Page 4 - Indian Healthcare

Mapping burden of long Covid: Work commences on review of studies

The healthcare sector in India still doesn't know the exact nature of the burden of long Covid with OPDs seeing a surge in patients but no proper documentation. That's the gap researchers in Gandhinagar have set out to fill with a review of various studies so the big picture becomes clear. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG) are in the process of identifying studies to be included for the review to help discern an overall pattern in trends, including effects and risk factors. The review is funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Despite visible, grave symptoms, long Covid continues to evade diagnosis, as scientists have found no significant laboratory markers that could indicate its presence. "Long Covid is definitely a chronic condition, but we do not know the exact nature of its burden," said Komal Shah, associate professor at the IIPHG. "Studies report a surge in out-patient department (OPD) cases, especially among those wi

Kerala govt allocates additional Rs 300 cr for integrated healthcare scheme

The Kerala government has allocated an additional Rs 300 crore for Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASAP), its integrated health protection scheme designed to provide coverage to over 64 lakh poor and vulnerable people in the state. With this additional allocation, the total amount earmarked for the flagship scheme in the present financial year has gone up to Rs 978.54 crore, state Finance Minister K N Balagopal said in a statement on Sunday. According to government sources, KASAP aims at providing a health cover of Rs 5 lakh annually to over 41.99 lakh poor and vulnerable families (approximately 64 lakh beneficiaries) that form the bottom 40 per cent of the Kerala population. A total of Rs 700 crore has already been earmarked for the scheme in the state budget for the next financial year, he noted. The minister said that deserving families are provided with free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per year, benefiting a total of 41.99 lakh poor and vulnerable individuals. Currently, the

Disease-free India key to realising 'Viksit Bharat' goal, says activist

Achieving a 'Bimari Mukt Bharat' or disease-free India is important for realising the goal of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, feels social activist and entrepreneur Dr Swapna Verma, who is spearheading a project to deliver tech-enabled diagnostic services at the doorsteps of rural and tribal communities. Verma was among the 10 'pathbreakers' whom Prime Minister Narendra Modi met earlier this month during the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders' Dialogue-2025. Hailing from Satna district in Madhya Pradesh, Verma is the founder of the Madhurima Sewa Sanskar Sansthan. During the young leaders' dialogue at the National Youth Festival, Verma outlined her organisation's flagship project -- 'Heal Rural India' -- before the prime minister, highlighting the scalability of the initiative. Recounting her first meeting with Modi, Verma, who is also part of the Madhya Pradesh BJP unit, said the prime minister asked her how the 'Heal Rural India' project can help make 'Bharat' become 'Bimari Mukt'. "I explain

India's demographic edge: A key to addressing global healthcare crisis

The global healthcare sector is grappling with a severe shortage of skilled professionals, driven by aging populations and escalating healthcare demand

600 Haryana hospitals to halt Ayushman Bharat services over payment delay

Ayushman Bharat, which currently includes approximately 1,300 hospitals across Haryana - 600 of which are private - has faced significant financial issues

J-K's Dy CM visits Budhal to assess situation after 16 'mysterious' deaths

Choudhary said, This is very unfortunate, not just for Budhal but for the entire J & K and country, youths and young children have died

Gujarat PMJAY angioplasty deaths: Pvt hospital's absconding chairman nabbed

The police have arrested the chairman of a private hospital in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, who evaded arrest for more than two months in connection with the deaths of two PMJAY beneficiaries after botched angioplasty procedures, an official said on Saturday. Kartik Patel, the chairman of Khyati Multispeciality Hospital, was arrested after he landed at the Ahmedabad airport from Dubai late on Friday night, inspector V B Aal of the Ahmedabad crime branch said. Seven persons underwent angioplasty, a procedure that widens blocked or narrowed coronary arteries to improve blood flow to the heart, at Khyati Multispeciality Hospital on November 11, last year, following which two of them died, prompting Vastrapur police to register three FIRs the next day. The probe showed the hospital organised free check-up camps in villages to convince Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) cardholders to undergo angioplasty despite no medical necessity. They were shown in the "emergency" category to expedite

India's surgical infection rate higher than many countries: ICMR study

The Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) rate among three major hospitals in India was found to be higher than in many high-income countries, an ICMR study has revealed. The study was conducted in a cohort of 3,020 patients from three hospitals. SSIs are among the most prevalent healthcare-associated infections. Debridement surgery, carried out with either an amputation, open reduction internal fixation surgery (ORIF), or closed reduction internal fixation (CRIF) surgery, had the highest SSI rate of 54.2 per cent. SSIs cause significant morbidity, leading to excess health expenditures and increased length of hospital stay. There is a lack of data on post-discharge SSIs from low-and middle-income countries. In India, there exists no surveillance system of SSIs that covers the post-discharge period. "Therefore, we proposed a multicentric analysis to estimate the proportion and identify the risk factors associated with SSIs occurring during hospital stay and after discharge," the study .

