November 2024

Nov 20, 2024 New Delhi: BJP National President and Union Minister JP Nadda said that the government is working relentlessly to ensure people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) get due medical care. He was speaking at the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce and Bowling Competition at Thyagaraj Sports Complex on Wednesday. This event celebrates the spirit of athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). JP Nadda said, “Government of India is working relentlessly in this regard. People with IDD face difficulty in healthcare. They often do not get appropriate healthcare and support, resulting to a poor health outcome. In order to ensure that the people of IDD get due medical care, we need to upgrade the skills of the healthcare professionals so that they are not only competent in feeding physical symptoms, but also skilled in addressing specific needs of individuals with IDD. The professionals need to be trained.” He said that in order to ensure that the people of IDD get due medical care, skills of the healthcare professionals needs to be upgraded so that they are not only competent in feeding physical symptoms, but also skilled in addressing specific needs of individuals with IDD. “Medical professionals need to be trained in areas such as understanding their unique health concerns, communicating effectively through simplified language use of assistive devices or nonverbal cues, empathy and commitment to understand special needs of the patients, we must recognize the invaluable role of the family members, caregivers and the support organizations who tirelessly work to ensure that the voice of the people with IDD is heard,” he said. “Your dedication drives change and your partnership is essential to build a more inclusive and accessible and equitable healthcare system. I appreciate the remarkable work being done by Special Olympics and Golisano Foundation,” he added. A moment of pride and inspiration unfolded at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex on Tuesday as India hosted the first-ever Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce & Bowling Competition. This historic event celebrates the abilities, resilience, and spirit of athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The competition, running until November 22, brings together 81 exceptional athletes from 12 nations, showcasing their talents in Bocce and Bowling. Notably, this marks Bowling’s competitive debut in India. Speaking on the occasion, Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament, expressed his admiration for the participants: “Today, we celebrate not only the inauguration of this competition but also the dedication and perseverance of these young athletes. As Swami Vivekananda said, ‘Believe in yourself, and the world will be at your feet.’ These remarkable individuals inspire us with their courage and remind us that true strength lies in overcoming challenges with grace.” Source: Economic Times

Nov 19, 2024 Ludhiana, Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Monday said 20 lakh students from schools and colleges will be trained in detecting dengue larvae and providing first aid. The minister made the announcement during a review meeting on vector- borne diseases at the Ludhiana Civil Hospital. Dr Balbir Singh highlighted the impact of nursing students in the government’s anti-dengue initiative, which, he said, led to a 70 per cent decrease in dengue cases this year. Starting next year, the health department will educate 20 lakh students, including those in senior secondary classes and colleges, on identifying dengue larvae and contributing to community prevention efforts. Students will also learn to provide first aid assistance to those in need, he said. Discussions are on with medical colleges and other nursing institutions to collaborate on training approximately 50,000 medical or nursing students, focusing on the early detection of lifestyle disorders such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and strokes – all of which are classified as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) -, he said. The minister claimed that by January next year, the Ludhiana Civil Hospital would be transformed into a state-of-the-art medical facility, offering services comparable to private hospitals. Source: Economic Times

Nov 21, 2024 Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said that the Centre has sanctioned Rs 104.66 crore for providing health care facilities in the hill districts of the state. Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Health Minister JP Nadda and DoNER Minister J M Scindia for their support in developing Manipur. Taking to X, Singh said, “For the first time, hill districts like Chandel, Ukhrul, Jiribam, Senapati, and Tamenglong will have access to advanced medical facilities like CT Scans, MRI, ICU services, and super-specialty care-bringing healthcare closer to home. Not to mention, the Churachandpur Medical College is already operational, transforming healthcare in the region.” This recent sanction of Rs 104.66 crore under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) is a step towards equitable healthcare for all, Singh posted on the microblogging site. The chief minister also posted a copy of the letter sent from the Ministry of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) to the state chief secretary regarding the sanction. Source: Economic Times

