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Sep 25, 2024 New Delhi: On the back of several concentrated efforts and initiatives, the prevalence of new annual HIV infections has decreased by 44 per cent since 2010, outperforming the global reduction rate of 39 per cent, Anupriya Singh Patel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, stated during a high-level side event at the United Nations. In her address, the Union Minister said, “As per the recent India HIV Estimations 2023 report, over 2.5 million people are living with HIV in India. Thanks to concerted efforts, adult HIV prevalence stands at 0.2 per cent, and estimated annual new HIV infections are around 66,400. New annual HIV infections have decreased by 44 per cent since 2010, outperforming the global reduction rate of 39 per cent.” “India offers comprehensive HIV and Syphilis testing to all pregnant women, with more than 30 million free HIV tests conducted annually. In total, more than 1.7 million people are receiving free Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) through public healthcare systems,” she added. Patel also highlighted that India is the world’s largest supplier of anti- retroviral chugs, accounting for over 70 per cent of global production. The countlY ensures affordable access to nations in need. “We are proud to contribute to the global fight against HIV/AIDS by making quality treatment accessible worldwide,” said the Minister. To combat other complexities faced by HIV patients, Patel shared, “India’s approach to integrating national health programs, including eff01ts to tackle tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, and non-communicable diseases, is helping address co-morbidities faced by people living with HIV.” The high-level side event at the United Nations was themed “Revitalized Multilateralism: Recommitting to Ending AIDS Together” and was organised by UNAIDS, the Global Fund, and PEPFAR. Source: Economic times

Sep 15, 2024 Kochi: A joint inspection by excise special squad and drugs control depaltment at a medical shop at Kadavanthra has exposed the alleged sale of prescription drugs without proper documents, said officials. According to an official statement from the department, the inspection was held based on the information received by excise commissioner Mahipal Yadav. The checking was held at Spectrum Pharma as per the directive of joint excise commissioner (central region) N Ashok Kumar. It was found that tramadol tablets, classified under Schedule HI and being misused as a narcotic among students and youngsters, were allegedly being sold without documentation. According to excise, it was found that from July, 20,910 tramadol tablets were purchased, out of which 18,535 were sold, while 2,758 tablets were sold without any records. Spasmonil tablets, which are used as a narcotic, were also allegedly sold without clear prescriptions, excise said, adding that it was also found that the medical shop had OCB cigarette rolling papers in bulk stock. Officials added that the owner of the establishment has 13 medical shops in Ernakulam district and inspections will be conducted there in the coming days. Possessing tramadol tablets, which are used as painkillers, without a doctor’s prescription in quantities of five gram or more is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Strong follow-up actions will be taken against the sale of such substances under the guise of a medical shop licence, as it creates widespread negative impacts on society, excise said. Drugs control depaltment has announced that strict measures, including cancellation of licences, will be taken. Excise authorities also stated that steps have been initiated to identify individuals purchasing narcotic drugs from medical shops. The inspection team included excise circle inspector P Sreeraj, drug inspectors Tessy Thomas and Gladys P Kachappilly, excise inspector Pramod, preventive officer (grade) Pradeesh, and civil excise officers Karthik, Jiji Ashokan, and driver Bader. Source: Economic times

Sep 23, 2024 New Delhi: The Central government is set to launch a scheme to develop 12 indigenous drugs for eight rare diseases, health minister J.P. Nadda said on Monday. The programme aims to provide financial relief to many rare disease patients in the country. “As part of India’s drive towards becoming a global leader in affordablea healthcare, DHR is set to launch a programme developing 12 indigenous drugs for eight rare diseases. This initiative will aim to drastically reduce the cost of treatment for conditions like muscular dystrophy and Gaucher’s disease, making life saving therapies accessible and affordable for the masses,” said Nadda. A health ministry official later listed the diseases as: Familial Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Gaucher Disease, Pompe Disease, Fabry Disease, Niemann Pick Disease (NPD) and Alkaptonuria. Currently, the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD) lists 63 rare diseases. Financial support is provided of up to lakh per patient during the course of the treatment at centres of excellence (COEs) for rare diseases. Since the launch of the policy in 2021, approx. 1,118 patients have benefited under NPRD. Health conditions classified under the policy are osteopetrosis that causes bone diseases; Fanconi Anemia that causes bone marrow failures, tumours and other abnormalities; Laron Syndrome that causes growth hormone insensitivity; and immune deficiency disorders such as severe combined immunodeficiency and Wiskot Aldrich Syndrome. The rare diseases Familial DMD is a genetic disorder that leads to progressive muscle weakness and degeneration, Familial Hypercholesterolemia is a disorder that causes LDL (bad) cholesterol level to be very high. The condition begins at birth and can cause heart attacks at an early age. SMA is a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. Gaucher disease causes bone pain, anaemia, enlarged organs, a swollen, painful belly, and bruising and bleeding. Pompe Disease is a metabolic disorder that causes a buildup of glycogen in the body’s cells, damaging cells and impairing the function of organs and tissues, especially muscles. Fabry Disease is a rare X-Iinked lysosomal disorder that results in excessive deposition of lipids in the tissues. NPD is a group of inherited disorders that cause lipids to build up in the cells  of the brain, liver, and spleen. Alkaptonuria, or black urine disease, is a very rare inherited disorder that prevents the body fully breaking down two protein building blocks (amino acids) called tyrosine and phenylalanine. Other government initiatives Nadda, while highlighting the initiatives taken by his ministry in the first 100 days of the government, said a Centre for Evidence-Based Guidelines is ready for inauguration to help standardize medical practices nationwide, ensuring better standards of care. The department also launched the National One Health Mission (NOHM) for Pandemic Preparedness to manage zoonotic diseases and pandemics. The government also launched the Med-Tech Mitra online platform to help meditech innovators, startups and industry partners fulfill regulatory compliance. Inspired by India’s landmark Chandrayaan-3 mission, the department has also undertaken “First in the World” challenge to fund 50 high-risk, high- reward innovations in biomedical research. “These initiatives represent transformative steps in healthcare innovation, pandemic preparedness, and the development of indigenous medical solutions, contributing to a healthier, more resilient and Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he said. The establishment of the “Research to Action” vertical in DHR will ensure that cutting-edge health research is seamlessly integrated into policy and practice. The government said that Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) across the country have been strengthened through funding support. “Six of these VRDLs are being converted into Integrated Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (IRDLs) covering larger domain of infectious diseases. Construction of Zonal laboratories of National Institute of Virology (NIV) has also been initiated,” it said. Source: Live Mint

Sep 24, 2024 To protect public health and avoid the inevitable financial drain on the national economy due to escalating chronic disease, the United Kingdom’s (UK) All-Paity Parliamenta1Y Group (APPG) on Indian Traditional Sciences intends to integrate Ayurvedic principles into mainstream healthcare for a comprehensive approach to well-being. “Ayurveda is our collective heritage. Every nation can benefit from the integration of the traditional science of Ayurveda to supplement the constantly evolving technologies of crisis management within modern science,” said Amarjeet Singh Bhamra of Ayurveda Centre of Excellence (ACE), APPG. He added that the history of ‘Safe Use’ of Aytuvecla to restore innate immunity within individual life provides the essential prevention- oriented approach to public health and well-being required within the family of nations. He informed that APPG will hold ‘The Ayurveda Summit 2024: Integrating Evidence-Based Preventive Medicine into Healthcare Delivery” on October 24 and 25 in London. “APPG has been conducting events and engaging with policymakers since its inception in 2014, to integrate Ayulveda and Yoga into the health architecture of the UK and Europe,” he said. ACE and APPG Indian Traditional Sciences were established to contribute capacity building, competent to maintain the health of the nation, and to interact thereby with academics and practising medical professionals in the UK and abroad. He said they intend to educate and promote preventive health measures through a variety of initiatives, including workshops, educational programmes, publications, research, awareness campaigns, and consultations. Practitioners and global statistics report the growing demand for non- invasive medical treatments and increasing responsibility for ‘self-care’ to create wellness and avoid ill-health. “The unprecedented rate of growth for natural and traditional healthcare products and treatments is reflected by a multi-trillion-dollar ‘Wellness Indust1Y’ worldwide, which is expanding year on year. Source: Economic Times