India striving to be global healthcare custodian: Torrent's Samir Mehta

The Indian pharmaceutical industry is aiming to more than double its size to USD 120-130 billion by 2030 as it looks to ride on the back of innovation to become the healthcare custodian of the world, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) president and Torrent Group chairman Samir Mehta said. In the last 25 years, the Indian pharma industry has grown nearly 20 times - a market size of USD 58 billion from USD 3 billion in 1999-2000, contributing equally to domestic sales and exports today. The sector is among the top five contributors to India's trade surplus, which has grown to USD 19.5 billion from merely USD 1 billion in 1999-2000. "The journey of Indian pharma is a testament to how key policy reforms coupled with entrepreneurial spirit have nurtured the sector's growth," Mehta wrote in an article on the occasion of IPA completing 25 years. "The Indian pharmaceutical sector stands at a critical juncture as India heads toward 2047. From job creation to global trade and innovation to .

HMPV cases in India: Simple Do's and Don'ts to safeguard your health

Rising cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, and now India, have drawn attention to the virus. However, the govt advises people to follow specific Dos and Don'ts to protect themselves

HMPV scare: Vijaya, Dr Lal Path, healthcare stocks in focus; Time to buy?

Apollo Hospitals, Vijaya Diagnostic and Narayana Hrudayalaya have given a fresh breakout on the daily scale. Charts show that these 5 healthcare related shares can rally up to 11 per cent.

HMPV cases in India: Everything we know about the tests, treatment so far

China is seeing a human metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak five years after the Covid-19 pandemic. The virus targets the respiratory system and is especially dangerous for vulnerable populations

HMPV alert: States intensify surveillance as 1st case surfaces in Bengaluru

Several states, including Delhi, Maharashtra, and Telangana, have issued health advisories to enhance preparedness for potential outbreaks of HMPV and other respiratory viruses

No unusual rise in flu-like cases in India, says govt amid China HMPV surge

Health Ministry convenes monitoring group meeting over hMPV surge in China

Mankind Pharma inks pact with Innovent for immunotherapy drug in India

Drug used to treat non-small cell lung cancer, liver cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, endometrial cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma will be priced competitively

India's ageing population needs robust elder care, not just new schemes

The current elderly population of India (those aged 60 and above) is about 153 million

Healthcare industry faces rising cybersecurity threats: Seqrite report

Malware detections in the healthcare sector were dominated by Trojans, which accounted for 43.38 per cent of all threats

AIIMS, Wipro GE Healthcare sign MoU to establish AI health innovation hub

The hub will focus on developing products and solutions to enhance healthcare delivery and outcomes through precise diagnosis

Healthcare sector sees surge in hiring; Delhi, Chennai leading: Report

Healthcare sector in the country is witnessing a hiring surge, with 47 per cent employers planning to recruit staff in this segment, driven by advancements in telehealth and a growing focus on preventive care services, TeamLease EdTech said on Wednesday. The surge in healthcare sector hiring is led by Delhi and Chennai as these cities witnessed highest demand for critical roles in this space. Delhi (65 per cent), Bangalore (56 per cent) and Ahmedabad (48 per cent) have emerged as key hubs for Research Associate roles, which involve conducting medical research, supporting clinical trials, and managing data. According to the report, the aging population and the prevalence of chronic illnesses continue to highlight the need for continuous healthcare support and innovative treatments. "With tech advancement, almost all sectors are undergoing massive changes, with healthcare standing out distinctively. Propelled by the pandemic, virtual consultation and remote healthcare support are the

Drug regulator CDSCO flags 3 drugs as spurious, 56 not of standard quality

CDSCO made the revelation in its monthly update for October; drugs include those used to treat acid reflux, lower cholesterol and reduce risk of heart disease