Nov 19, 2024 New Delhi: With the city enveloped in a haze, the demand for pollution aids is rising. According to chemists at Yusuf Sarai, Khan Market, Connaught Place and Khanna Market in various parts of the capital, the demand for N95 masks has gone up in the past few days. The sellers expect sales to increase in the coming days. A shop in Connaught Place has placed fresh orders for N95 masks. “Although we have surgical masks in stock, buyers are seeking N95 masks,” said a trader there. However, many people are using surgical masks, made ubiquitous by the Covid pandemic, because it is very affordable though they aren’t effective in shielding people against respirable pollutants. Opposite AIIMS at Safdarjung Medicos, shopkeeper Javed said. “People are opting for cheaper surgical masks. We don’t recommend its use, but it is cheaper,” the shopkeeper said. “More awareness about masks is required.” Here, as on Aurobindo Marg, which is lined with chemist stores, the shop workers were all seen wearing pollution masks. But demand for the N95 mask is slowly gathering strength. “Our supply is short,” admitted a salesman at Chawla Chemist in Yusuf Sarai, where medical shops abound due to the area’s proximity to AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital. “People are asking for N95 masks, but our stocks have been hit by the supplier having some problems. Some people are also bringing doctor-recommended prescriptions to fight pollution.” At Khan Market, catering to an upscale clientele, Ishwinder, owner of Preet Medicos, said “We have registered rising sales in masks for the last two to three days in tune with the pollution level soaring. We sell 25-30 masks every day and have ordered more N95 masks because we expect customers will want to buy them.” In the market, not everyone had their mouth and noses protected. “People are asking for allergy, cough and throat irritation medicines, but only the aware seem to also want to buy N95 masks,” said Chandan at another chemist shop. At Khanna Market, medicine sellers reported a pickup in sales of pollution masks. Mukesh Rawat, owner of MSP Pharmacy, said, “There is definitely a demand for masks. We are selling around 30 pieces a day at Rs 50. We also expect the demand to go up.” Source: Economic Times

Oct 23, 2024 Thousands of volunteers have helped to provide a snapshot of the health of the nation’s rivers and waterways, highlighting high levels of nitrates and phosphates, as well as a cocktail of chemical compounds that pose a risk to ecosystems. The WaterBlitz project, led by charity Earthwatch, is an annual water quality survey that recruits members of the public and community groups twice a year to take thousands of water samples from freshwater bodies in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. “Community science projects are increasingly important in monitoring chemical pollution in our environment. It’s thanks the help of hundreds of people across the UK who put their local knowledge to good use to collect samples and to enable such detailed snapshots of the health of our nation’s rivers. “Our analysis has already identified several chemicals at levels which exceed accepted safe limits for aquatic life. We found pharmaceuticals, pesticides and even common substances like caffeine and nicotine at detectable levels in water up and down the country. “What this work highlights is that despite treatment facilities being in place, these chemicals continuously find their way into our waterways. Rivers are the still the lifeline of the I-JK, and that none pass good overall health status represents a national failure. More needs to be done to urgently clean up our water.” Source: Imperial

Nov 12, 2024 Gorakhpur: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said all expenses of individuals seeking financial aid for treatment for serious illnesses will be covered so they can get care at top hospitals. He attended a ‘Janata Darshan’ programme in Gorakhpur today. Before departing for the Jharkhand Assembly election campaign in Mirzapur, he met around 150 people at the programme organised at the Gorakhpur Temple, an official statement said. Adityanath instructed officials to expedite the process of issuing Ayushman cards to those who don’t have it and require financial assistance, it said. “Adequate funds will be provided from the Chief Minister’s Discretionary Fund to assist every eligible individual,” he said. Adityanath emphasised that no one should feel anxious, as all problems would be addressed with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity, the statement added. He further directed officials to take swift action to resolve public grievances and warned against any negligence on their part. During the programme, a woman shared her financial difficulties in securing treatment for a family member at a private hospital. In response, CM Adityanath advised her to obtain an estimate from the hospital after admission and assured her that the government would cover the treatment costs. Source: Economic Times

