PSM News

Dec 15,2024 New Delhi: The country’s first diabetes biobank, a repository of population-based biological samples aimed at supporting scientific research, has been established in Chennai by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF). The biobank set up at the MDRF, Chennai aims to gather, process, store and distribute biospecimens to assist scientific studies with the permission of the ICMR. The biobank will facilitate advanced research on the causes of diabetes, the variations of the Indian type of diabetes and related disorders, said Dr V Mohan, chairman of the MDRF and Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre. The biobank has blood samples from two ICMR-funded studies — the ICMR- India Diabetes (ICMR- INDIAB) study conducted in all states and Union territories in phases from 2008 to 2020 and the “Registry of people with diabetes in India at a young age at the onset”, which was launched in 2006 and is still ongoing. A plethora of blood samples of different types of diabetes in the young, such as Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes, have been stored for future studies and research, Mohan said. The process of setting up the biobank started around two years ago. The details of the biobank and the purpose behind setting it up have been explained in detail in an article published in the “Indian Journal of Medical Research” last week. Biobanks are critical in biomedical research, collecting, processing, storing and distributing biospecimens to support scientific research, the article said. “This diabetes biobank could help in the identification of novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and the development of personalised treatment strategies,” it added. Additionally, it would support longitudinal studies to track the progression of diabetes and its complications over time, leading to better management and prevention strategies. “By fostering collaborative research efforts, a diabetes biobank in India could significantly advance our understanding of the disease and contribute to the global fight against the diabetes epidemic,” the article said. Involving private agencies in developing biobanks and research is essential for translating research into practice. Adopting new technologies for specimen storage, preservation, data management and sharing is crucial for creating a cost-effective, long-lasting disease-specific biobank in India. Of the various biobanks available globally, the most well-known is the UK Biobank, supported by the National Health Service (NHS), which is a vast biomedical database with genetic, lifestyle and health information from five lakh participants in the United Kingdom. The collected information comprises phenotypic, genomic and imaging data derived from direct assessments, verbal interviews, online questionnaires and electronic health records. This dataset continues to expand as new biomedical data are added through ongoing assessments and longitudinal follow up. The ICMR-INDIAB study is one of the large epidemiological studies on diabetes with a sample size of 1.2 lakh nationally-representative individuals, covering every state of India. This cross-sectional, community-based study was done in adults of either sex aged 20 years in phases from 2008 to 2020, and sampled 33,537 urban and 79,506 rural residents in 31 states and Union territories. The study reported that the prevalence of diabetes and metabolic NCDs in India is greater than the earlier estimates, with 10.1 crore individuals diagnosed with diabetes and 13.6 crore with prediabetes. Hypertension, generalised and abdominal obesity affected 31.5 crore, 25.4 crore and 35.1 crore people respectively. Additionally, 21.3 crore people had hypercholesterolemia and 18.5 crore had high LDL cholesterol. The study also indicated that the diabetes epidemic is stabilising in more socio-economically advanced states but rising in less-developed states. Source: Healthworld

Dec 11,2024 Mumbai: Metropolis Healthcare Limited, a pathology laboratory chain, has announced its approval to acquire Delhi NCR-based Core Diagnostics. Led by Ameera Shah, this acquisition aims to strengthen Metropolis’ advanced cancer testing capabilities, expand its presence in Northern and Eastern India, and boost its share in the specialized diagnostics market across the country. Metropolis will acquire a 100 per cent stake in Core Diagnostics through a combination of cash and stock, financing 55 per cent of the transaction in cash and 45 per cent through an equity swap, totalling INR 246.8 crores. Core Diagnostics registered revenue of INR 110 crores in FY 2023-24. The equity issuance is subject to shareholder approval, and the acquisition is expected to be completed within 60 days. Commenting on the acquisition, Ameera Shah, Promoter and Executive Chairperson, Metropolis Healthcare Limited, said: “We recognize the significant potential of the rapidly growing Indian Oncology (cancer) market, which is expected to expand at a CAGR of 17.5per cent from 2023 to 2028.This growth, driven by rising cancer incidences, technological advancements, improved healthcare access, and increased awareness, presents a substantial opportunity for Metropolis to truly support the Indian patients with access to world-class diagnostics. With approximately 1.4 million new cancer cases and nearly a million deaths annually in India, there is a critical need for advanced cancer testing nationwide.” Surendran Chemmenkotil, Chief Executive Officer, Metropolis Healthcare Limited, said: “With the majority of Core’s revenue coming from Northern and Eastern India, this acquisition provides an opportunity to connect with leading hospitals in these regions. It enables us to cross-sell Metropolis’ comprehensive range of tests and services while offering Core’s advanced cancer testing to our existing customers. This strategic integration enhances our ability to meet the diverse needs of healthcare providers and patients and expand our presence.” Dinesh Chauhan, Chief Executive Officer, Core Diagnostics, said: “This new chapter with the Metropolis family is both exciting and deeply meaningful. Core Diagnostics began in 2012 as Zoya Brar’s visionary dream and as a team we’ve built a foundation of hope in advanced cancer testing.” Source: Healthworld

