April 2024

Apr 15,2024 Mysuru: Former chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation AS Kirankumar on Sunday called upon budding doctors to ensure better quality healthcare services to the people. He was speaking at the 95th graduation ceremony of Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute’s (MMCRI) 2018 batch students at KSOU Convocation Hall here. He asked the students who acquired knowledge during their college days to serve the society with commitment, passion and service. Even the last man in the society must benefit from quality healthcare services, he said. As rapid technological developments like mobile technology, nano-technology, molecular medicine, biosensors, actuators, healthcare, data analytics, artificial intelligence like innovative medical technologies impact the medical care system in the modern world, he said Indian healthcare system must also upgrade, adopt these developments to ensure better healthcare service to save the lives of people. As India is gifted with a vast traditional medicine system from time immemorial, he sought for a synergised and integrated approach towards this medicine system. ‘Kirankumar asked the policy makers of the nation to change its role and approach to capture the space ecosystem, to use available technology to provide solutions the nation is facing today if India wants to be the largest economy in the world, besides land on the Moon by 2040 by building space stations. MMCRI dean and director Dr KR Dakshayini wanted its alumni students, who are working both in and outside the country, to take part in MMCRI centenary celebrations, which will be held shortly. She also asked them to ensure quality healthcare service to people wherever they are working. Dr TM Harshitha and Dr Darshan received overall topper awards. MMCRI alumni association president Dr HN Dinesh, MMCRI student welfare officer Dr S Chandrashekhar, Teachers Association president Dr PL Basavanna, Dr Arjun and others were present. Source: Healthworld

Apr 15,2024 New Delhi: After the medical journal Lancet’s claim on the lack of accuracy and transparency in sharing data on health raised concerns, government sources asserted that India has a robust system of documenting births and deaths under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, through the Civil Registration System (CRS). “India has a robust system of documenting births and deaths under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, through the Civil Registration System. It provides a unified process of continuous, permanent, compulsory, independent and universal recording of births and deaths. Under the CRS, deaths are reported to the registrar of births and deaths in the concerned area for registration through around three lakh registration units nationwide,” according to a government source. “Although births and deaths are to be reported within 21 days of the occurrence of the event, the Act provides for late registrations as well,” the sources said. The Lancet raised questions about India’s continuing claim that only 0.48 million people died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that WHO and other estimates are six to eight times larger (including excess deaths, most of which will be due to COVID-19). “Every state generates a report within one year after the index calendar year. This leeway is given to accommodate late reporting and to collate data,” a source explained, rubbishing the claims by Lancet. The government sources further said that more than 90 per cent of births and deaths are registered online on the state or national portals. “Over the years, the civil registration system has matured, and with rising awareness and ownership, the registration of births and deaths has become more inclusive. Today, more than 90 per cent of births and deaths are registered online on the state or national portals,” they added. Source: Healthworld

