Page 5 - Health Sector

Nearly 740 mn Ayushman Bharat health records created: Govt tells RS

More than 73.98 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) have been created and over 49.06 crore health records have been linked with ABHA, Union Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav told the Rajya Sabha. Over 3.63 lakh health facilities have been registered on the Health Facility Registry (HFR) and over 5.64 lakh healthcare professionals are registered on the Healthcare Professional Registry (HPR), Jadhav said in a written reply. The minister shared health data collected till February 6. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has been launched with the aim of enabling interoperability of health data within the health ecosystem and creating electronic health records for every citizen. The ABDM comprises key registries such as the ABHA, HPR, HFR and drug registry, Jadhav said. Inclusion is one of the key principles of ABDM and the digital health ecosystem created by ABDM supports continuity of care across primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare in a seamless manner,

Medicine retailers, e-pharmacies asked to display DPCO's drug price list

National pharma pricing regulator says list has to be put up 'conspicuously'

Best of BS Opinion: How India's renewable energy success turned sour

Today's pieces cover diverse topics: our editorials examine how India's renewable energy sector is now a victim of its own success, and ponder the government's inexplicable pause on privatisation.

AstraZeneca's cancer drug tops list of new brands launched in 2024

Five of top 20 drug introductions target cancer, reflecting its rising incidence in India

Adani plans to donate Rs 6,000 cr to set up health infra with Mayo Clinic

The AHCs will comprise 1,000-bed multi-specialty hospitals, medical colleges and research facilities, among others

Metropolis Healthcare Q3 results: Net profit soars 15%, revenue up 10.8%

On a sequential basis, the company's revenue declined by 7.7 per cent, while PAT also fell by 32.5 per cent

Global Health Q3 results: Net profit up 16% at Rs 143 cr

Global Health, which operates hospitals under the Medanta brand, on Tuesday reported 16 per cent increase in its profit after tax to Rs 143 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2024, driven by higher patient volume. The healthcare provider posted a profit after tax of Rs 123 crore in the October-December quarter of last fiscal. Revenue from operations rose to Rs 943 crore in the third quarter as compared with Rs 836 crore in the year-ago period, Global Health said in a regulatory filing. "We have delivered a strong performance this quarter, driven by higher patient volumes and strong contributions from our developing hospitals," Pankaj Sahni, Group CEO and Director said. The company said its board has approved the signing of the lease agreement to operate and manage a newly built 110-bed hospital in Ranchi. "This expansion will further strengthen our capacity to meet the growing healthcare needs in the region while raising the standard of healthcare delivery," Sahni ...

Union Budget 2025-26: PMJAY allocation may not suffice, say experts

Budget estimates (BE) for the financial year (FY) 2025-26 have put the allocation for PMJAY at Rs 9,406 crore, a 28.8 per cent increase from Rs 7,300 crore in FY25's BE

India's medical tourism poised for expansion with relaxed visa rules

Industry reports estimate that India's medical tourism market was valued at $7.69 billion in 2024, with approximately 7.3 million foreign patients travelling to India for medical treatment

CDMO revenues to touch $1.2 bn by FY30: Piramal Pharma chairperson

Says that their growth is led by innovation related work

Nagpur startup ErlySign develops 15-minute saliva test for oral cancer

With an estimated 1.5 lakh cases of oral cancer diagnosed annually in India and a high mortality rate due to late detection, ErlySign claims that its test has the potential to reduce healthcare burden

InvAscent invests Rs 110 cr in integrated geriatric care provider Geri Care

Geri Care intends to utilise the funds to expand its services across key cities in southern India, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Coimbatore

Union Budget 2025-26: Here are the key challenges in health care sector

Low health care expenditure at about 2.1 per cent of GDP for FY23, compared to both developing and developed nations

WHO regrets Trump's decision to withdraw, hopes for reconsideration

The statement from WHO came after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday, announcing the withdrawal of the US from WHO

MedTech industry divided over move to stop imports of refurbished devices

Domestic manufacturers added that the order will also stop the unregulated influx of second hand medical devices which could have been detrimental to the patient safety in India

Booster shot as Medicity set to come up in 200 acres area in Chhattisgarh

Under the project, health facilities with about 5,000 bed capacity would be developed via private investment

Four OEMs express interest in manufacturing e-ambulances: MHI official

This initiative aims to bolster the country's medical sector, which currently operates approximately 50,000 ambulances

Diagnostic demand rises in towns; organised players lead expansion plans

The Healthcare Federation of India reports that over 50 per cent of aspirational districts identified by NITI Aayog, which lack essential infrastructure, are served by diagnostic chains

New study links paracetamol to several side effects among senior citizens

Paracetamol, a common over-the-counter medication, may increase the risk of gastrointestinal, heart- and kidney-related complications among adults aged 65 and above, a new study has found. Taken commonly for treating mild-to-moderate fever, paracetamol is also the first drug recommended for treating osteoarthritis -- a chronic condition causing pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints due to wear-and-tear -- as it is considered effective, relatively safe and accessible. However, some studies have provided evidence to contest the effectiveness of paracetamol in relieving pain while others have shown increased risks of gastrointestinal side effects, such as ulcers and bleeding, from prolonged use. The latest study, conducted by researchers from the University of Nottingham, UK, found that paracetamol use was linked to a 24 per cent and 36 per cent increase in risk of peptic ulcer bleeding (bleeding due to ulcer in the digestive tract) and lower gastrointestinal bleeding, ...

2.5 mn senior citizens above 70 years enrol for Ayushman Card Scheme

The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana provides free medical treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh