Page 3 - Healthcare

Practo crosses $100 million GMV in the US as AI push gains pace

Health-tech platform expands investment in AI-driven healthcare systems that support patient and provider decision-making while growing its engineering team

Digital platform launched to strengthen maternal, child healthcare services

The Union Health Ministry has launched a digital platform aimed at strengthening maternal and child healthcare services through seamless tracking of beneficiaries, real-time monitoring and interoperable health records. Launched during the national summit on Innovation and Inclusivity Best Practices Shaping India's Health Future, JANANI (Journey of Antenatal, Natal and Neonatal Integrated Care) is a service-oriented digital platform designed to comprehensively monitor and maintain digital health records of women during their reproductive years, a health ministry statement. Developed as an upgraded version of the existing Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) portal, the platform creates a longitudinal health record by capturing service delivery events across the continuum of care, the statement said. JANANI will facilitate continuous tracking of maternal and child healthcare services, including antenatal care, delivery preparedness, institutional delivery, postnatal care, newborn care,

Manufacturing sentiment positive in Q4 despite higher costs: Ficci survey

Growth sentiment in India's manufacturing sector stays positive during the fourth quarter of FY26 despite rising input costs and geopolitical uncertainties, according to a survey released on Wednesday. The only impact seen was in the capacity utilization, which saw a little dip at nearly 72 per cent compared to the previous quarter. However, the future investment outlook is steady for the next six months, showed the latest FICCI survey for the January-March period of FY26. The survey assessed the performance and sentiments for January-March 2025-26 of manufacturers for eight major sectors, including automobile, capital goods, chemical, fertilizer & pharmaceuticals, electronics & electricals, machine tools, metal, and textiles. Responses have been drawn from over 250 manufacturing units from both large and SME segments with a combined annual turnover of over Rs 8 lakh crore. "The survey continued to reflect sustained growth and increasing optimism for India's manufacturing ...

Centre removes hospital height cap, eases norms for vertical expansion

New NBCS 2026 norms remove 45-metre cap on hospital buildings, enabling vertical expansion, lowering capex and reducing reliance on greenfield projects, say industry executives

New building norms to ease infra constraints, improve access to healthcare

Healthcare industry body NATHEALTH on Sunday said the government's move to ease height restrictions for hospitals subject to enhanced fire safety provisions is expected to address structural constraints, including limited bed capacity, and underutilisation of existing infrastructure, particularly in urban centres. Welcoming the government's notification of the National Building Construction Standards (NBCS) 2026, NATHEALTH said it eases long-standing height restrictions for hospitals and permits Intensive Care Units (ICUs) beyond 45 metres, subject to enhanced fire safety provisions. "The move is expected to address structural constraints such as high land costs, limited bed capacity, and underutilisation of existing infrastructure, particularly in urban centres," NATHEALTH said in a statement. The new NBCS 2026 rules mark a significant and timely step towards enabling future-ready healthcare infrastructure in India, NATHEALTH President Sangita Reddy said. "By unlocking much-needed

Improving mix, volumes seen driving growth recovery for Max Healthcare

Brokerages remain positive on Max Healthcare despite recent weakness, expecting growth revival in FY27 led by expansion, better occupancy, improved mix and strong margins

IHH-Daiichi case: Tokyo court concludes hearing, ruling on September 10

The deal was held up in court amid Daiichi Sankyo's long-running dispute with the Singh brothers over its purchase of Ranbaxy Laboratories more than a decade ago

Will AI Change Healthcare Forever? Future of India’s Pharma Shift

In this exclusive conversation with Business Standard, Sujit Paul, CEO of Zota Healthcare and the driving force behind DavaIndia, shares bold views on the future of healthcare

SC asks states, UTs to prepare action plan to implement guidelines for ICU

The Supreme Court has asked all the states and Union Territories to prepare a "realistic and practical" action plan to implement the guidelines necessary as a minimum standard for intensive care units. The apex court was informed that "Guidelines for Organisation and Delivery of Intensive Care Services", on which there is consensus and which is practical, implementable and necessary as a minimum standard for an ICU, has been prepared. A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan said copies of the guidelines should be shared with all the states and UTs. "Moving further, as an immediate measure, let all the additional chief secretaries/secretaries ... heading the department of health and medical education in the states and the UTs, convene a meeting of all experts involved in this exercise to prepare an action plan for implementation of the guidelines. Such a plan shall be realistic and practical," the bench said in its April 20 order. The top court was hearing a matter

IKS eyes US healthcare growth with TruBridge deal, targets AI synergies

IKS Health's proposed TruBridge acquisition aims to integrate EHR and workflow tools, drive cost efficiencies, and unlock AI-led gains in the US healthcare market

Best of BS Opinion: West Asia ceasefire welcome, but road ahead unclear

From US-Iran tensions and AI-led drug trials to urban inequality and regulatory norms, today's Best of BS Opinion curates key editorials and columns shaping the discourse

Best of BS Opinion: West Asia risks, RBI stance, AI, GDP debate

From West Asia tensions and RBI policy signals to AI in drug trials, fiscal risks, GDP debates and India-China strategy, today's BS Opinion offers a wide-ranging view of key economic and geopolitical

Bills at public hospitals are much higher in poorest states: NSO survey

NSO data shows higher out-of-pocket costs in poorer states' government hospitals, highlighting disparities in public healthcare despite rising insurance coverage

India leads global shift to AI-led healthcare adoption, says BCG study

The report also points to a shift towards hybrid healthcare models, where patients prefer AI-assisted human care rather than relying solely on doctors or machines

Stakeholders flag MRP distortions in healthcare, call for reforms

Industry experts and consumer groups highlight inflated pricing and lack of transparency in healthcare MRPs, urging regulatory intervention for fair pricing

Doctor-led AI platform offering 24x7 remote monitoring launched in Chennai

In a move to expand its footprint in southern India and bolster preventive healthcare, a doctor-led, AI-enabled ecosystem offering real-time medical supervision beyond hospital settings was launched in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The initiative aims to improve clinical outcomes for patients with chronic conditions preventing their escalation into serious illness and reduce the risk of sudden cardiac events. At the core of the ecosystem -- iLive Connect -- is a small wireless biosensor patch paired with a wearable wristband, which monitors vital parameters such as heart activity and blood pressure in realtime. As part of the system, data is tracked 24x7 by experienced doctors at a remote command centre, who alert patients and their families in case of any abnormality. Around 40 doctors, including Dr Thillai Vallal, Managing Director of Venkateswara Hospitals; Dr MA Raja, Director and senior consultant in Medical Oncology at MGM Healthcare; Dr Amit Kumar, critical care physician; Dr Prashan

India a very high-priority market, Fortis primary growth vehicle: IHH CEO

IHH Healthcare eyes aggressive India expansion via Fortis, focusing on bed capacity, clusters, and ambulatory care amid strong healthcare demand

Medtech industry split over Centre's move on standard device testing fees

Medtech firms are split over draft norms on standardised testing fees, with some backing transparency and others warning of higher compliance burden for low-risk devices

Aster DM Healthcare expands Whitefield Hospital capacity, invests ₹96 cr

Aster DM Healthcare on Monday announced an investment of Rs 96 crore for the expansion of its women & children facility at Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru. With this expansion, Aster Whitefield's bed capacity will increase from 380 to 539 beds, the company said in a statement. "As demand for high-quality maternal and pediatric care grows, it is essential to scale both capacity and capabilities," Aster DM Healthcare, Founder & Chairman, Azad Moopen said. He further said, "The expansion of our Women & Children facility at Whitefield reflects our commitment to advanced infrastructure and specialised expertise, ensuring comprehensive, end-to-end care for mothers and children under one roof, while setting new benchmarks in the region." The expansion at Aster Whitefield, together with the upcoming 500-bed Yeshwantpur hospital and the 430-bed Sarjapur facility, builds on Aster's commitment to advancing healthcare in Bengaluru, the company said. This will increase Aster's ...

Explained: What is NPS Swasthya?

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has launched the second "Proof of Concept (POC) of NPS Swasthya", an initiative intended to provide healthcare