Dec 04,2024 Mumbai: Kotak Pre IPO Opportunities Fund is in advanced discussions to acquire an about 15% stake in Neuberg Diagnostics, a diagnostics chain owned by serial healthcare entrepreneur GSK Velu, said people aware of the development. In this pre-IPO round, the India-focused late-stage fund will likely invest about Rs450 crore in Neuberg. Velu, who founded Neuberg in 2017 after exiting his investment in diagnostic chain Metropolis Healthcare two years earlier, will use this fund for acquisitions and expand the chain before going for a potential initial public offering next year. He is also the promoter of medical equipment manufacturer Trivitron Healthcare and an investor in the Tamil Nadu-focused hospital chain Kauvery Hospital. Investment bank O3 Capital is advising Neuberg for the fundraising. Neuberg chairman Velu declined to comment, while an email sent to Kotak did not elicit any responses. The Rs 2,000 crore Kotak Pre IPO Opportunities Fund primarily focus on investments in late-stage companies. Investors in the fund include family offices such as Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy’s Catamaran and Skywalker of the Rubamin group. The fund has made investments in API Holdings (the parent company of PharmEasy), Pine Labs, Mobile Premier League, PB Fintech (Policy Bazaar) and FSN Ecommerce (Nykaa). Last year, Kotak Fund acquired a 6% stake in India’s largest cardiac stents maker Sahajanand Medical Technologies for Rs170 crore. Besides Neuberg, Trivitron Healthcare and the stake in Kauvery Hospital, Velu owns Maxivision Eye Hospitals that runs a chain of eye care super specialty hospitals. In 2015, he exited Mumbai-based Metropolis Healthcare by selling his 36.5% stake to private equity investor Carlyle. Neuberg Diagnostics has operations in India, the UAE, Sri Lanka and South Africa. It performs 5,000 varieties of pathological tests and conducts testing of more than 4 million patient samples and 16 million tests annually, according to the company website. Last year, Neuberg had completed the merger of Neuberg Supratech Reference Laboratory in Ahmedabad and Neuberg Anand Reference Laboratory in Bengaluru, before the ball rolling for its IPO plans. At the time, the company said the merger would pave the way for Neuberg to launch its IPO by 2024 or 2025. Another diagnostic chain, Kolkata-based Suraksha Diagnostic, has raised Rs 254 crore from anchor investors ahead of its Rs 846 crore IPO that closed for subscription Tuesday. In September, Redcliffe Labs raised $42 million from Denmark’s Investment Fund IFU, LeapFrog Investments, HealthQuad and Spark Growth Ventures to meet its expansion plans, focusing on deepening its presence in small cities and towns across India. The Indian diagnostic services market was valued at $16 billion in 2023 and is forecast to reach $43.57 billion by FY32, as per a report published by Polaris Market Research last year. India’s diagnostics industry is highly fragmented and the market share of organised players is only around 17%. But the market is growing owing to various factors — increase in healthcare spending by an ageing population, rising income levels and awareness about preventive testing, availability of advanced healthcare diagnostic tests, market penetration of healthcare insurance and measures initiated by the central government, said a CARE Rating report. Source: Healthworld

Dec 12,2024 Lucknow: A CME programme was conducted by the department of ophthalmology at Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on Wednesday. The event aimed to raise awareness about low vision, a significant public health issue in India. RMLIMS director and chief guest for the occasion, Prof CM Singh said, “Low vision in patients arises from various health issues, including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy in adults, as well as childhood conditions such as cortical vision impairment and retinopathy of prematurity.” He emphasised, “Early detection and the prevention of avoidable blindness are crucial, and we are committed to enhancing ophthalmology facilities to ensure more patients benefit from advanced technologies.” Director of SAM Eye Hospital, Dr Arti Elhence highlighted approaches to managing childhood low vision, stressing the importance of early screening. Dr Indu Ahmad discussed low vision aids for maximising residual vision, followed by a live demonstration. The CME provided practical insights into rehabilitation and care, enabling visually impaired individuals to lead productive lives. The event was organised under the leadership of chairperson Dr Priyanka Rai, with the support of co-chairperson Dr Shikha Agarwal, organising secretary Dr Preeti Gupta, and co-organising secretary Dr Prolima Thacker. Source: Healthworld