Sep 19, 2024 London: Britain has seen the biggest rise in health-related welfare benefits among a group of similar economies, according to a report published on Thursday – underscoring the challenge which the new government faces to get people back into work. The Institute for Fiscal Studies, an independent think tank, said the number of working-age people receiving health-related benefits in England and Wales jumped by 38% in four years to 3.9 million people or 10% of the working-age population. By contrast, the figure fell or remained flat in Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United States, the IFS said. Denmark, the only other countlY to see a significant rise, recorded a 13% increase. Eduin Latimer, an IFS economist and an author of the report, said the COVID pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis might have hit Britain harder than other countries due to strains on the health service and low unemployment benefits, but the exact causes of the countlY’s problems remained unclear. “Figuring out what is behind the recent rise must surely be a top priority for the government if it is going to be able to respond appropriately,” he said. Under Britain’s benefits system, a single person who is unemployed would typically receive 393.45 pounds ($520.10) a month plus housing costs, and may have to prove they are spending as much as 35 hours a week looking for work. But if they are classed as long-term sick instead, they can receive an extra 416 pounds a month and an exemption from work requirements. Last year, the government of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced incentives and sanctions to try to curb high levels of inactivity among working-age people. New Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he also wants to get more people into work but plans to do it mainly by improving the health service. The IFS said the increase in health-related welfare spending was concentrated in areas that had high numbers of claimants before the pandemic. Despite the jump, the UK’s spending on working-age health-related benefits was similar to that of other comparable countries at around 1.7% of national economic output but that could rise if recent trends continue, it said. ($1 = 0.7565 pounds) (Writing by William Schomberg; editing by David Milliken) Source: Economic Times

Sep 17, 2024 Recognizing the urgent need for a broad-based effort globally to reduce errors in medical diagnosis, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on all stakeholders to “Get it right, make it safe!” as part of the World Patient Safety Day campaign on 17 September. The theme ‘improving diagnosis for patient safety’ was selected in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders – from patients to policy-makers – to highlight how everyone has a vital role to play in reducing the risks and impact of errors in diagnosis. “The right diagnosis, at the right time, is the basis of safe and effective health care. By contrast, diagnostic errors can lead to serious harm, and even death,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Reducing this risk takes collaboration between health workers and managers, policymakers and regulators, civil society and the private sector, and importantly, patients and their families.” Each year, diagnostic errors account for an estimated 16% of preventable harm in health care, with tremendous human and economic consequences. Data suggest that most adults will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, which can result in prolonged ill health, increased health care costs, or even preventable death. Diagnostic error is when a diagnosis is delayed, incorrect, missed, or miscommunicated and can occur at any stage of a patient’s journey. Targeted interventions by policy-makers, health care leaders, health workers, medical product regulators and manufacturers, with the active engagement of patients, their families and civil society can help reduce the risk of error. Policy-makers should ensure appropriate national guidelines, protocols and regulations exist and are implemented, and necessary budget and resources are allocated. Health facility and programme managers should create safe and conducive working environments, promote continuous improvement, and ensure adequate systems, standards and processes are in place. Health facility and programme managers should also ensure that diagnostic tools and technologies are well-maintained, sharing user feedback with the manufacturer quickly to improve systems. At the individual level, patients and their families should proactively participate in the diagnostic process by sharing their symptoms and full medical history, asking questions, raising concerns and following up on test results. Health workers should actively engage their patients while integrating excellence into every stage of the diagnostic process. WHO is developing a model to support the implementation of diagnostic safety interventions. On 10- 1 2 September the WHO-convened World Patient Safety 2024 Global Consultation brought together patients, patient advocates, health workers, health care facility managers, policy-makers, diagnostic safety experts, and academic and research institutions to provide input on the implementation model. Participants also discussed the progress and challenges in implementing the Global Patient Safety Action Plan (GPSAP) 2021-2030. The GPSAP serves as an action framework for stakeholders to work towards the goal of safe and high- quality health care for all patients. The recently published Global Patient Safety Report 2024 highlighted progress made by many countries towards the GPSAP goals, but also underscored the huge scope for further improvement. The implementation model for improving diagnostic safety will be released in 2025 as one of the range of WHO tools and practical resources to help stakeholders drive progress towards the goals set in the GPSAP. Source: WHO

Sep 19, 2024 • The rate of neurodegenerative conditions is growing globally, meaning that a lot of research is into prevention of these problems. • There has been some research suggesting that a type of type 2 diabetes drugs called SGLT2 inhibitors could reduce the incidence of some neurodegenerative conditions including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. • Now, a large cohort study has shown use of these drugs is associated with a lower risk of developing these neurodegenerative conditions. Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease risk are lowered in people who take a type of type 2 diabetes drug, a study from South Korea has shown. Researchers from Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul showed that Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia risk, in general, were reduced by about 20% in people with type 2 diabetes who took these drugs. Published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, the study analyzed the impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on the risk of developing these diseases, when compared to other diabetes drugs. How do these diabetes drugs lower the risk of cognitive decline? Minyoung Lee MD PhD, of Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, and co-author of the paper explained to Medical News Today the premise of her and her colleagues’ study. “Common pathophysiological links between type 2 diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases have been proposed, and individuals with type 2 diabetes are considered at high risk for neurodegenerative conditions,” she told “Consequently, there has been research into whether diabetes medications might offer benefits for neurodegenerative diseases, but no drug has yet shown definitive evidence.” “When I began my research, SGLT2 inhibitors had been introduced as a new treatment for diabetes. These drugs not only lower blood sugar but also increase urinary glucose excretion, which leads to reduced insulin levels and elevated ketone bodies in the body. Since ketones are known to be beneficial metabolites for the nervous system, I hypothesized that the unique pharmacological action of SGLT2 inhibitors might make them particularly beneficial in reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases,” explained Lee. Steve Allder, MD, who is a consultant neurologist at Re:Cognition Health, and was not involved in this research, suggested to MNTthat “The mechanism behind the neuroprotective effects of SGLT2 inhibitors is likely multifaceted, involving cardiovascular, metabolic and cellular effects.” SGLT2 inhibitors linked to 21% lower dementia risk To investigate whether or not use of SGLT2 inhibitors impacted risk of neurodegenerative conditions, researchers analyzed data on a cohort of 358,862 participants with type 2 diabetes. Participants who had started taking SGLT2 inhibitors between 2014—2019 were matched with participants who were on other oral antidiabetes medications. All participants were over 40 years old. The analysis showed that over a follow-up period of an average of 2.06 years for people on SGLT2 inhibitors, and 3.70 years for people on different antidiabetes drugs, there was a reduction in the risk of developing all-cause dementia in the group who took SGLT2 inhibitors of 21%. In addition to this, a decrease of 20% incidence of Parkinson’s disease, as well as a 19% decrease in incidence of Alzheimer’s disease was observed in the group. Risk of vascular dementia was 31% lower. What was surprising about the study findings? Daniel Truong, MD, a neurologist, medical director of the Truong Neuroscience Institute at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, who was not involved in the research, told MNTthat: The study authors say that the results show there are potential benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes taking SGLT2 inhibitors, which is important as they are at increased risk of neurological disease. However, they point out the study is observational and requires further study to determine how long-term this reduced risk is. Lee told us: “l consider that the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on neurodegenerative disease could be closer to the concept of attenuating the degenerative process and delaying the onset of dementia, rather than the concept of preventing dementia so that it never occurs.” “At the population level, reducing the population at risk of dementia and changing social condition could be translated into ‘prevention.’ However, the meaning of prevention from the perspective of a single individual may differ from the population view, as it may imply an expectation of no incidence in their lifetime,” she cautioned. Further work was needed to elucidate the mechanism behind the observed reduction in risk, said Lee. “l am engaged in research using a mouse model of dementia associated with metabolic disorders to explore how SGLT2 inhibitors positively affect neurodegenerative diseases,” she noted. “Previous studies have assessed the drug’s potential using a nationwide database from a broader perspective; however, my current work is dedicated to mechanistic studies that aim to elucidate these effects,” Lee told MNT. Source: Medical News Today

Sep 24, 2024 • Migraine attacks can be painful to experience, and many medications are available to help with treatment. • One systematic review and network meta-analysis found that certain triptans may be more effective treatment options than more recently available migraine medications. • Findings from this review may be helpful in guiding migraine treatment recommendations. Finding the right medication to help with migraine attacks can make all the difference in symptom relief. Experts are interested in finding the best medication choices and comparing them. A systematic review and network meta-analysis published in The BMJO compared the options for oral monotherapy treatment of migraine attacks, looking at data from 137 randomized controlled trials and almost 90,000 individuals. Overall, eletriptan was the most effective at eliminating pain after 2 hours, and one of the most helpful in achieving sustained freedom from pain. The evidence also suggested that certain triptan medications were more effective than more recent migraine drugs like lasmiditan and ubrogepant. Most triptans better for pain relief than newer migraine drugs Migraine attacks involve, among other symptoms, painful headaches that can last for days. Medications can be a common option for symptom relief. One type of medication used to treat acute migraine is uptans , which ultimately helps constrict blood vessels and block pain signals to improve migraine symptoms. In this review, researchers wanted to compare oral monotherapy options for migraines. They looked for studies from several sources, including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. They included double-blind, randomized controlled trials that compared by-mouth medications to a placebo or other treatment. The trials included individuals who were at least 18 years old and had a diagnosis of migraine. Researchers focused on freedom from pain 2 hours after taking medication and 2—24 hours after taking medication. They included 137 randomized controlled trials and looked at the effects of 17 medications. Among participants, 62,682 received drug-based treatments, while 26,763 received a placebo. All medications were superior to the placebo. When comparing the drug interventions, researchers found that at the 2-hour mark, eletriptan was more effective than almost “all of the other active interventions” in achieving freedom from pain and in terms of participants using rescue drugs. At the 2-hour mark, the next most effective medications were rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan. When looking at sustained freedom from pain, researchers found that eletriptan and ibuprofen were the most effective. Researchers concluded that eletriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan were more effective than lasmiditan, rimegepant, and ubrogepant, which are more recently developed migraine treatment medications. Study author Andrea Cipriani, MD, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, noted the following highlights of the research to Medical News Today. Source: Medical News Today