London: The cybersecurity firm BrandShield has taken down more than 250 websites selling fake versions of popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs in the GLP-1 class, the company’s CEO Yoav Keren told Reuters. BrandShield, which shared this information exclusively with Reuters, said that out of the 279 pharmacy websites the company closed last year for selling drugs intended to treat metabolic conditions, more than 90 per cent were related to GLP-1 medicines, according to Keren. Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound are GLP-1 drugs, which were developed for type 2 diabetes but also reduce food cravings and cause the stomach to empty more slowly. The drugs have been shown to help patients lose on average as much as 20 per cent of their weight, fueling explosive demand and a burgeoning global market for fake versions. Cases of harm linked to fake versions of Ozempic and other GLP-1s have been reported in at least nine countries, including Belgium, Britain, Switzerland and the United States. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see criminals try to use the growing popularity of these drugs to sell more counterfeits,” said Keren. Websites taken down for selling bogus GLP-1s represented just over 15 per cent of the 1,655 websites BrandShield reported last year for peddling counterfeit drugs in areas, including hormone-related drugs, central nervous system medicines and cancer treatments. Websites selling counterfeit GLP-1s were less common in 2022 when the company identified 34 such sites to be closed, although it was not targeting all of the GLP-1 drugs that year as it did in 2023, said Keren. He said his firm last year did not find the same concentration of a particular class of drug in any treatment category as it did for GLP-1s as metabolic treatments. BrandShield worked with the Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI), an industry-backed organization, to take down these websites. PSI’s members, which include Lilly and Novo, chose which drugs to target, according to Keren. The CEO said his company gets these websites taken down by collecting evidence that their products are counterfeit and submitting that to the service providers hosting the site. When permitted or requested by its drugmaker customers, BrandShield will share that intelligence with law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in December it was investigating counterfeit Ozempic in the legitimate U.S. supply chain. BrandShield also took down 3,968 listings on social media platforms for fake drugs in all categories last year, almost 60 per cent of which were found on Facebook, according to a new report from the company. The company removed more than 6,900 illegal drug listings across social media platforms and marketplaces in total, including 992 marketplaces in India, 544 in Indonesia, 364 in China and 114 in Brazil. Keren said the company did not have data on how many of these social media listings and marketplaces were selling fake versions of GLP-1s. Source: Pharma

Apr 15,2024 Medical emergencies strike without warning, leaving us vulnerable and scrambling for the best course of action. In these moments of crisis, cashless health insurance emerges as a true lifesaver. It removes the immediate financial burden associated with critical medical care, allowing patients to focus on their recovery. The health insurance market has been witnessing significant growth, with an increasing number of individuals opting for health insurance policies. The health insurance market size was valued at USD 12.86 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.55% from 2023-2030. According to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), the health insurance sector in India was growing at a rate of over 20% annually. The Government of India has been taking initiatives to promote health insurance coverage across the country. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), also known as Ayushman Bharat, aims to provide health insurance coverage to over 500 million people from vulnerable households. While PMJAY primarily focuses on providing coverage for hospitalization expenses, it has also led to increased awareness about health insurance in general. Technology plays a crucial role in solving the issues of awareness and accessibilty. With the help of artificial intelligence, complex policy terms are made easier to understand. Most major insurance companies now offer user-friendly mobile apps, which let you manage your policies anytime, anywhere – right from your phone. In just a few clicks, one can buy a new policy, renew an existing one, or even make changes to the coverage. Furthermore, with the integration of AI and machine learning algorithms, insurers can now assess claims much faster and more accurately. Making healthcare even easier in India, the health insurance industry has teamed up for a game-changer called ‘Cashless Everywhere’. This means one can get cashless treatment at any hospital in their network, regardless of the insurance company. Financial strain can worsen a patient’s condition and delay crucial interventions. However, cashless health insurance eliminates this hurdle. By guaranteeing payment to hospitals within the network, it ensures patients receive immediate and necessary treatment, regardless of their ability to pay at the moment. Furthermore, cashless insurance removes financial barriers, allowing doctors to prioritize treatment without waiting for approvals or verifications. This expedites care and improves the chances of a successful outcome. The speed at which cashless insurance facilitates treatment is another crucial benefit. During a medical emergency, every minute counts. The streamlined process eliminates the need for arranging finances or securing deposits, enabling doctors to begin treatment promptly. This can be particularly life-saving in situations requiring immediate intervention. Furthermore, cashless health insurance empowers patients to choose the best course of action without financial constraints clouding their judgment. With the immediate financial burden lifted, patients can prioritize their health and focus on receiving the most effective treatment available within the network. This empowers them to make informed decisions based on their medical needs rather than financial limitations. Source: Healthworld

Jul 14,2023 New Delhi: India’s lawmakers will consider a new drugs bill next week on rules for importing, manufacturing and selling medicines, according to a parliamentary notice on Thursday, as the country seeks to draw lessons from a deadly cough syrup scandal. India’s “pharmacy of the world” image has suffered some damage after cough syrups made there were linked to the death of at least 89 children in Gambia and Uzbekistan last year. The bill is aimed at ensuring “quality, safety, efficacy, performance and clinical trial of new drugs … with the objective of highest possible regulatory standards and a transparent regulatory regime,” the notice said. It was not immediately clear what the changes were in the new Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2023, which will replace an earlier drugs law if passed by the parliament when it reconvenes after a break on July 20. India’s $41 billion pharmaceutical industry is one the largest in the world and has for years helped provide cheaper alternatives to Western products, especially to poor and developing nations. But the recent cough syrup-related deaths and at least one other instance of an India-made eye drop being linked to three deaths in the United States, has cast a shadow on the industry’s image. India has made tests mandatory for cough syrup exports since last month. Companies that manufactured the syrups linked to deaths in Gambia and Uzbekistan have denied any wrongdoing. Source: Pharma

Apr 16,2024 Mumbai: A national study of 600 patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) showed that the majority (51 per cent) had advanced disease in which four or more drugs were ineffective, according to a newly published research paper. The study, which was conducted by an IIT Bombay startup, Haystacks Analytics, along with the BMC and Pune-based D Y Patil Medical College, used the latest in TB diagnostics called whole genome sequencing . While most samples were sent from Mumbai, samples were also collected from the rest of Maharashtra and a few other states. Around 51 per cent had pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR) while 15.5 per cent had the relatively milder multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in which two of the known anti-TB drugs are ineffective. While MDR-TB and pre-XDR-TB require 18 to 24 months of treatment, the drug-sensitive form of TB requires nine months of treatment. The study, published in Microbiology Spectrum, an indexed journal of the American Society of Microbiology , has two main findings. Firstly, it proves that there is active transmission of pre-XDR TB in Mumbai among people in the productive age group; people directly get the deadlier version of the disease from an affected person. Secondly, although the government hasn’t yet included whole genome sequencing (WGS) in the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), it appears that the medical fraternity has worked out its guidelines on when to use WGS. “We asked doctors who sent us the samples of 600 patients for the reason for seeking WGS, and found that their patient was not responding to initial treatment or they had a high degree of suspicion about MDR-TB,” said Anirvan Chatterjee of Haystacks Analytics who is the study’s main author. WGS has been recommended by World Health Organisation to quicken treatment of deadlier forms of TB: WGS can give a report of an 18-drug susceptibility test within 10 to 14 days when traditional culture test takes up to nine weeks. Chatterjee said, “Even if one out of four or five drugs given to patient doesn’t work for the patients, it will increase resistance to other drugs during the course of the treatment.” Hence, it is better if doctors find out the right drug combinations at the earliest. Dr Mangala Gomare, former executive health officer of the BMC who is one of the authors, said, “As the study found majority of the referred patients had pre-XDR, WGS should become the norm, or at least we should have proper guidelines for its use.” She added WGS would help customise treatment for patients with drug-resistant forms of the disease. As per BMC’s statistics for TB in 2023, the incidence of TB has dropped by 10 per cent between 2022 and 2023. Source: Healthworld

Apr 15,2024 Bhopal: AIIMS Bhopal recently organised a Continuing Medical Education (CME) cum Workshop focusing on biomarker interpretation in Breast Cancer. Funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), ‘DIAMOnDS’ offers free-of-cost testing of biomarkers for breast and lung cancers. AIIMS Bhopal HoD pathology, Dr Vaishali Walke, stressed the crucial role of biomarkers in breast cancer management. Dr Deepti Joshi introduced the audience to the DIAMonDs project at AIIMS Bhopal, providing free biomarker testing for breast and lung cancers. The project aims to empower individuals with knowledge on cancer signs, symptoms and the importance of regular screenings. Cancer remains a global health challenge, and initiatives like these play a vital role in enhancing treatment options and prognosis. Source: Healthworld