Dec 11,2024 New Delhi: Delhi AIIMS on Tuesday announced a new formal mechanism to gather patients’ feedback on the hospital’s therapeutic and general diets given in their wards, which will come into operation before December 31. This initiative is expected to create a continuous loop of inputs from patients to improve aspects such as food quality and hygiene standards, AIIMS Delhi Director Dr M Srinivas said. A more streamlined mechanism for collecting patients’ feedback has been developed by the Dietetics Department by pasting QR codes on each patient’s bedside. This will help patients scan the codes with their mobile phones and communicate their opinions about the diet served in the hospital. Besides, dieticians will visit various wards to talk to the patients to collect first-hand information about their meal experiences. “Patient feedback is an invaluable tool for improving care, and dietary services are no exception. This initiative will empower our patients directly to influence the quality of food served and help our team make targeted improvements in food hygiene and nutrition. We will keep improving hospital experience continuously for each of our inpatients,” Dr Srinivas said. Dieticians would not only take feedback, but also keep a watch to see if there is a pattern in challenges or improvements that might need to be made. This will ensure that the diet designed would meet the continuously changing needs and tastes of patients, apart from ensuring the safety of food and nutritional balance, he said. Dr Rima Dada, Professor In-charge, Delhi AIIMS’ Media Cell, added, “Good nutrition is an important part of recovery and well-being. By introducing a systematic real-time feedback collection mechanism, we can ensure that our patients are consuming the best nutrition possible to coordinate with their healing process. “This new feedback system will allow us to adjust and refine the diet we provide according to both the medical and individual patients’ preferences.” Not only does this initiative seek to improve the quality of diet that an in-patient receives, but also that an environment of trust and communication is built between health providers and patients, she stated. Source: Healthworld

Dec 13,2024 Dakar: Democratic Republic of Congo should start to receive three million doses of mpox vaccine from Japan next week that can be used on children, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Thursday. Vaccinations against the potentially deadly infection are under way in Congo, the epicentre of the outbreak, but there have been no shots available for children, who are particularly vulnerable to mpox. Japan pledged in September to donate doses from its national stockpile of LC16m8 vaccines, first developed by local firm KM Biologics for smallpox and effective against mpox. But the donation was held up by a legal hurdle. “The good news we got from Japan is that, next week, we are getting the Japanese vaccine in DRC that will allow the vaccination of children,” Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, told reporters. The doses’ arrival will boost hopes of curbing the outbreak, which the World Health Organization has declared a global public health emergency. More than 44% of the 10,533 confirmed mpox cases in Congo are children under 15 years old, the latest Africa CDC data shows. The vaccine from Japan will be used on children aged zero to five, Kaseya said. It is administered using a bifurcated needle, a technique that involves pricking the skin 15 times to deliver the vaccine. This weekend, a delegation from Japan will come to Congo to carry out training for health workers who are not used to this method, the head of Congo’s National Institute for Public Health, Dieudonne Mwamba, said during the same briefing. Africa CDC has already asked Japan if additional doses are available for other countries on the continent, Kaseya said. “We are negotiating with them, and we’ll see what the outcome will be, but they were open to that,” he told the briefing. (Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian Editing by Keith Weir) Source: Healthworld

Dec 13,2024 New Delhi: In the widely expanding weight loss segment in India, a medical device maker Boston Scientific, is all set to test its fortunes with the launch of Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) and Intragastric Balloon System (IBS) driven by Apollo and Orbera365 respectively. The endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) procedure is an incision-free weight loss procedure that significantly reduces stomach volume, offering a less invasive alternative to surgery for patients with obesity while Intragastric Balloon System is a silicone gastric balloon inserted into the stomach for temporarily filling it and reducing its capacity. The launched technology Apollo ESG System is authorised by both US FDA and CDSCO whereas, Orbera365 System is indicated by CDSCO for temporary usage only and on those obese patients (BMI 30-50) who failed to achieve and maintain weight loss with a supervised weight-control program. “With the growing incidence of obesity in India, this system provides a much-needed option for patients who may not qualify for traditional bariatric surgery but are still looking for a solution to manage their weight”, said Madan R. Krishnan, vice president and managing director, APAC Growth Markets, Boston Scientific. Source: Healthworld

Dec 13,2024 Patna: The Bihar government on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Coimbatore-based entity for the construction of a super speciality eye hospital here. The MoU was inked between R V Ramani, founder and managing trustee of Sankara Eye Foundation India (SEFI) and state health secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh at a function here, an official statement said. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, state ministers Mangal Pandey and Vijay Kumar Choudhary were present on the occasion. The state government recently allotted 1.60 acres of land in Kankarbagh area for the construction of the hospital. The statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office here said, “The state government recently allocated Rs 48 crore to the housing board for the transfer of the 1.60-acre plot to SEFI. The land has been leased to SEFI for 99 years at a token payment of Re 1.” The super speciality eye hospital will be constructed in one and half years. “The hospital will provide free eye treatment to patients from economically weaker sections having an earning up to Rs 2.5 lakh annually. Fees will be affordable for those who belong to the higher income bracket,” it said. The Coimbatore-based entity will also provide training to the medical personnel of the existing super speciality eye hospital at Rajendra Nagar in Patna, a senior health official said. Source: Healthworld

