code' certificates to five eligible PACS, said PACS could expand their business activities to open Jan Aushadi Kendras due to changes brought in their byelaws. "In the last six months, 4,470 applications from PACS were received. Out of these, in-principle approval has been given to 2,373 PACS. Around 241 of them have started operating Jan Aushadi Kendras," Shah said. With these outlets being opened in rural areas, people can now buy generic medicines at affordable rates. For instance, cance

India reports 12 Covid-19 deaths, active cases remain above 4,000

The country has recorded 72 deaths across twelve states and union territories due to the Covid-19 infection since December 17, with Kerala reporting the most deaths at 33

Medway Hospitals raises $5m in funding round led by Kyra Ventures

Chennai-based group operates eight multi-multispeciality hospitals that provide range of services

Dr Reddy's Laboratories acquires women's health brands from MenoLabs

DRL said that it has acquired the entire MenoLabs supplements portfolio, which includes seven branded products designed to provide health support and address symptoms of perimenopause and menopause

Major fire in pathology lab building in Delhi's Rohini; nobody injured

A major fire broke out in a pathology laboratory in north Delhi's Rohini late last night, the fire department said on Monday. No one was reported injured. Officials said that the fire broke out on the third and fourth floor of a building which housed the pathology lab. The fire was reported to the department around 12.45 am. "Total 10 fire engines were rushed to the spot immediately. It took more than two hours to douse the flames completely. The fire was near the lift shaft. No one was injured in the fire," an official of the Delhi Fire Service said. The person said that the police have been informed for further investigation into the matter.

Focus shifts to healthcare delivery in 2023 as Covid stress eases

After three long years of Covid-induced turbulence, 2023 saw a semblance of normalcy in the health sector, allowing the government to turn its attention to other important commitments such as the elimination of sickle cell disease and the launch of Ayushman Bhav to ensure optimum delivery of health schemes. However, by the end of the year, the Covid scare resurfaced as the number of daily cases began to rise due to the emergence of new sub-variant JN.1 and cold weather conditions, prompting the health ministry to step up surveillance. The year began with concerns over the XBB.1.16 variant of the coronavirus leading to some rise in cases, but it eventually petered out, allowing the health ministry officials to focus on other priority areas. A major initiative this year has been the launch of the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July. The mission is aimed at elimination of the disease in India, particularly among the country's tribal

Focus on workforce boost in health sector considering global demand: Govt

The Indian health sector has a good image globally and the government is working to increase the workforce in view of growing demand, Union minister Bharati Pawar said here on Saturday. The Minister of State (MOS) for Health reiterated that there is no need to fear the JN.1 subvariant of coronavirus but states have been asked to be alert about its spread. Dr Pawar was speaking to reporters after reviewing OPD and IPD services, and government schemes like AB-PMJAY, and Jan Aushadhi Kendra at the AIIMS Nagpur. "India is progressing in all sectors globally. There is a lot of demand for Indian healthcare professionals across the globe. The Indian health sector has a good image. It is trusted and the demand for healthcare personnel is growing in many countries," the Union minister said. She said Indian nurses are in good demand in many countries including Japan. "Considering the demand for nurses, the Central government has started Japanese language courses in some Northeastern states,

CM Patnaik launches third phase of Odisha's flagship health scheme

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday launched the third phase of the state's flagship health scheme - Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY). Patnaik said with this third phase of expansion, it is estimated that over 1.10 crore families, covering nearly 90 per cent of the state's population will be provided health assurance under BSKY. The chief minister said that the BSKY will ensure that no family in Odisha is left vulnerable due to lack of financial resources to meet high expenditure for critical illnesses. The families left out in the first two phases of the BSKY, would be covered in the third phase, Patnaik said while launching the new 'BSKY Nabin Card' for the beneficiaries. "We are now launching the third phase of BSKY, where all left-out families of rural areas of our state will be assured of cashless health service in private hospitals, for all critical ailments," Patnaik said. Stating that the BSKY scheme was launched five years ago to provide health assurance to a

Karnataka detects 32 JN.1 cases, as active cases cross 4,100 nationally

This follows the Health Ministry's confirmation that 63 cases of the JN.1 Covid-19 sub-variant had been detected in India until December 24

States gear up as Covid surges: Big hospitals ready, smaller ones concerned

States have started issuing fresh guidelines as cases continue to rise

India logs 656 new Covid-19 infections; active cases rise to 3,742

India saw a single-day rise of 656 Covid infections while the active cases have increased to 3,742, according to Union health ministry data updated on Sunday. The death toll was recorded at 5,33,333 with one new death 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 (4,50,08,620). The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to 4,44,71,545, 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.

1 death reported as fresh Covid cases rise by 328, active tally nears 3,000

Kerala reported 265 new cases, taking the state's total active caseload to 2,606