New Delhi: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals is recalling 6,528 bottles of a medication used to treat high blood pressure in the American market due to failed dissolution specifications, the US health regulator said. The US-based arm of the Mumbai-headquartered drug firm is recalling the affected lot of Diltiazem Hydrochloride extended-release capsules, the US Food and Drug Administration said in its latest Enforcement Report. The affected lot has been produced in India and is being recalled by New Jersey-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc for “failed dissolution specifications”, the USFDA said. “Out of Specification (OOS) was reported in a test of dissolution at the 12th month time point in long-term stability study,” it noted. Glenmark initiated Class II recall of the drug across the US on March 26 this year. As per the USFDA, a Class II recall is initiated in a situation in which the use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote. India is the largest supplier of generic medicines with around 20 per cent share in the global supply by manufacturing 60,000 different generic brands across 60 therapeutic categories. The products manufactured in the country are shipped to over 200 countries around the globe, with Japan, Australia, West Europe and the US as the main destinations. India has the highest number of USFDA-compliant companies with plants outside of the US. Source: Pharma

Apr 14,2024 New Jersey: Researchers at Rutgers Health discovered that hypertensive problems during pregnancy are substantially related to deadly cardiovascular disease up to a year after birth. All hypertensive disorders that cause dangerously high blood pressure during pregnancy–chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia without severe features, preeclampsia with severe features, superimposed preeclampsia, and eclampsia–except gestational diabetes, were associated with a doubling in the risk of fatal cardiovascular disease compared to women with normal blood pressure. Eclampsia, a syndrome in which hypertension issues cause seizures, was linked to a roughly 58-fold increase in fatal cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. “Maternal and postpartum mortality rates in the U.S. are higher than in other high-income countries and rising, but more than half of cardiovascular disease-related deaths are preventable,” said lead author Rachel Lee, a data analyst at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “This study provides new information about how each hypertensive disorder is related to fatal cardiovascular disease, so healthcare providers can monitor patients with such complications more closely and develop strategies for keeping them healthy postpartum.” The researchers used the Nationwide Readmissions Database to examine pregnancy-related mortality rates for females 15 to 54 years old from 2010 to 2018. Data from more than 33 million delivery hospitalizations identified hypertensive disorders in 11 percent of patients, but that number increased with time. In 2010, 9.4 per cent of patients in the study had hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. By 2018, that figure had risen by more than half to 14.4 per cent. “We’ve gotten better at predicting, diagnosing, and treating preeclampsia in this country, so the risk of death is falling for any individual patient with that condition,” said Cande Ananth, chief of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and senior author of the study. Source: Healthworld

Apr 09,2024 New Delhi: Nearly 3 out of 10 people in India, aged between 18 and 54 years, have never got their blood pressure measured. This has been revealed by the ICMR — National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (ICMR-NCDIR) in a study published recently in the International Journal of Public Health (IJPH). According to the ICMR-NCDIR study, the southern parts of the country have the highest average rates of 76 per cent of those who have measured blood pressure at least once in their lifetime with stand-out states/UTs being Lakshadweep (91 per cent), Kerala (89 per cent), TN (83 per cent) and Puducherry (83 per cent). In north India, 70 per cent people said they had got their blood pressure measures, at one time or the other. In contrast, the study found, comparatively lower numbers had their BP checked in certain regions and states, such as MP (62.4 per cent) and Chhattisgarh (62 per cent) in the central region, Rajasthan (58 per cent) in the north, Odisha (56 per cent) and Jharkhand (60 per cent) in the east, Gujarat (58 per cent) in the west, and Nagaland (58 per cent) in the North-East. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), high blood pressure means the pressure in your arteries is higher than it should be. Doctors said that high blood pressure is a precursor to many critical illnesses, for example heart attack, stroke and, in the long run, kidney failure. According to the study, pre-hypertension prevalence in the country varied widely across districts, with an overall rate of 34 per cent. Source: Healthworld