Nov 12, 2024 New Delhi: Lieutenant  Governor of Delhi VK  Saxena on Monday had  approved the recruitment of  1463 healthcare  professionals, including 701  nurses and 762 paramedical  staff, on an outsourced basis  in order to address the shortage of personnel and improve Delhi’s public healthcare  infrastructure. According to the press note, the recruitment was done through public sector undertakings such as ICSIL, NICSI, BECIL, HLL, etc. by individual hospitals against direct recruitment quotas and relaxation in Recruitment Rules (RRs) in respect of the specified mode of recruitment. The decision comes in light of the recommendations of the Dr SK Sarin Committee, constituted after the High Court of Delhi’s observations on healthcare on Februamy 13 this year. The High Court pointed towards the inadequacy of the health infrastructure and availability of hospital beds and had directed the Delhi Government to file a status report as to how it plans to ensure that the medical infrastructure keeps pace with the city’s population. Further, the Court had also raised the issue of a shortage of manpower. The Court states that “the provision of quality medical services is crucial for the health and well-being of any city and to ensure a robust public health system is an obligation of the state under Article 47 read with Article 21 of the Constitution of India. This Court is of the view that huge investments along with structural reforms in the functioning of government hospitals, without entering into a blame game, are the need of the hour to overcome years of neglect and apathy, which can only be done if there is a consensus on measures to be adopted both in the short and long term.” Accordingly, the High Court had setup a committee of experts and the Dr Sarin Committee, tasked with optimising healthcare resources in Delhi’s hospitals, identified a critical shortage of nursing and paramedical staff as a major obstacle to providing quality healthcare services. To address this issue, the Committee recommended engaging outsourced agencies for the immediate deployment of these essential personnel. (ANI) Source: Economic Times

Nov 12, 2024 New Delhi: Last week, the Supreme Court instructed the Centre to respond to a plea seeking traditional medicine to be included in PM Jan Arogya Yojana. Bringing it into the public health insurance scheme shouldn’t face insurmountable obstacles. Gol is, actually, in the process of incorporating holistic methods of healing in free health insurance for poor households. The financial obligation of the move is not expected to be high, given the nature of non-invasive indigenous therapies. These could, in fact, have positive externalities by arresting non-communicable lifestyle diseases that respond favourably to preventive care. Gol is in consultation with stakeholders over acceptable costs of such therapy and the medicines they prescribe. Separately, it is collaborating with WHO on optimising the contribution of traditional medicine to global health. Inclusion of AYUSH in an insurance scheme that covers 120 mn households will also have a favourable impact on traditional medicine. Efficiency benchmarks will need to be set for the separate lines of treatment. This requires a more robust understanding of the empiricism on which these therapies are based. Capacity for medicine production will be a function of the cost structure acceptable to PM-JAY. This capacity can come up in the private sector on demand for traditional medicines propped up by state-funded insurance. Overall, this segment of therapy will gain from formalisation of training and production processes. India can rely on a strong base of traditional therapies to keep its population in reasonable health. This improves prospects for widening coverage of public-funded health insurance. By making traditional medicine a prong in its affordable healthcare initiative, India will be better placed to tackle accelerated ageing after hitting peak population. Insurance can drive capacity building in public and private healthcare, and all options must be explored to keep coverage costs low. Increasing health insurance coverage helps to bring down the bill for the country as a whole. Source: Economic Times