Dec 13,2024 The Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association Apollo Hospitals ‘ founder-chairman Dr Prathap C Reddy with ‘Man of the Millennial’ award at the 4th National Health Summit held in the city. The event celebrated Dr Reddy’s contributions to transforming India’s healthcare landscape and his dedication to fostering a healthier and more equitable society. Phana Karnataka also acknowledged the unwavering service of nurses and senior doctors from both public and private sectors, including Dr S Bikkam Chand, Dr Raju, Dr BG Muralidhar and Dr Prashanth Marla. Former Phana president Dr Prasanna HM was recognised for his contributions during Covid-19 pandemic. The summit, themed ‘Innovations to implementation for a healthier India’, was a vibrant platform for fostering collaboration and addressing critical challenges in healthcare. The Times of India was the media partner for the summit. Topics discussed included patient-care advancements, sustainability, customer-centric services, medico-legal issues and unique challenges faced by hospitals and consultants in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. In the valedictory session, outgoing president Dr Govindaiah Yatheesh handed over leadership to Dr Shobha Prakash, the first woman president of Phana Karnataka, who pledged to prioritise women’s safety and leadership in healthcare. Dr Sharan Patil, chairman of Sparsh Group of Hospitals, emphasised the vital role of women in the healthcare workforce and underscored the need for robust measures to ensure their safety and well-being. Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao emphasised the need to ensure safety of medical professionals and acknowledged the invaluable contributions of women doctors and healthcare workers. Additionally, he responded to concerns raised by hospitals regarding building codes and fire-safety regulations introduced in 2018, advocating for equitable application of these standards across public and private healthcare institutions. Source: Healthworld

Dec 14,2024 New Delhi: Around 15 million people in India suffer from epilepsy – a common brain disorder that causes seizures – and about 20%-30% among them are drug resistant. The Neuroscience Centre at AIIMS, Delhi, has devised a unique treatment method using an advanced neuro-robot that can ‘pop’ the brain and provide succour to millions who don’t respond to epilepsy drugs and aren’t fit for surgery. The neuro-robot implants multiple electrodes into a patient’s brain in a bloodless procedure to identify the area from where the seizures get triggered. Then, the seizures are reproduced again by stimulating the electrodes to reconfirm the point of focus. Finally, the faulty part is burnt or ablated, causing a popping sensation in the brain, thus, stopping the seizures or reducing them. “We have used this technique in over 60 patients suffering from uncontrolled epilepsy,” professor of neurosurgery at AIIMS, Delhi, Dr P Sarat Chandra, said. Recently, Chandra and his team performed the procedure on a 23-year-old woman, who had been suffering from drug-resistant epilepsy. Tanushree (name changed), who works with an MNC, had visited several doctors and undergone as many as 14 MRIs over nine years, but no abnormality could be detected even as the frequency of her seizures kept increasing. “Through pre-operative investigations including video EEG, MRI, SPECT and PET scans, and magnetoencephalography, we identified the areas of suspicious neural activity in the brain. This data was fed into the neuro-robot, which directed its robotic arm to the right area to place thin electrodes,” Chandra said. The patient was moved to ICU and monitored for next few days. On day five, she developed five to six seizure episodes, which the implanted electrodes demonstrated were arising from a specific portion of the brain and spreading to the left temporal lobe. This is called periventricular heterotopia (PVH) – small ‘lesions’ in the brain found next to the ventricle (cerebrospinal fluid-filled cavities in the brain), where the wiring between the neurons had gone ‘haywire’, constantly short-circuiting & generating abnormal amounts of electricity that spreads to the rest of the brain, leading to epilepsy. In Tanushree’s case, PVH was very small, and hence, missed by previous MRIs. To reconfirm, doctors passed a very low-intensity current – similar to what normally passes through neurons – through electrodes to stimulate the PVH. When the electrode in the PVH was stimulated at 10 milliamperes, the patient developed the typical ‘staring episode’ she used to have during seizures, said professor of neurology at AIIMS, Dr Manjari Tripathi. “Reproducing seizures with stimulation is a moment of jubilation for us as we now know exactly where the abnormal networks are located within the brain,” she said. The final part involved burning the PVH around the electrodes using a bipolar current. The patient is conscious and gets a ‘popping’ sensation as the brain substance around electrodes heats up and coagulates,” Chandra said. Every electrode costs Rs 1.5 lakh. At AIIMS, they are being done at a fraction of cost with the same technology, and are often permanent cures for epilepsy, Chandra said. Source: Healthworld