Sep 13, 2024 Lucknow: Seven out of ten patients requiring critical care or ventilator support were found to be antibiotic- resistant. The information was provided by experts on the eve of World Sepsis Day at King George’s Medical University (KGMU). The event took place at the department of pulmonary and critical care medicine. ProfVed Prakash, who addressed the gathering, talked about the serious consequences of antibiotic misuse. He stated, “Patients coming to KGMU are often antibiotic-resistant due to prior treatments in private medical setups. It is crucial for people to be more cautious and decisive in their use of antibiotics.” He further stressed that prompt and accurate identification of sepsis is vital for successful treatment and saving lives. Prof Rajendra Prasad, former head of the respirat01Y department at KGMU, highlighted adverse drug reactions (ADR) and said, “Patients often lack knowledge about the contraindications, dosages, interactions, warnings, and precautions regarding over the counter (OTC) drugs, with a significant portion being antibiotics. This misuse leads to antibiotic resistance and harms patients.” He added, “I observe serious implications of antibiotic resistance, including skin problems, hypersensitivity, and allergies due to the overdose and indiscriminate use of commonly used pain relievers, antibiotics, and sedatives.” Experts also noted that the consumption of antibiotics, which are used to treat infections, and nimesulide for pain, often creates complications and proves hazardous. Prof Avinash Agarwal pointed out that commonly misused antibiotics include Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin, Augmentin, Ornidazole, Norfloxacin, Levofloxacin, Metronidazole, Ofloxacin, Amoxicillin, and Doxycycline. These should not be used without a prescription. Prof Apul Goel, head of the department of urology at KGMU, highlighted the economic impact of sepsis in India, noting that it incurs an annual cost of about Rs 1 lakh crore due to direct medical expenses, including hospitalisation and long-term care, as well as indirect costs. Source: Economic Times

Sep 10, 2024 Mumbai: In a wonying trend reflecting the increasing anxiety surrounding cancer in India, GOQii, a preventive healthcare company, has found that over 60 per cent of the Indian population fears developing cancer, transcending demographic, age, gender, and socio-economic barriers. The report, titled “Living in Fear: The Hidden Epidemic of Cancer Anxiety Among the Public,” surveyed 1,250 individuals and drew data from the company’s user base of over 5 million. It revealed that 60 per cent of respondents reported “moderate to extreme worry” about developing cancer, while 24 per cent expressed fear of death from the disease. The study also shed light on the reasons behind this pervasive fear. It noted that 56 per cent of respondents cited environmental factors like pollution and radiation as major contributors to cancer risks, while 27.6 per cent attributed their anxiety to unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking and poor diets. Alarmingly, the report highlighted that 70 per cent of respondents had not undergone any form of cancer screening in the past five years, pointing to a significant gap in proactive health management. “Cancer fear and anxiety are real, affecting millions of people across India in ways that extend beyond physical health. Many are living in constant fear,” said Vishal Gondal, Founder & CEO of GOQii. “This report is a wake-up call. We need to shift our focus to prevention, early detection, and providing people with the tools and resources to manage both their health and their anxiety.” Dr Anurag Agrawal, Head of the Koita Center for Digital Health, Dean of Biosciences and Health Research at the Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University, said,”As longevity increases, particularly when accompanied by unhealthy living, the risk of cancer unfortunately rises. It is imperative that we focus on promoting preventive measures and fostering healthy habits to address this growing concern.” The report calls for a “drastic overhaul” of India’s healthcare infrastructure to prioritize early detection and ensure equitable access to cancer treatment. It emphasizes the need for urgent public health intewentions to bridge this gap, especially in underselvecl regions of India, particularly in rural areas where healthcare resources are severely limited. Source: Economic Times