Nov 10, 2024 New Delhi: The medical devices industry welcomed the government’s new Rs 500 crore scheme for the segment, saying it would accelerate growth, reduce import reliance and enhance India’s position as a leading exporter of medical devices. The scheme that union health minister JP Nadda launched on Friday seeks to strengthen the medical devices industry. It marks a significant milestone for India’s medtech sector, fostering both growth and export potential, said Himanshu Baid, managing director of medical devices manufacturer and exporter Poly Medicure. “Key initiatives such as the identification of common facilities for medical device clusters will encourage collaboration, innovation and cost efficiency,” he said. “Capacity building and skill development programmes are crucial to bridge talent gaps, ensuring high standards of manufacturing and clinical expertise.” Rajiv Nath, the forum coordinator of industry association AiMeD, said the scheme will give impetus to manufacturing of medical devices. “The Indian medical devices manufacturers who had become traders and importers and shifted to pseudo manufacturing will now be again motivated to become actual manufacturers and produce complete products and their components in-house,” he said. The scheme has been launched after comprehensive research, said Pavan Choudary, chairman of the Medical Technology Association of India (M Tal). “The efforts helped in identifying key areas where the industry needs support,” he said, adding that the scheme has its focus on five critical aspects: manufacturing of essential components and accessories, skill development, support for clinical studies, development of shared infrastructure, and industry promotion. The medical devices industry stands to gain significantly from this inclusive scheme, which would benefit both startups and established companies and will leverage both local and global currents, Choudary said. “The industry promotion stimulus will pave the way for vitally important market research and marketing of the industry to the world.” Anish Bafna, chief executive and managing director of Healthium Medtech and secretary of healthcare indust1Y body Nathealth, said the scheme marked a major advancement toward boosting domestic manufacturing and reducing import reliance. “With Rs 180 crore dedicated to the Marginal Investment Scheme, there is a significant push to develop a robust local supply chain, thereby lowering costs and spurring innovation. Additionally, Rs 100 crore for clinical study support will help companies generate critical evidence for regulatory compliance, facilitating market expansion. For the medical device industry, these initiatives provide a strong foundation to drive innovation, enhance self-reliance, and position India as a global leader in medical technology,” Bafna said. The Medical Devices Clinical Studies Support Scheme is expected to boost the development of high-quality, globally competitive products, enhancing India’s presence in international markets. Source: Economic Times

Nov 10, 2024 Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday said that the state government is committed to creating a comprehensive medical hub in Tripura, aiming to make the state self-sufficient in healthcare services and giving top priority to improving healthcare services in the state, with initiatives underway to build high- quality hospitals and infrastructure. During the 18th annual state conference of the Association of Surgeons of India (Tripura Chapter), Saha emphasised the importance of healthcare, noting that it is a primary asset of the state. The Chief Minister highlighted that the state government, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance, is working on strengthening Tripura’s healthcare sector, including increasing medical staff such as specialists and super-specialists–a development once unimaginable in the state. Saha noted the recent advancements, stating that healthcare modernisation over the past six years has brought the state to par with others, with surgeons now able to perform various advanced procedures locally, reducing the need for patients to seek treatment outside the state. Saha shared that eight organisations have expressed interest in setting up high-standard hospitals in Agartala, with land allocation in prime city areas offered by the government. However, these hospitals must recruit their own doctors, as government doctors are not permitted to serve in these private institutions. Saha mentioned the government’s broader vision, which includes establishing a medical hub in Tripura that encompasses allopathic, homoeopathic, and ayurvedic healthcare. Additionally, medical education in the state will also be expanded, with three medical colleges offering nearly 400 MBBS seats. Tripura now also has a government dental college with 63 seats and a dialysis unit and female medicine ward were recently inaugurated. He added that faculty quality in the state’s medical colleges is high, with students achieving excellent results. Remarkably, kidney transplants are now possible in the state, with plans to introduce liver transplants in the future. The Seha Hospital in Manipur had proposed establishing a hospital and medical college in Tripura, with an investment of around Rs. 700 crore pending cabinet approval. Further expansions include trauma care centres in Shantirbazar, Udaipur, and Ambassa, as well as plans to open similar centres in North Tripura. Additionally, a cardiac care centre was inaugurated in Ambassa, and de-addiction centres are being set up in all districts, each with a budget allocation of Rs. 20 crore. The AGMC offers 85 seats for PG courses across 20 departments, and the number of beds in Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital has also increased from 727 to 1,413. The Chief Minister assured that more advancements in healthcare will be made, including Rs 515 crore allocated from the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, designated for various health departments and projects in Tripura. Source: Economic Times